פּירוש אויף שמות 32:31

אלהי זהב GODS OF GOLD — Moses emphasized the word “gold” as some excuse for their sin: It is You who have caused them to do this, for You gave them gold in abundance and everything they wished; what else were they likely to do if not to sin? A parable: this may be compared to a king who provides his son with food and drink, attires him with beautiful garments and hangs a money-bag round his neck and then deliberately places him at the door of a house of ill-fame! What else is the son likely to do if not to sin!? (Berakhot 32a)

וישב משה אל ה׳, “Moses returned to the Presence of G-d;” on that very day, on the 18th of Tammuz.

Please, this people has sinned a great sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. There are several questions in this request. For why did Moses magnify the sin when he asked for forgiveness, as this is not the way of any advocate. Furthermore, his words seem contradictory, because by saying and they have made for themselves gods of gold [implying] “You caused them to [sin],” his intention would have been to minimize the sin. Additionally, what is the meaning of and they made with the prefix vav [and], which suggests as if the matter was interrupted, while its simple meaning suggests that it is an explanation of a great sin. Furthermore, why did he specify this sin more than the sins of forbidden sexual relations and bloodshed that they transgressed, as Rashi explained in the verse and they rose up to play.