so do the people of God as a whole. The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3), enjoins each of us personally and God’s people communally. And yet in just a few days the entire camp of Israel abandoned that commandment and exchanged the glory of God for a golden image in the shape of a calf (32:1–6). The results of Israel’s long love affair with idols are its two captivities. But God is merciful. Indeed, despite humanity’s unfaithfulness, God remembers his covenant