Les Feldick Bible Study

Where does Paul get the 'sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play' quote in 1 Corinthians 10?

Paul takes the quote from the historical account of the golden calf. The people had proof of God's power, yet they sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play, satisfying the flesh. This happened while Moses was on the mountain.

Les teaches that Paul is quoting the historical account of Israel's golden calf. In that passage, the people rose up early, offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, then sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Les points out that despite having proof of the Almighty God—fire on the mountain, the pillar of fire by night, and the cloud by day—they still went into idolatry. It was an emotional thing, a practice of satisfying the flesh, and they corrupted themselves by their own choice, not by someone else's influence.

1 Corinthians 10:7

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Exodus 32:6

And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

More Questions

Where does Paul's quote in 1 Corinthians 10:7 come from?

Paul's quotation in 1 Corinthians 10:7 comes from the account where the people rose up early in the morning, offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and then sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.

Where is Paul quoting from in 1 Corinthians 10:6?

At 1 Corinthians 10:6 Paul is quoting the Old Testament account of Israel rising early, offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, and then sitting down to eat, drink, and play.