Why did Moses leave his sentence unfinished in Exodus 32:32?
Moses left the sentence unfinished because he could not imagine how God would forgive such gross sin. The blank in his plea marks his inability to conceive of divine forgiveness for Israel's great sin, so he immediately adds that if God will not forgive, Moses himself should be blotted out.
Les explains that Moses came before the Lord after the people sinned a great sin by making gods of gold. In Exodus 32:32 Moses says, “if thou wilt forgive their sin,” and then leaves a blank. Les says Moses could not even imagine how God would forgive such gross sin, so the sentence is not even finished. Moses then says, “if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” The Lord answers that whoever has sinned against Him will be blotted out of His book, tells Moses to lead the people, says His angel will go before them, and warns that in the day of visitation He will visit their sin. The Lord then plagued the people because they made the calf Aaron made.
And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
More Questions
What does Moses do for the people in Exodus 32 after the golden calf?
In Exodus 32, after the golden calf, Moses intercedes on behalf of the people, telling them they have sinned a great sin and going up to the Lord to make atonement for them.
Why is Moses' sentence left unfinished in Exodus 32:32?
Moses' sentence in Exodus 32:32 is left unfinished—there is a blank—because he could not imagine that God would forgive such gross sin.