Read Time:9 Minute, 18 Second

By William Van Zyl

Published on 6 August 2024

The Israelites used Joseph’s alternative name—‘Ox’—to miraculously create a golden calf from molten gold. Really? Yes, the rabbis indicated that it was possible. The Chabad says they threw a pottery plaque into the molten golden jewellery the leaders collected from all the Israelites. ‘Boom!’ went the crucible, and a golden calf appeared. On the plaque, they wrote the secret name of Yahweh and the words: ‘Rise Oh Ox.’ Remember, when they left, the Egyptians gave the Israelites tons of gold and silver. The fear of the Lord was on them. So, they gave their wealth to the departing Jews to appease the God of Israel – Yahweh. Their firstborn died, and they were concerned that they would die too.

Was the golden calf created in the wilderness a type of Joseph—a calf, a bull, or an ox? We will investigate.

On their journey out of slavery, the Israelites still had Egypt in their minds and hearts. They remembered Joseph, the famous Egyptian leader. So they were inspired to see Joseph (also called a calf/bull/ox), the Jewish-Egyptian leader, in the form of a golden image. It was just like the Egyptian gods, displaying power and wealth. Could ‘Joseph’s image (the calf) prosper them and lead them to a successful future?

IMAGE: Joseph the Prince of Egypt. AI-generated Aug 2024.

Table of Contents

Where did these unique ideas come from?

Where did you get that idea from, you may ask. I am glad you have asked. When I read the well-known story of the ‘Golden Calf’ in Chabad, I could not resist exploring this idea further. Allow me to investigate and build on this idea. Could there be any truth in it? You be the judge; please continue reading. I also include a summary at the end referring to the cultural and religious significance of a calf, bull, and ox in ancient Egypt. What were the Israelites thinking when they fashioned the calf?

Let’s start with the extravagant story as listed in the Chabad.

The Extravagant Story Begins …

On the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, the Jewish people left Egypt and began travelling through the desert. After 49 days of travel, on the 50th day, the sixth (or the seventh) of Sivan, G‑d (God) gave them the Torah. Standing at the foot of Mount Sinai, they witnessed G‑d’s glory descend upon the mountain and heard the Ten Commandments.

The next day, G‑d commanded Moses to ascend the mountain for 40 days, where He would teach him all the laws and present him with the tablets on which the Ten Commandments were carved.

Moses took leave of his people, promising to return in 40 days. When Moses told the people 40 days, he meant 40 full days—nights and days. And since Moses left in the morning, that first day was not included in the count. However, the Jews miscalculated and expected Moses to return on the 16th of Tammuz. In vain, the Jews waited for Moses on the 16th, and when he didn’t show, they began to worry.

The biblical commentator Rashi describes how Satan made the sky grow dark and caused a feeling of gloominess to descend upon the camp, further unnerving the people. As this was happening, the Erev Rav (“mixed multitude”)—a ragtag group of Egyptian outcasts who had tagged along with the Jews when they left Egypt and who were insincere in their commitment to G‑d—convinced the people that Moses was dead and that they needed a new leader.

Terrified, the Jewish people gathered around Aaron, Moses’ brother, and demanded that he make them a new leader. (The commentators note that, at this point, the people only wanted a new leader instead of Moses, not a new G‑d.) Aaron told them to go home, collect their wives’ jewellery, and bring it back to him. Crazed, the men ripped off their jewellery and threw it into a fire. And out of the fire, a golden calf emerged. But, how did the calf appear?

IMAGE: Large ancient crucible filed with molten gold.

As for who formed the calf, there are three opinions: – Aaron formed it by moulding the form of a calf from the molten gold. – Sorcerers from the Erev Rav formed it using magic. – Micah, a member of the Erev Rav whose life had been saved by Moses, created the calf. When the Jewish people were leaving Egypt, Moses went to collect Joseph’s coffin to fulfil his request that his remains be redeemed together with the Jews. However, in an attempt to stop the Jews from leaving, the Egyptians sunk Joseph’s coffin in the Nile. Moses took a plaque, wrote on it the words “alei shor” (“rise ox”), and threw it in the river, causing the coffin of Joseph (who is compared to an ox) to rise to the surface.

Joseph’s bones could have looked like this when Moses threw the plaque with the words ‘Rise, Oh Ox’ into the Nile River. Miraculously, the bones, stored in a coffin, rose to the surface, and the Israelites took Joseph’s bones with them on the journey through the desert. It was Joseph’s plea to be buried in Shechem (Israel). AI-generated image (Aug 2024):

Micah had stolen this plaque and used it to create the calf by throwing it into the fire. Remember, the Egyptians had magicians in their midst (e.g. the magicians created snakes by throwing the staffs on the ground – just like Moses did). Then the Erev Rav called out to the Jewish people, “These are your gods, O Israel, who took you out of Egypt!”

A plaque with the words ‘Rise, Oh Ox’ written on a piece of pottery was thrown into the molten gold, and a calf appeared. This image exemplifies what the plaque could have looked like in ancient days. The image was AI-generated in August 2024.

Aaron built an altar and instructed the Jews to sleep, saying, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to G‑d.” The next day, the people rose early and made their way to the golden calf, where they offered sacrifices and started worshipping. The Torah tells us, “The Jewish people sat to feast and rose to play,” which Rashi explains to mean that, in addition to idolatry, they also committed acts of immorality and murder.

Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf in the desert. This is what the Golden could have looked like. AI-generated image (Aug 2024):

Let us look at the significance of Joseph’s connections with a calf, a bull, and an ox, the leader and governor of Egypt (second in command).

The calf held significant symbolic and practical roles in ancient Egyptian culture and religion. Here’s a detailed look at its representation, particularly about the life of Joseph as described in the Bible:

Cultural and Religious Significance of a Calf, Bull, and Ox in Ancient Egypt.

Symbol of Fertility and Strength:
- The calf, particularly the Apis bull, symbolised fertility, strength, and vitality. Bulls and calves were associated with procreative powers and agricultural productivity, which was crucial for a society heavily reliant on agriculture.
Religious Symbolism:
- Apis Bull: One of the most revered sacred animals in Egypt was the Apis bull. It was believed to be an incarnation of the god Ptah and later associated with Osiris and Ra. The Apis bull was worshipped in Memphis and considered an intermediary between humans and gods. It symbolised strength, fertility, and divine favour.
- Bulls in Rituals: Bulls and calves were often depicted in religious rituals and temple iconography. They were believed to embody divine power and were involved in ceremonies to ensure fertility and abundance.
Economic Importance:
- Cattle were vital to the Egyptian economy. They were used for ploughing fields and providing milk, meat, and hides. Their economic significance made them symbols of wealth and prosperity.

Joseph’s Connection to Egyptian Symbolism

Joseph’s Role in Egypt:
- Joseph, sold into slavery and brought to Egypt, rose to great power as the vizier (second in command to Pharaoh). His story is detailed in Genesis 37-50. Joseph’s wisdom and ability to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams led to his appointment to manage the country’s resources during the years of plenty and famine.
Dream Interpretation and Agricultural Management:
- Pharaoh’s dreams, which Joseph interpreted, involved seven fat cows and seven lean cows emerging from the Nile (Genesis 41:1-4). The cows in these dreams symbolised years of plenty and famine. Joseph’s interpretation and subsequent management of resources directly linked him to the agricultural symbolism of cattle, emphasising his role in ensuring fertility and abundance in Egypt.
- Joseph’s actions in storing surplus grain during the seven years of plenty and distributing it during the seven years of famine reinforced his connection to the calf’s symbolic meanings of provision, fertility, and prosperity.
Integration into Egyptian Culture:
- Joseph’s integration into Egyptian society is also marked by his marriage to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Heliopolis), a major religious centre in Egypt. This marriage further embedded Joseph within the religious and cultural fabric of Egypt.
Symbolic Representation:
- As an influential figure who ensured the nation’s survival through famine, Joseph could be symbolically linked to the strength and fertility represented by the calf. His leadership and wisdom brought prosperity and stability, embodied by Egyptian culture’s sacred Apis bull and other bovine symbols.

The Significance of ‘The Calf, Bull and the Ox.’

In Egyptian culture and religion, the calf symbolised fertility, strength, and divine favour, primarily embodied by the Apis bull. These attributes were essential in a society dependent on agriculture. Joseph’s life in Egypt, marked by his critical role in managing resources and ensuring the nation’s survival during famine, aligns with these symbolic meanings. His story interweaves with the cultural and religious significance of the calf, highlighting his contributions to Egyptian society and the parallels to the revered attributes of the calf in Egyptian life.

What did the Israelites think when they fashioned and worshipped the calf?

Is it possible that the Israelites were associating the strength of Joseph with the gods of the Egyptians? Could the Calf bring prosperity and wealth, like it did for the Egyptians? Remember, they saw the power and wealth of the Egyptians for almost 400 years. They witnessed them creating and worshipping gods and idols. We do not know what the Israelites were thinking at that point. However, pondering and exploring what happened during the time of the Golden Calf broadens our horizons. What were the Israelites thinking while they worshipped the Calf? What do you think?