When Moses returned to intercede for Israel, he certainly asked of God to pardon their sin. _Oh! this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold--Yet now, if than wilt forgive their sin_ --That he was heard and obtained his request appears not only from the history contained in our context, but from Moses' rehearsal of it just before his death. He recounted the dealings of God with Israel, when taking his leave of them on the plains of Moab--In that valedictory discourse he reminded them of their sin on this occasion--of God's anger against them--his threatening to destroy them, and how he pleaded with God in their behalf, and the success which attended his intercessions for them--"I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure wherewith the Lord was wroth with you, to destroy you, but _the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also_." * * Deuteronomy ix. 19. Sentence of death in the wilderness was afterwards denounced against those sinners, and executed upon them, but not to punish this sin; but the rebellion which was occasioned by the report made by the spies who were sent to search out the land. On that occasion Moses prayed fervently for his people, and not wholly without effect--God had threatened to "smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them," but receded from his threatening through the prevalence of that intercessor in their behalf--"the Lord said I have pardoned according to thy word;" but at the same time, denounced an irrevokable sentence of death in the wilderness against those rebels. Then Moses was not ordered to "lead the people to the place of which God had spoken," but commanded to go back into the wilderness which they had parted--"turn you, and get ye into the wilderness by the way of the red sea." + + Numbers xiv. At that time, the exception from the general sentence, was not in favor of Moses and Joshua, who had been on the mount, and taken no part in Israel's sin in making the golden calf, but in favor of Caleb and Joshua, who dissented from the report made by the other spies; though no intimation is given that Caleb was not with the people, and did not sin with them in the matter of the golden calf. There is therefore no doubt respecting the sin which shut that generation out of Canaan. Nor do we apprehend more occasion for doubt relative to the prayer of Moses, _to be blotted out of God's book_.