Abstract

GAITAN BRICENO, Tarcicio; MENDOZA FANDINO, Emigdio  and  GANAN ROJO, Piedad. The destruction of the golden calf (Ex 32:20): A materials science perspective. Verbum Eccles. (Online) [online]. 2021, vol.42, n.1, pp.1-7. ISSN 2074-7705.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v42i1.2175.

One of the most fascinating and heavily debated episodes involving gold in the Old Testament is the destruction of the golden calf described in Exodus 32:20. This study considers, for the first time, this episode from a materials science perspective. Textual analysis and experimental results indicate that it is plausible to make a gold mixture fit for later human consumption by using the three steps described in the passage. The results thus suggest that Exodus 32:20 could be an ancient reference to the most commented-upon materials processes of our day: reduce the size of matter through a top-down approach. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INTERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS: This article brings for the first time an approach between theological analysis and a support by materials sciences to evaluate the technical viability of the destruction of the golden calf described in Exodus 32:20. It impacts the obtained results and indicates the appropriate use of technical aspects of the writers of this text.

Keywords : exodus; golden calf; grinding; materials science; top-down approach.

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