The Gold of the Cover Atones for the Gold of the Calf

"And you shall make a cover of pure gold" (Exodus 25:17). Rabbi Yudan ben Pazi in the name of Rabbi: "Yes" is read but not destroyed. "Every willing-hearted person" (Exodus 25:2) is not bad. "And all the people broke off [their gold]" (Exodus 32:3) is not good. "Then Moses sang" (Exodus 15:1) is not bad. "And you all approached me" (Deuteronomy 1:22) is not good. "And Moses brought the people out to meet [God]" (Exodus 19:17) is not bad. "And the whole congregation lifted up and gave forth their voice" (Numbers 14:1) is not good. Rabbi Hiyya said: not in this case alone; "surely they rose early and acted corruptly" (Zephaniah 3:7), and every corruption they committed they did with early rising. Rabbi Aha bar Abba said: you cannot make sense of the character of this nation. They are asked for gold for the calf and they give; they are asked for the Tabernacle and they give. Rabbi Yose bar Hanina taught: "And you shall make a cover of pure gold": let the gold of the cover come and atone for the gold of the calf.