Exodus 32:32

If thou wilt forgive their sin] This form of sentence is used in Hebrew to express an earnest desire or passionate entreaty, and is equivalent to 'O that thou wouldest'. or 'O if thou wouldest but'. Cp. e.g. Psalms 95:7 RV, 'To-day, O that ye would hear,' and 1 Chronicles 4:10, 'O that thou wouldest bless me,' lit. 'If thou wilt bless me.' If not, blot me.. out of the book] The figure is taken from the registers in which the names of citizens were enrolled: see e.g. Isaiah 4:3; Jeremiah 22:30; Ezekiel 13:9. So God is represented as having a book in which are inscribed the names of those who are to be preserved alive. When He blots out a name that person dies. The Book is therefore a Book of Life: cp. Psalms 69:28; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:19. The Jews believe that on New Year's Day God determines who shall live and who shall die in the course of the year, and that the decision is made final ten days afterwards on the Day of Atonement. Moses's prayer, therefore, is an expression of his willingness to bear the penalty of the people's sin. For a similar instance of absolute self-sacrifice cp. St. Paul's words in Romans 9:3.