Parashas Ki Sisa · EXTRA (side-ring) · Passuk 32:12
Sefaria — Or HaChaim on Ki Sisa 32:12
English: למה יאמרו הגוים , "Why should the nations be able to say, etc.?" Moshe suggested that it would be a public desecration of G'd's name to wipe out the Jewish people whom G'd had referred to in Exodus 4,22 as "My first-born son Israel" less than six months previously? It would appear in retrospect that G'd had orchestrated the Exodus only in order to kill this people in the desert? Once all the nations which served idols realised that serving the one and only G'd led to disaster they would be confirmed in preferring the various deities which they were in the habit of worshiping. They would conclude that the fact that the G'd of the Israelites had not killed them (the Gentiles) for worshiping id
Commentary (Rishon) on a TT-silent passuk — EXTRA side-ring only.
See the Or HaChaim on this passuk for the full derash and implications.