"... Beyond this apparently irenic position toward other peoples’ gods, the E source has a more familiar harsh attitude toward Israelites who, after the rite of passage in Genesis 35, backslide and worship foreign gods. A curious detail in the ritual acts of Genesis 35 may signal this dangerous contingency. Along with setting aside their foreign icons, Jacob’s household also sets aside “the rings that were in their ears,” Genesis 35:4. Jacob then buries the earrings with the foreign gods. The curious link between earrings and foreign gods seems to be an anticipatory detail, which is taken up in the Golden Calf story, another key event in E’s history of religion. There Aaron commands the Israelites: “Take off the gold rings that are in the ears of your wives, sons, and daughters, and bring them to me” (Exodus 32:2). From these gold earrings Aaron makes the Golden Calf, with disastrous results. Aaron here seems to be a kind of anti-Jacob, reconstituting a foreign icon from the earrings of the people. To worship a foreign god after having entered into the covenant with God is a dangerous sin, which provokes his deadly wrath. ..."