William H. C. Propp on the Godlen Calf in Exodus 32:4 (cf. 1 Kings 12:28): The Surface Interpretation is that the Calf Represents Yahweh Himself

In the context of giving an overview of the various interpretations of the golden calf of Exo 32:4, William H. C. Propp noted that the thesis the calf (cf. the calves of 1 Kgs 12:28) represent Yahweh himself:

 

Each of the calves represents Yahweh himself. This is the surface interpretation of Exod 32:4, 8 = 1 Kgs 12:28. The worship leader points to the image and proclaims, “These are/see your Deity/gods who took you up from the land of Egypt” (on the plural, see NOTES to 32:1, “deity … they,” 4 “These are your Deity”). Micah’s image, which some identify as a calf, is also said to be “for Yahweh” (Judg 17:3). Num 23:22; 24:8 acclaims Yahweh as “God (ʾēl), who takes them/him from Egypt, he has indeed (?) wild-ox prongs (tôʿāpōt rəʾēm).” That is, the god of the Exodus has bovine horns. Finally, on a Samaria ostracon we find a personal name ʿglyw (AHI 3.041), which may mean “Yahweh is the Calf” (Koenen 1994) (but it could also mean “Yahweh’s Calf”). (William H. C. Propp, Exodus 19–40: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary [AYB 2A; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2008], 582)