15. when suddenly your threats were carried out! An invincible word of judgement sped from your royal throne in heaven, straight down to that doomed land. It came like a soldier charging to attack,
16. carrying out your firm command with a fearful weapon, standing with feet on the ground and head touching the sky, filling the land with death.
17. At that moment the people who were about to die had terrible nightmares and were seized by sudden fear.
18. All over the land they lay half-dead and let it be known why they were dying.
19. They knew why they were dying, because their horrible dreams had told them.
20. Death also came to the righteous nation, for an epidemic struck many of them while they were in the desert, but your anger did not last long.
21. There was a certain blameless man who quickly took action to defend them. Acting as their priest, Aaron offered prayers and burnt the incense used in asking forgiveness of sins. With prayers and incense as his weapons, he withstood your anger and ended the disaster. By doing this he proved that he was your servant.
22. He overcame the bitter difficulty, but not by his own strength or by military force. Instead, he used prayer to stop the punishment, appealing to the promises you solemnly made to our ancestors.
23. Dead bodies were already lying in piles, but he stepped in to hold your anger back and to keep it from harming those who were left alive.
24. He wore a long robe decorated with symbols of the universe. In honour of our ancestors he wore four rows of engraved stones on his chest, and your own majesty was represented by the ornament on his turban.
25. The Angel of Death was afraid of these things, and gave in. It was only a slight experience of your wrath, but it was enough.