25. Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get out of control. They were being wild, and all their enemies could see them acting like fools.
26. So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Anyone who wants to follow the Lord should come to me.” Everyone from the tribe of Levi ran to Moses.
27. Then Moses said to them, “I will tell you what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Every man must get his sword and go from one end of the camp to the other. You men must kill those who are against the Lord, even if they are your brothers, friends, or neighbors.’”
28. The people from the tribe of Levi obeyed Moses. That day about 3000 of the people died.
29. Then Moses said, “Take your role today as special servants of the Lord because you were willing to fight against even your own sons and brothers. You will receive a blessing for this.”
30. The next morning Moses told the people, “You have committed a terrible sin! But now I will go up to the Lord, and maybe I can do something so that he will forgive you for your sin.”
31. So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Please listen! These people committed a terrible sin and made a god from gold.
32. Now, forgive them of this sin. If you will not forgive them, then erase my name from your book.”
33. But the Lord said to Moses, “The only people I erase from my book are those who sin against me.
34. So now, go down and lead the people where I tell you to go. My angel will go before you and lead you. When the time comes to punish those who sinned, they will be punished.”
35. So the Lord caused a terrible sickness to come to the people. He did this because they told Aaron to make the golden calf.