22. And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord grow hot: you know the people, that they are set on mischief.
23. For they said unto me, Make us gods, who shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what has become of him.
24. And I said unto them, Whosoever has any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it to me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.
25. And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had let them be naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
26. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27. And he said unto them, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.
28. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.