25. Moses saw that the people were running wild, for Aaron had let them get completely out of control, causing derision from their enemies.
26. So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” All the Levites gathered around him,
27. and he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Each man fasten his sword on his side, and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and each one kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”
28. The Levites did what Moses ordered, and that day about three thousand men of the people died.
29. Moses said, “You have been consecrated today for the Lord, for each of you was against his son or against his brother, so he has given a blessing to you today.”
30. The next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a very serious sin, but now I will go up to the Lord – perhaps I can make atonement on behalf of your sin.”
31. So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold.
32. But now, if you will forgive their sin…, but if not, wipe me out from your book that you have written.”
33. The Lord said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me – that person I will wipe out of my book.
34. So now go, lead the people to the place I have spoken to you about. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish, I will indeed punish them for their sin.”
35. And the Lord sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf – the one Aaron made.