Exodus 32:20-34
20 Then he took the calf they had made, burned it up, and ground it to powder. He scattered the powder over the surface of the water and forced the Israelites to drink the water.
21 Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?”
22 “Don’t be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.(A)
23 They said to me, ‘Make us a god(a) who will go before us because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’
24 So I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off,’ and they gave it to me. When I threw it into the fire, out came this calf!”
25 Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them get out of control, resulting in weakness before their enemies.(b)
26 And Moses stood at the camp’s entrance and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
27 He told them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man fasten his sword to his side; go back and forth through the camp from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”(B)
28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and about 3,000 men fell dead that day among the people.
29 Afterward Moses said, “Today you have been dedicated(c) to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today.”(C)
30 The following day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I will be able to atone for your sin.”(D)
Footnotes:
a.
Exodus 32:23: Or us gods
b.
Exodus 32:25: Hb obscure; or resulting in derision
c.
Exodus 32:29: Text emended; MT reads Today dedicate yourselves; LXX, Vg read Today you have dedicated yourselves