Exodus 32:20–34

²⁰And he took the bull calf that they had made, and he burned it with the fire, and he crushed it until it became fine, and he scattered it on the surface of the water, and he made the Israelites^l drink.

²¹And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you brought on them such a great sin?” ²²And Aaron said, “Let not my lord become angry.^m You yourself know the people, that they are intent on evil.^{n 23}And they said to me, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us, because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ ²⁴And I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off.’ And they gave it to me, and I threw it in the fire, and out came this bull calf.”

²⁵And Moses saw the people, that they were running wild^o because Aaron had allowed them to run wild,^p for a laughingstock among their enemies.^{q 26}And Moses stood at the entrance of the camp, and he said, “Whoever is for Yahweh, to me.” And all the sons of Levi were gathered to him. ²⁷And he said to them, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Put each his sword on his side. Go back and forth^r from gate to gate in the camp, and kill, each his brother and each his friend and each his close relative.’ ” ²⁸And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and from the people on that day about three thousand persons fell.^{s 29}And Moses said, “You are ordained^t today for Yahweh, because each has been against his son and against his brother and so bringing on you today a blessing.”

³⁰And^u the next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”

³¹And Moses returned to Yahweh, and he said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin and made for themselves gods of gold. ³²And now if you will forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me from your scroll that you have written.” ³³And Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot him from my scroll. ³⁴And now go, lead the people to where I spoke to you. Look, my angel will go before you, and on the day when I punish I will punish them for their sin.”