Exodus 32:20–34

²⁰and he taketh the calf which they have made, and burneth it with fire, and grindeth until it is small, and scattereth on the face of the waters, and causeth the sons of Israel to drink.

²¹And Moses saith unto Aaron, ‘What hath this people done to thee, that thou hast brought in upon it a great sin?’ ²²and Aaron saith, ‘Let not the anger of my lord burn; thou—thou hast known the people that it is in evil; ²³and they say to me, Make for us gods, who go before us, for this Moses—the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt—we have not known what hath happened to him; ²⁴and I say to them, Whoso hath gold, let them break it off, and they give to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf cometh out.’ ²⁵And Moses seeth the people that it is unbridled, for Aaron hath made it unbridled for contempt among its withstanders, ²⁶and Moses standeth in the gate of the camp, and saith, ‘Who is for Jehovah?—unto me!’ and all the sons of Levi are gathered unto him; ²⁷and he saith to them, ‘Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Put each his sword by his thigh, pass over and turn back from gate to gate through the camp, and slay each his brother, and each his friend, and each his relation.’ ²⁸And the sons of Levi do according to the word of Moses, and there fall of the people on that day about three thousand men, ²⁹and Moses saith, ‘Consecrate your hand to-day to Jehovah, for a man is against his son, and against his brother, so as to bring on you to-day a blessing.’

³⁰And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that Moses saith unto the people, ‘Ye—ye have sinned a great sin, and now I go up unto Jehovah, if so be I atone for your sin.’ ³¹And Moses turneth back unto Jehovah, and saith, ‘Oh this people hath sinned a great sin, that they make to themselves a god of gold; ³²and now, if Thou takest away their sin—and if not—blot me, I pray thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written.’ ³³And Jehovah saith unto Moses, ‘Whoso hath sinned against Me—I blot him out of My book; ³⁴and now, go, lead the people whithersoever I have spoken to thee of; lo, My messenger goeth before thee, and in the day of my charging—then I have charged upon them their sin.’