The cost of betrayal

21Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought a great sin upon them?”

22And Aaron said, “Do not let my lord’s anger burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.”

23And they said to me, ‘Make gods for us, which will go before us, because this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him.’

24And I said to them, ‘Whoever has gold, take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.

25When Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control, for a derision among those who rose against them—

26Then Moses stood at the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is for Yahweh, come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered to him.

27And he said to them, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Each man, put his sword on his thigh. Pass through and return from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each man kill his brother, and each man his companion, and each man his neighbor.”

28And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and about three thousand men from among the people fell that day.

29And Moses said, “Today ordain yourselves to the LORD, for each man has been against his son and against his brother, so that he may bestow a blessing on you today.”