Now when the people saw that Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain , they gathered around Aaron and said - , “ Come , make gods who will go before us. As for this Moses - who brought us up out of the land of Egypt , we do not know what has happened
So Aaron told them , “ Take off the gold earrings that are on your wives and sons and daughters , and bring them to me. ”
Then all the people - took off their gold earrings - - and brought them to Aaron.
He took (the gold) from their hands , and with an engraving tool he fashioned it into a molten calf. And they said , “ These , O Israel , are your gods , who brought you up out of the land of Egypt ! ”
When Aaron saw this , he built an altar before (the calf) and proclaimed : ... ... “ Tomorrow (shall be) a feast to the LORD. ”
So the next day they arose , offered burnt offerings , and presented peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink , and got up to indulge in revelry.
Then the LORD said to Moses , “ Go down at once ... , for your people , whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt , have corrupted themselves.
How quickly they have turned aside from the way that I commanded them ! They have made a molten calf and have bowed down They have sacrificed and said , ‘ These , O Israel , are your gods , who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. ’”
The LORD also said to Moses , “ I have seen - this people , and they are indeed a stiff-necked ... people.
Now alone , so that My anger may burn and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation. ”
But Moses - sought the favor ... of the LORD his God , saying , “ O LORD , why does Your anger burn against Your people , whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand ?
Why should the Egyptians declare , ... ... ‘ He brought them out with evil intent , to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth ’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from {doing} harm to Your people.
Remember Your servants Abraham , Isaac , and Israel , whom You swore when You declared ... , ‘ {I will make} your descendants as numerous - as the stars in the sky , and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised , and it shall be their inheritance forever. ’”
So the LORD relented from the calamity - He had threatened to bring on His people.
Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. ... They were inscribed on both sides , - front and back.
The tablets were the work of God , ... and the writing (was) the writing of God , ... engraved on the tablets.
When Joshua - - heard the sound of the people shouting , he said to Moses , “ The sound of war (is) in the camp. ”
But Moses replied : “ It is neither the cry ... of victory nor the cry ... of defeat ; I hear the sound of singing ! ”
- As (Moses) approached ... the camp and saw - the calf and the dancing , he burned with anger and threw the tablets out of his hands , - shattering them at the base of the mountain.
Then he took - the calf they had made , burned it in the fire , ground (it) to - powder , and scattered (the powder) over the face of the water. Then he forced the Israelites to drink it.
“ What did this people do Moses ... asked Aaron , “ that you have led them into so great a sin ? ”
“ Do not be enraged ... , my lord , ” Aaron replied. “ You yourself know - that the people ... are intent on evil ....
They told ‘ Make gods who will go before us. As for this Moses - who brought us up out of the land of Egypt , we do not know what has happened
So I said ‘ Whoever has gold , let him take it off , ’ and they gave it And when I threw it into the fire , out came this calf ! ”
Moses - saw that the people were out of control , ... ... for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.
So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said , “ Whoever is for the LORD , come to me. ” And all the Levites ... gathered around him.
He told “ This is what the LORD , the God of Israel , says : ‘ Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side , go back and forth ... through the camp from gate to gate , - - and slay his brother , ... - his friend , ... - and his neighbor. ’”
The Levites ... did as Moses commanded , and that day about three thousand - of the people fell dead.
Afterward, Moses said , “ Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD , since each man went against his son and his brother ; so (the LORD) has bestowed a blessing on you this day. ”
- The next day Moses said to the people , “ You have committed a great sin. Now I will go up to the LORD ; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. ”
So Moses returned to the LORD and said , “ Oh , what a great sin these people have committed ! They have made gods of gold
Yet now , if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not , please blot me out of the book that You have written. ”
The LORD replied to Moses , “ Whoever - has sinned I will blot out of My book.
Now go , lead - the people to (the place) - I described Behold , My angel shall go before you. But on the day I settle accounts , I will punish them ... for their sin. ”
And the LORD - sent a plague on the people because of what they had done - with the calf that Aaron had made.