Seeing the apostasy and idolatry of the people, Moses
immediately knew somehow that Aaron was in someway culpable; so he asked him,
”What did the people do to you to induce you to be implicit in this great sin
which they had brought upon themselves.?”
In reply
Aaron urged Moses not to be angry with him; because he Moses knew the people
and how easily they fell into temptation being full of mischief. Indeed, Aaron explained, “the people
confronted me and demanded that I made them gods to lead them, for so they
said, the man Moses who brought us up out of the land of Egypt has abandoned
us, and we have no idea what has happened to him.”
“So, I told
them,” said Aaron, “whoever has gold, let them bring it to me and I would make
them gods. They, Aaron explained,
brought me the golden ornaments and I cast them into the fire and out of it
came the golden calf.”
Then Moses
saw that the people were naked; for Aaron had made them naked so that their
enemies could see their shame. So Moses stood in the midst of the camp and
asked, “Who is on the Lord’s side then let him come unto me.”
Having said
that, all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together before Moses who then
proclaimed, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, put every man his sword by his
side, and go out from gate to gate, door to door, all through the camp and slay
every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor;
and the sons of Levi did as Moses commanded them; and there fell by the sword
that day, more than three thousand men; for Moses had told them, “Consecrate
yourselves this day, to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his
brother, that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day.” More
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