Exodus:32

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* The people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain . They gathered around Aaron . They said to him : »We do not know what has happened to Moses , the man who led us out of Egypt . Make gods to lead us .« * Aaron replied : »Have your wives , sons , and daughters take off the gold earrings they are wearing . Bring them to me .« * The people took off their gold earrings and handed them to Aaron . * After he worked on the gold with a tool , he made it into a statue of a calf . Then they said : »Israel , this is your god , who brought you out of Egypt .« * Aaron built an altar in front of it when he saw what happened . Then he announced : »Tomorrow there will be a festival in Jehovah ’s honor .« * Early the next day the people sacrificed burnt offerings and brought peace offerings . After that they sat down to a feast , which turned into an orgy . * Jehovah said to Moses : »Go down there . Your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves . * »They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live . They made a statue of a calf for themselves . They have bowed down to it and offered sacrifices to it . They said : »Israel , here is your god who brought you out of Egypt .’« * Jehovah added : »I have seen these people . They have an iron sinew . * »Now let me alone . Let my anger burn against them . I am so angry with them I am going to destroy them . Then I will make you into a great nation .« * »But Moses pleaded with Jehovah his God . »Jehovah ,« he said , »why are you so angry with your people ? These are your people whom you brought out of Egypt using your great power and mighty hand ! * »Do not let the Egyptians say : ‘He was planning all along to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth . That is why he brought them out of our land .’ Do not be so angry . Reconsider your decision to bring this disaster on your people . * »Remember your servants Abraham , Isaac , and Israel . You took an oath , swearing on yourself . You told them : ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky . I will give to your descendants all the land I spoke of . It will be their long lasting possession .’« * So Jehovah changed his mind and did not bring disaster on his people as he threatened . * Moses went back down the mountain . He carried the two stone tablets with the commandments written on both sides . * God made the tablets and engraved the commandments on them . * Joshua heard the people shouting and said to Moses : »I hear the sound of war in the camp .« * Moses replied : »That does not sound like a shout of victory or a cry of defeat ; it is the sound of singing .« * Moses came close enough to the camp at the foot of the mountain to see the bull-calf and to see the people dancing . He became furious ! He threw down the tablets he was carrying and broke them . * He took the bull-calf that they had made , melted it , ground it into fine powder , and mixed it with water . Then he made the people of Israel drink it . * Moses asked Aaron : »What did these people do to harm you ? Why did you make them sin in this terrible way ?« * Aaron said , »Do not be angry with me . You know the people as well as I do . They are determined to do evil . * »They said to me : ‘That man Moses led us out of Egypt , but now we do not know what has happened to him . Make us a god to lead us .’« * »Then I asked them to bring me their gold earrings . They took them off and gave them to me . I threw the gold into a fire , and out came this bull .« * Moses saw that the people were naked . Aaron had made them naked to their shame among their enemies . * Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said : »Who is on Jehovah ’s side ? Come to me . All the sons of Levi came to him .« * He said to them , »Jehovah , the God of Israel says : ‘Each man put his sword by his side . Go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp . Kill each one his brother , and each one his neighbor , and each one his kindred .’« * The sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses . About three thousand men died that day . * Moses said : »Today you are ordained as Jehovah ’s . God gave you a blessing today . Each of you fought with your own sons and brothers .« * The next day Moses said to the people : »You have committed a serious sin . Now I will go up the mountain to Jehovah . Maybe I will be able to make a payment for your sin and make atonement with Jehovah for your sin .« * So Moses went back to Jehovah and said : »These people have committed such a serious sin ! They made a god out of gold for themselves . * »Will you forgive their sin ? If not , please wipe me out of the book you have written .« * Jehovah answered Moses : »I will wipe out of my book whoever sins against me . * »Now , go and lead the people to the place I told you about . My angel will go ahead of you . But on the day when I punish , I will punish them for their sin .« * Jehovah killed people because they had Aaron make the calf .

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