21. I took the sinful calf you had made, burned it up, and crushed it, thoroughly grinding it to powder as fine as dust. Then I threw it into the stream that came down from the mountain.
22. “You continued to provoke the Lord at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth-hattaavah.
23. When the Lord sent you from Kadesh-barnea, He said, ‘Go up and possess the land I have given you’; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God. You did not believe or obey Him.
24. You have been rebelling against the Lord ever since I have known you.
25. “I fell down in the presence of the Lord 40 days and 40 nights because the Lord had threatened to destroy you.
26. I prayed to the Lord:Lord God, do not annihilate Your people, Your inheritance, whom You redeemed through Your greatness and brought out of Egypt with a strong hand.