5. Aaron, taking in the situation, built an altar before the calf.Aaron then announced, “Tomorrow is a feast day to God!”
6. Early the next morning, the people got up and offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings and brought Peace-Offerings. The people sat down to eat and drink and then began to party. It turned into a wild party!
14. And God did think twice. He decided not to do the evil he had threatened against his people.
17. When Joshua heard the sound of the people shouting noisily, he said to Moses, “That’s the sound of war in the camp!”
18. But Moses said,Those aren’t songs of victory,And those aren’t songs of defeat,I hear songs of people throwing a party.
21. Moses said to Aaron, “What on Earth did these people ever do to you that you involved them in this huge sin?”
24. “So I said, ‘Who has gold?’ And they took off their jewelry and gave it to me. I threw it in the fire and out came this calf.”
27. He then told them, “God’s orders, the God of Israel: ‘Strap on your swords and go to work. Crisscross the camp from one end to the other: Kill brother, friend, neighbor.’”
28. The Levites carried out Moses’ orders. Three thousand of the people were killed that day.
29. Moses said, “You confirmed your ordination today—and at great cost, even killing your sons and brothers! And God has blessed you.”