26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? Come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
27 And he said unto them, Thus hath the Lord God of Israel said, Put every man his sword by his side and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp and slay each one his brother and his companion and his neighbour.
28 And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.
29 Then Moses had said, Today you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, for each one has consecrated in his son and in his brother, that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.
30 And it came to pass on the next day that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin, but now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make reconciliation for your sin.
31 Then Moses returned unto the Lord and said, I pray thee, for, this people who have sinned a great sin and have made themselves gods of gold,
32 that thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me now out of thy book which thou hast written.