27 and he told them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Each of you put your sword on your hip! Go back and forth through the camp, from gate to gate, and kill your brothers, your friends, your neighbors!”
28 The Levites did as Moses had commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell.
29 Then Moses said, “Today you are installed as priests for the Lord, for you went against your own sons and brothers, to bring a blessing upon yourselves this day.”
30 On the next day Moses said to the people, “You have committed a grave sin. Now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I may be able to make atonement for your sin.”
31 So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Ah, this people has committed a grave sin in making a god of gold for themselves!
32 Now if you would only forgive their sin! But if you will not, then blot me out of the book that you have written.”
33 The Lord answered Moses: Only the one who has sinned against me will I blot out of my book.