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1Then Mosesturned and wentdown from the mountain with the twotablets of the testimony in his hand, 2tablets which were written on bothsides; they were written on one side and the other.
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The tablets were God'swork, and the writing was God'swritingengraved on the tablets.
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Now when Joshuaheard the sound of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a sound of war in the camp."
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But he said, "It is not the sound of the cry of triumph, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But the sound of singing I hear."
Moses' Anger
19 It came about, as soon as Moses camenear the camp, that 3he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses'angerburned, and 4he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain.
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5He took the calfwhich they had made and burned it with fire, and ground it to powder*, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israeldrink it.
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Then Mosessaid to Aaron, "What did thispeopledo to you, that you have brought such greatsin upon them?"
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Aaronsaid, "Do not let the anger of my lordburn; you know the peopleyourself, 6that they are prone to evil.
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"For 7they said to me, 'Make a god for us who will gobefore us; for thisMoses, the manwhobrought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not knowwhat has become of him.'
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"I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.' So they gave it to me, and 8I threw it into the fire, and out camethiscalf."
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Now when Mosessaw that the people were out of control -for Aaron had 9let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies -
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then Mosesstood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!" And all the sons of Levigathered together to him.
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He said to them, "Thussays the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Everyman of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go*back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and killeveryman his brother, and everyman his friend, and everyman his neighbor.' "
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So 10the sons of Levidid as Mosesinstructed, and about threethousandmen of the peoplefell that day.
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Then Mosessaid, "Dedicateyourselvestoday to the LORD -for everyman has been against his son and against his brother -in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today."
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On the nextdayMosessaid to the people, "11You yourselves have committed a greatsin; and now I am going up to the LORD, perhaps I can 12makeatonement for your sin."
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Then Mosesreturned to the LORD, and said, "Alas, thispeople has committed a greatsin, and they have made a 13god of gold for themselves.
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"But now, if You will, forgive their sin -and if not, pleaseblot me out from Your 14bookwhich You have written!"
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The LORDsaid to Moses, "Whoever* has sinned against Me, 15I will blot him out of My book.
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"But gonow, lead the people16where* I told you. Behold, 17My angel shall gobefore you; nevertheless 18in the day when I punish, 19I will punish them for their sin."
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20Then the LORDsmote the people, because* of 21what they did with the calfwhichAaron had made.