25 Moses therefore saw that the people were [a]naked (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies)

26 And Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who pertaineth to the Lord? let them come to me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves unto him.

27 Then he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Put every man his sword by his side, go to and fro, from gate to gate, through the host, and [b]slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 32:25 Both destitute of God’s favor, and an occasion to their enemies to speak evil of their God.
  2. Exodus 32:27 This fact did so please God, that he turned the curse of Jacob against Levi to a blessing, Deut. 33:9.

25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock(A) to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.

27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’”(B)

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