Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/200

 ments. When he  heard  the  shouts  of  the  people,  and  saw  them dance before  the  golden  calf,  he  dashed  the  tables  to  the  ground and broke  them at  the  foot  of  the  mount. Then, laying  hold of the  calf,  he  burnt  it  and  beat  it  to  powder.

He severely  rebuked  Aaron  for  yielding  to  the  wicked  desires of the  people. Then, standing  in  the  gate  of  the  camp,  he  said: “If any  man  be  on  the  Lord’s  side,  let  him  join  with  me.”  And all the  sons  of  Levi  gathered  around  him. Then Moses  ordered them to  take  their  swords,  go  through  the  camp,  and  slay  every man whom  they  found  practising  idolatry.

They did  as  they  were  commanded,  and about twenty-three  thousand  men  were  put to death  that  day.



Next day  Moses  again  ascended  the mountain, and  earnestly  entreated  the  Lord for His  ungrateful  people. But the  Lord said: “Let  me  alone  that  I may  destroy them.” Still  Moses  insisted,  saying:  “I  beseech  Thee,  this  people  hath  sinned:  either forgive them  this  trespass,  or,  if  Thou  do  not,  strike  me  out  of the  book  that  Thou  hast  written.”

The Lord  heard  his  prayer,  and  ordered  him  to  cut  two other tables  of  stone. Moses obeyed,  and  on  those  tables  the Lord again  wrote  the  Ten  Commandments. But when  Moses came down  from  the  mountain  with  the  tables  in  his  hands,  his face was  so  radiant  with  glory  that  the  Israelites  were  afraid to come  near;  hence  he  veiled  his  face  whenever  he  spoke  to the  people.