So the sonsof Levididas Mosesinstructed,and about threethousandmenof the peoplefellthat day.
O LORDour God,You answeredthem; You were a forgivingGodto them, And [yet] an avengerof their [evil] deeds.
He saidto them, "Thussaysthe LORD,the Godof Israel,'Everyman[of you] puthis swordupon his thigh,and gobackand forthfrom gateto gatein the camp,and killeverymanhis brother,and everymanhis friend,and everymanhis neighbor.'"
Then Mosessaid,"Dedicateyourselvestodayto the LORD--for everymanhas been against his sonand against his brother--in order that He may bestowa blessingupon you today."
Then the LORDsmotethe people,becauseof whatthey didwith the calfwhichAaronhad made.
But on the nextdayallthe congregationof the sonsof IsraelgrumbledagainstMosesand Aaron,saying,"You are the ones who have causedthe deathof the LORD'Speople."
When Phinehasthe sonof Eleazar,the sonof Aaronthe priest,sawit, he arosefrom the midstof the congregationand tooka spearin his hand,
"As for the citieswhichyou shall givefrom the possessionof the sonsof Israel,you shall takemorefrom the largerand you shall takelessfrom the smaller;eachshall givesomeof his citiesto the Levitesin proportionto his possessionwhichhe inherits."
Norlet us actimmorally,as someof them did,and twenty-threethousandfellin oneday.
Who saidof his fatherand his mother,'I did not considerthem'; And he did not acknowledgehis brothers,Nordid he regardhis own sons,For they observedYour word,And keptYour covenant.
