²⁵ Moses saw that the people were ·acting wildly [out of control]. Aaron had let them ·get out of control [act wildly] and become ·fools [the object of slander] in front of their enemies. ²⁶ So Moses stood at the ·entrance [^Lgate] to the camp and said, “·Let anyone who wants to follow [^LWhoever is for] the Lord come to me.” And all the ·people from the family of [^Lsons of] Levi gathered around Moses.

²⁷ Then Moses said to them, “The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: ‘Every man must put on his sword and go through the camp from ·one end to the other [^Lgate to gate]. Each man must kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” ²⁸ The ·people from the family [^Lsons] of Levi obeyed Moses, and that day about three thousand of the Israelites died. ²⁹ Then Moses said, “Today you have been ·given for service [ordained; ^Cto the priesthood] to the Lord. You were willing to kill your own sons and brothers, and God has blessed you for this.”