Exodus 32:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Moses said, "Today you have been ordained for the service of the Lord, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day."

NIV: Then Moses said, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."

NASB: Then Moses said, 'Dedicate yourselves today to the Lord—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.'

CSB: Afterward Moses said, "Today you have been dedicated to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today."

NLT: Then Moses told the Levites, 'Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the Lord, for you obeyed him even though it meant killing your own sons and brothers. Today you have earned a blessing.'

KJV: For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

NKJV: Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”

Levi was the only tribe to respond to Moses' call for loyal men (Exodus 32:26). This came after Israel pressured Aaron into making an idol (Exodus 32:1–6). Moses assigns the Levites to execute three thousand men as punishment for this breach of the Lord's commandments (Exodus 20:3–6). This echoes the passionate response of their founder, Levi, son of Jacob (Genesis 35:23), who brutally slaughtered those responsible for the rape of his sister (Genesis 34:1–2, 24–26).

This terrible process set Levi apart from the other tribes. Scripture describes this using a Hebrew phrase translated in various ways. Some options refer to consecration, others to dedication. God will assign special duties to the Levites regarding care for His tabernacle (Numbers 1:50–53). They will also be exempted from certain requirements and benefits applied to the other tribes (Numbers 1:49; 8:19, 26; Deuteronomy 14:27; Joshua 13:33).

Exodus 32:25–35 describes Israel's initial punishment for idolatry (Exodus 32:1–6). Moses calls for loyal men; his own tribe of Levi responds. He assigns the men to put several thousand people to death. It seems likely that those executed are leaders who cooperated in making the idol. Moses continues to offer himself as a sacrifice in exchange for God's mercy on Israel. God refuses. Instead, the Lord commands the Israelites to break camp and head for their next destination.

During Moses' long absence (Exodus 24:18), the Israelites lose patience. They demand that Aaron (Exodus 24:14) make them a god they can see. Aaron makes a gold idol from donated jewelry and the people worship it as God. On the mountain, God is furious and sends Moses back. Moses arrives, breaks the stone tablets of God's law which he carried, and destroys the idol. Moses then calls on loyal men to execute those responsible. Aaron is spared, but Israel can anticipate more punishment.

Moses went onto Sinai to communicate with the Lord (Exodus 24:12) and has been gone a long time (Exodus 24:18). He is receiving instructions from God (Exodus 25—31). Meanwhile, Israel falls into idolatry. They break the first two commandments just given at Sinai (Exodus 20:3–6). After delivering initial consequences, God commands Israel to move along and discusses how He will renew His covenant (Exodus 33—34).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.