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.’”^{(A) 28} The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died.

⁴ And you will know that I have sent you this warning so that my covenant with Levi^(A) may continue,” says the Lord Almighty.

⁵ “My covenant was with him, a covenant^(A) of life and peace,^(B) and I gave them to him; this called for reverence^(C) and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.