⁸ They have been quick to turn away^(A) from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol^(B) cast in the shape of a calf.^(C) They have bowed down to it and sacrificed^(D) to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’^(E)

⁹ “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked^(A) people.

¹⁶ “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith^(A) with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion^(B) against him now? ¹⁷ Was not the sin of Peor^(C) enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! ¹⁸ And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community^(D) of Israel. ¹⁹ If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle^(E) stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar^(F) for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God.