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Patriarchs and Prophets
to fall, if not speedily crushed, would run riot in wickedness, and
would involve the nation in irretrievable ruin. By terrible severity the
evil must be put away. Standing in the gate of the camp, Moses called
to the people, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me.”
Those who had not joined in the apostasy were to take their position
at the right of Moses; those who were guilty but repentant, at the left.
The command was obeyed. It was found that the tribe of Levi had
taken no part in the idolatrous worship. From among other tribes there
were great numbers who, although they had sinned, now signified their
repentance. But a large company, mostly of the mixed multitude that
instigated the making of the calf, stubbornly persisted in their rebellion.
In the name of “the Lord God of Israel,” Moses now commanded those
upon his right hand, who had kept themselves clear of idolatry, to gird
on their swords and slay all who persisted in rebellion. “And there fell
of the people that day about three thousand men.” Without regard to
position, kindred, or friendship, the ringleaders in wickedness were
cut off; but all who repented and humbled themselves were spared.
Those who performed this terrible work of judgment were acting
by divine authority, executing the sentence of the King of heaven.
Men are to beware how they, in their human blindness, judge and
condemn their fellow men; but when God commands them to execute
His sentence upon iniquity, He is to be obeyed. Those who performed
this painful act, thus manifested their abhorrence of rebellion and
idolatry, and consecrated themselves more fully to the service of the
true God. The Lord honored their faithfulness by bestowing special
distinction upon the tribe of Levi.
The Israelites had been guilty of treason, and that against a King
who had loaded them with benefits and whose authority they had
voluntarily pledged themselves to obey. That the divine government
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might be maintained justice must be visited upon the traitors. Yet even
here God’s mercy was displayed. While He maintained His law, He
granted freedom of choice and opportunity for repentance to all. Only
those were cut off who persisted in rebellion.
It was necessary that this sin should be punished, as a testimony to
surrounding nations of God’s displeasure against idolatry. By execut-
ing justice upon the guilty, Moses, as God’s instrument, must leave on
record a solemn and public protest against their crime. As the Israelites
should hereafter condemn the idolatry of the neighboring tribes, their