The Golden Calf: Part 2

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: He's just Lord Moses hasn't come back yet. 00:00:08 Speaker 1: It's been over a month. 00:00:10 Speaker 3: Who's starting to wonder? 00:00:12 Speaker 4: What if it doesn't come back? 00:00:15 Speaker 3: Make us a god, Lord Aarin the people needing, Oh, they'll lose heart. 00:00:22 Speaker 1: Maybe how a. 00:00:23 Speaker 3: God will put Moses' spirit inside it and will inspire the people as Moses did. 00:00:31 Speaker 5: Go and spread the word to all who share your concerns. Bring me gold, a supply of gold. With this gold, I will do as you ask. Take the gold rings from the ears of your wives, your sons, your daughters. 00:00:47 Speaker 6: And bring them to me. 00:00:49 Speaker 5: What are you thinking, Uncle, Calm down there. 00:00:53 Speaker 6: They only want a symbol to guide there. 00:00:55 Speaker 5: Moses's presence is a comfort to them, and I don't blame them. 00:00:59 Speaker 6: Look at what we've been through, They're still going to be worshiping our God. 00:01:04 Speaker 1: There was no mistaking the animal, heat shaped. The calf stood about two feet tall and three feet long. To buyer approached, inspecting it closely, before turning to the crowd and shouting in triumph Ivrael. 00:01:17 Speaker 3: This is your God who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 00:01:22 Speaker 1: The next day, they did as Aaron had instructed, offering burnt offerings. Before the Golden Calf, food and wine flowed, and by midday the camp's moods swelled to a fever pitch like a wartime victory, but quickly descended into chaos. 00:01:38 Speaker 5: It is not an idol, it's a symbol. 00:01:42 Speaker 2: Call it which you want. 00:01:44 Speaker 3: The result will be the same, and I will not the apartment. 00:01:50 Speaker 6: Come on here, we need to get out of here. 00:01:52 Speaker 3: What you're doing isn't right to buy you. What all of you are doing is evil. This is forbidden in the eyes of our God. How quick will you you forget your promises and forsake your oof? 00:02:08 Speaker 1: A stone found her his temple and sent him flying to the floor. Blood sprang from his temple. He sprang up to escape, but was quickly grabbed by Tabayron tossed into the crowd. They bound him and threw him beside one of the bonfires. Aaron caught Miriam's arm as she rushed forward, holding her back as horror gripped them both. Blood pulled beneath Hou's head, and for a long moment they stood frozen, breath caught, watching his body battered by the mob. When the air finally tore back into Aaron's lungs. He pulled his wailing sister away, I see panic, pushing him through the crowd. They had to escape to wait out the madness somewhere safe. But as he dragged Miriam from the scene, he wondered if there was any coming back from this. In his he knew they hadn't seen the last of the violence. He knew he had made a grave mistake. Moses sat enraptured as he had for days, listening to the Lord's vision for their young nation, the instructions and precincts that would become his people's law, setting them apart from every other nation. As God spoke, his words appeared on the stone tablets, as if an invisible hand inscribed them. Moses had never seen anything like it. Hunger and thirst felt distant, too faint to pull him from his place before God. Then, breaking the majestic sight before him, was a deafening silence. Startled by the suddenness, Moses straightened, realizing his God had stopped speaking, and wondering what caused the interruption. 00:04:01 Speaker 7: Go down at once, Your people, whom you brought up from Egypt, have acted corruptly. They have quickly turned away from the way I commanded them, making an image of the golden calf. They have bowed down to it, sacrificed to it, and declared, Israel, these are your gods who brought you up from Egypt. 00:04:31 Speaker 1: Moses' heart sank, as if reading his very mind. The Lord broke through moses grief. 00:04:38 Speaker 7: I have seen these people, and they are indeed a stiff net people. 00:04:45 Speaker 1: An image sprang to Moses's mind, an ox under its yoke, tossing its head, resisting the reins, refusing its master's commands. 00:04:55 Speaker 7: These people. 00:04:57 Speaker 3: Treacherous, defiant children? Is their memory so short? Have you not lifted the yoke of oppression from them? 00:05:08 Speaker 2: Provided their every need, given them the foundation of a nation. 00:05:12 Speaker 1: Moses' thoughts raced, but in his shock he lost all control. His body vibrated with anger and fear, fear of what would become of his people now that they had so swiftly broken God's commands. 00:05:27 Speaker 7: No, leave me alone, so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation. 00:05:42 Speaker 1: God's words of anger stopped moses racing thoughts. Had God just asked Moses to leave him alone? And did he truly just promise to make Moses into a great nation like Abraham. 00:05:54 Speaker 3: That would be going backward. 00:05:56 Speaker 1: Moses thought these things to himself. What of the promises to his people start over? After all they'd been through. Though Moses knew he'd be safe, the thought of failure, his failure, made him sick. Anger shifted to panic, and in desperation, he instinctively turned to bargaining. 00:06:17 Speaker 3: My God, why does your anger burn against your people, the ones you brought out of Egypt with. 00:06:25 Speaker 2: Great power and a strong hand. Why should the Egyptians say he brought them out only to kill them in the mountains and erase them from the earth. Turn from your fierce finger, relent this disaster plan for your people. 00:06:41 Speaker 3: Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac Israel. 00:06:47 Speaker 2: You swore to them, I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars, and give them this land to inherit forever. Do you remember? 00:06:55 Speaker 1: Moses clung to that last question like a lifeline. He'd already failed as Israel's leader. He could not fail now as their advocate before God. If God had chosen him for this purpose, it indeed had to count for something. It just had to go. 00:07:13 Speaker 7: Leave me returned to the people of Israel. 00:07:17 Speaker 1: Moses was amazed that God had relented, responding to his pleas perhaps this had been the Lord's plan all along. He could have sworn he heard a note of satisfaction in his tone. Did God need to see moses loyalty to his people? Well, Moses was now even more determined to set things right. 00:07:40 Speaker 7: A calf. 00:07:42 Speaker 4: Have they broken their covenantment so quickly, so blatantly? 00:07:45 Speaker 1: Anger rekindled as he carefully lifted the stone tablets and descended the mountain, leaving behind the dark cloud that had been his shelter these forty days. Ho Sheer sat ross legged on a stone, whittling a rough four legged figure, unsure of what it was becoming. His new blade, a gift from the blacksmith after the Amalekite battle, was finer than his old hunting knife from Egypt. He paused, straining to hear was that shouting? He frowned. Camped just below the dense cloud covering the mountain peak, he knew Moses was inside, communing with God. It had been forty days and nights, and Moses hadn't needed the provisions. Hoshier had hunted and kept ready the distant cries grew louder. Hoshier tossed the whittled figure into his camphire, where it caught quickly joining others he'd carved out of idle, waiting. Yes, those were shouts from the camp below. His stomach tightened an invader. Perhaps the snap of a branch behind him made him turn sharply with knife in hand. Moses had returned. Relief flooded Hoshier, and he quickly sheathed his knife. Questions sprang to mind, but moses unreadable expressions stopped him. Moses carried two stone tablets with inscriptions on both sides. Hoshier wondered about their origin, but Moses pressed forward, barely acknowledging him. Scrambling, Hosier stamped out his fire and gathered his supplies, determined not to be left behind Lord Moses no response. Hoshier jogged after him to make up the distance between them. 00:09:31 Speaker 6: Do you hear the shouting? What do you think is happening? Could you see from your vantage point on the mountain. I think those are the sounds of war coming up from the camp. 00:09:40 Speaker 3: It's not the sound of war. That's no victory cry or a cry of defeat. What you're hearing is sound of singing. 00:09:50 Speaker 1: Ho Sheer strained to listen. Yes, there was a rhythmic, melodic quality to the sounds drifting up. He tried asking Moses more, but his lee urgent silence spoke volumes, unsettling him more than the growing clamor. As they descended, Hoshier began to hear horns, strings, drums, and unmistakably singing the celebration, but for what. Moses's face remained inscrutable, though anger, determination, and something like torment flickered across it. What did he know that Hoshia didn't. They continued in silence until they reached the camp's outskirts, where the sounds and smells of feasting and revelry washed over them. Hoshier's mouth watered, but something was off. Why was this happening? A sense of dread crept over him, and he braced himself for what felt like an imminent collision. Each step confirmed Israel's grave betrayal, compounding moses anger. He knew he should acknowledge. Hoshier dazed and trotting by his side, but he couldn't see beyond the mounting, blinding fury, threatening to break his composure. Moses knuckles were white on the stone tablets, and his fingers were numb from his grip. Nothing could have prepared him for the scene. As he entered camp. A drunken madness had overtaken the people. It was like the destruction of Sodom come to life. Immorality, violence, and wild dancing filled every corner. The closer he and Hoshier drew to the center, the worse it grew, with no one sparing him a glance. Hosher's shock was plain, but Moses was already consumed by fury. God had warned him, but seeing it first hand ignited his indignation. Drum beats echoed his racing heart, and in the center of it all was an altar, but for a crude, golden calf. His brother and nephew were nowhere to be found. How could they have led Israel into such blatant idolatry. Moses anger reached a breaking point. How could all their suffering, waiting and survival have led to this? And beneath the rage was annoying guilt. This was his failure. Even if it wasn't his hand that molded the calf, he had appointed the leaders who allowed it. Where had he gone wrong? How could his people betray him like this? But he couldn't spiral into self doubt. Now this injustice demanded correction. The betrayers would pay. He'd cleanse the camp as God had cleansed Sodom, leaving only those who could be reformed. Moses marched up to the stony. 00:12:49 Speaker 6: Outrop hanging over the camp. 00:12:51 Speaker 1: He peered down at all of them. The skies were dark and swirling, mimicking the anger brewing in Moses's heart. 00:13:00 Speaker 3: You stiff next people with. 00:13:03 Speaker 1: Fury, Moses lifted the stone tablets high above his head, shouting as he smashed them down. They descended down into the revelry like a meteor and shattered fragments, striking the musicians and dancers. Everything went silent, and all eyes turned to Moses. The people swayed as the effects of the wine faded under his glare. 00:13:27 Speaker 6: What have you done? 00:13:29 Speaker 1: The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a blade, and it was so silent that the only sound was moses ragged breath. 00:13:38 Speaker 3: What have you done? 00:13:39 Speaker 1: Moses marched down and shoved his way through the crowd. He stepped up to the altar and peered down at the pathetic golden idol they had made for themselves. Moses spat on it. People gasped, earning them another violent shout from Moses. He held up the idol to them. 00:13:57 Speaker 8: So this is what you replace the lawd with a three foot tall cow, the god who hearted seas and sent fire down from heaven, replaced by a bovine that can fit the child's knapsack. 00:14:11 Speaker 1: Moses took the golden calf, hauled it off its pedestal, and smashed it on the ground before his now silent people. He flung the pieces into the blazing fires, and all of Israel watched as the gold and wooden components of the idol crackled and melted down. 00:14:29 Speaker 3: Where's Erren? Where is her? What madness is overcome you all? Have you not a shred of decency, integrity? Where is your loyalty? 00:14:42 Speaker 1: The crowd trembled and whimpered before him at that, but no one dared offer up any answers. Ho Sheer was similarly shaken, disgusted as settlement to his features as he stood behind Moses and watched the scene unfold. Moses turned to him and roared. 00:14:59 Speaker 3: Go and f my elders. Find Aaron and her and bring them to me at once. Surge in every kit and under every bedroom until you'll find the flowers. 00:15:11 Speaker 1: Hoshier flinched at the harshness of Moses's words, but he did not delay in carrying out his orders. At last, Aaron, dragged by the persistently annoying Hoshier, was thrown at Moses' feet. Miriam trailed reluctantly behind, ghost like, her eyes puffy and bloodshot. Aaron peered up at his brother, feeling utterly alone, too stunned to speaks. 00:15:39 Speaker 3: Shy and where is her? 00:15:42 Speaker 6: They would not say, if I haven't been able to find him anywhere. 00:15:46 Speaker 1: Aaron kept his eyes fixed on the ground, refusing to look at the faint crimson stain where Hua's body had lain hours before. Miriam choked out a sob, gesturing to the spot, and ho Sheer gasped as they realized what had happened? 00:16:03 Speaker 3: What by by whose hand? 00:16:07 Speaker 2: Oh, we don't know. 00:16:12 Speaker 4: The mob took you down. 00:16:16 Speaker 1: He tried, he tried to stop the people. 00:16:23 Speaker 5: Run on you. 00:16:29 Speaker 1: Moses then turned his focus back to Aaron, who was still collapsed on the ground, before him. His shock quickly turned to anger as he hurled his accusation at Aaron. 00:16:41 Speaker 3: What did these people do to you that you've led them into such gravesin. 00:16:47 Speaker 5: Don't let your anger burn, my brother. 00:16:49 Speaker 6: You know that people are bent on evil. 00:16:52 Speaker 1: Aaron shot a sharp look at to buyer in the crowd. He would make sure to buy a paid for his nephew's murder, and take any blame he could shift his way. Aaron wasn't going down for this. He'd only done what was necessary to pacify the people's unruliness. 00:17:09 Speaker 5: You know how they get when they're anxious. They came to me saying, make gods for us to lead us. Because as for Moses, who brought us out of Egypt, we don't know what's happened to him. 00:17:21 Speaker 3: Say you made them an idol to replace God. 00:17:25 Speaker 5: They were fearful, there were even rumors of mutiny. 00:17:28 Speaker 6: I did what I thought would unite them. In your absence. I feared for my life and for hers. 00:17:35 Speaker 1: Miriam's sobs intensified at Aaron's words, and he was forced to speak over the sound. It's sickened Aaron, but he forced himself to keep up his bravado. 00:17:47 Speaker 5: So I said, bring your gold, and then I threw it into the fire. 00:17:52 Speaker 6: And then how came this calf? 00:17:55 Speaker 3: How came this calf? Did it trot out for crawl? 00:17:59 Speaker 6: Well, it came out. 00:18:00 Speaker 5: But edid was only meant to be a simple Moses, a reminder of your leadership. I organized the worship of our God, not. 00:18:10 Speaker 6: This idol ah. 00:18:13 Speaker 5: But these people they quickly lost sight of that and slip back into the old ways. Frankly, I'm as horrified as you. 00:18:21 Speaker 1: Still on his knees, Aaron held Moses's gaze, waiting for his brother's judgment. Though moses rage was intense, Aaron sensed something shift, a silent struggle flickering in his eyes. Moses flexed his hands, and Aaron felt a queasiness rise, as if Moses had just bargained for his life with God. He couldn't bring himself to admit his failure, pride weighing his words down even as shame settled in his heart. Mois's fury toward his brother and his grief for her surged, meeting the righteous anger of his God rising in his mind. At that moment, he sensed the Lord's intent to strike down Aaron and the people, Biting back his anger, Moses strengthened his resolve from the mountain, pleading silently for Aaron and the people. They were out of control and he would need to see who could return to reason. Tearing his gaze from his stubborn brother, he stepped back and addressed the disgraced. 00:19:27 Speaker 3: Israelites, whoever is four hour God, come to me? 00:19:32 Speaker 1: A tense stillness hung in the air. Then, cautiously, a group on the edge of the altar timidly stepped forward, mostly from moses tribe, the Levites. From what he could tell, they seemed more or less innocent of the drunken revelry he had witnessed, though they hadn't stopped the idle worship. Moses watched as Nadab and Abie, who emerged from the crowd and helped their father to his feet. The trio approached, ashamed, with Miriam joining them, her face now stoic and determined. Hosheer took his place on moses right, offering a reassuring look. The others hesitated, their guilt, apparent uncertain of what to do. 00:20:16 Speaker 3: Do not come forward if you are unsure where your loyalties lie. You have worshiped before an idle. If you still wish for an earthen leader, I will only tell you this once. You will not find one here. I follow only the true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He will not share worship. 00:20:43 Speaker 1: A few more repentant souls joined the mostly Levite group, while the rest stood uncertain, perhaps wondering if they would be presented with another choice, or possibly regretting their choices. Moses turned his back on the lost Israelites and rest those now standing with him. 00:21:02 Speaker 3: Now listen carefully. This is what our God, the God of Israel, says. Every man fastened his sword to his side. Go back and forth throughout the camp, from entrance to entrance, and each of you kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor. 00:21:24 Speaker 1: Audible gasps went up in the crowd before and behind him. The Levites and others who stood before him looked apprehensive as Moses heard the commotion of what was surely fleeing men and women behind him. 00:21:36 Speaker 3: Though you've been given your command, come back to me here at dawn. Cut anyone down who worshiped at the foot of the idol or is not repentant. 00:21:49 Speaker 1: Moses motioned for Hoshir to follow him. Strode over to a boulder and sat himself upon it. 00:21:55 Speaker 3: Osha'ah, bring me fresh water the food I need to eat out of my stay on the monster. Be quick about it, not terry or entangle yourself in the violence. 00:22:09 Speaker 6: Of the camp. 00:22:11 Speaker 1: Hoshier inclined his head and ran off to obey. Moses watched as those who deemed themselves faithful cut down their brothers, friends, and neighbors. Moses trusted God to judge who should live or die, but his anger was still burning at the people's failure. He sat in tense silence until Hoshier returned safely. Side by side, they watched as the Israelites exacted God's justice upon one another. Aaron kept his sons and Miriam close at the camp's edge, determined to survive the bloody chaos unleashed by his brother's sentence of justice. He hadn't survived slavery and desert trials to become collateral damage. Now unarmed, he wasn't about to risk crossing the camp for his weapons, but nade Ab and Abai, who had their hunting knife, the brothers flanked him and Miriam. 00:23:06 Speaker 6: It was better than nothing. 00:23:08 Speaker 1: Just then to Bia stumbled around the tent corner, clutching a bloody gash in his side. Blood slipped down his leg as he slipped bab still drunk, Aaron smirked. Miriam gripped Aaron's shoulder in recognition. It was as if their God had hand delivered their vengeance for Hoo's murder. To Bia, unaware of them, sank into the shadows to hide. Aaron's eyes glinted with revenge as he seized a bit his knife and stalked forward. He drove the blade into Tobias's back and wrenched his head back to meet his eyes. Fear and understanding flashed into Bias's gaze as Aaron leaned in to whisper. 00:23:53 Speaker 5: The man of the people, it is right that I should bring you to justice for your crimes and leading us as tray to buy. 00:24:01 Speaker 1: A tried to choke out final words, but only foamy, bloody spittle emerged from his gaping mouth. As Aaron twisted the knife further into his back, his eyes glazed and life left them. Aaron shoved him forward with his knife and wiped the blood on his cloak. He then shrank back into the shadows with his family to wait out the rest of the night. Three thousand Israelites lay dead by day's end. At dawn, the survivors returned to the center of camp, but Moses had left before sunrise to climb the mountain again, leaving them to clean up the carnage. Exhausted, he knelt before God as he had for the last forty days before. Everything had gone so wrong. 00:24:51 Speaker 9: My God, these people have committed a grave sin. They did indeed make your God of gold for themselves. 00:25:03 Speaker 1: Moses paused, recalling the words he had planned on his climb. 00:25:08 Speaker 4: Now, if you would only forgive their sin, but if not, please erase me from the book you've written. 00:25:23 Speaker 1: The weight of failure plagued him. If he couldn't teach or lead these people in God's ways, he would rather die than watch their downfall and shame. Finally, the answer. 00:25:34 Speaker 7: Came, whoever has sinned against me, I will erase from my book. Lou, go lead the people to the place I told you about. I He will go before you. But on the day I say to the counts, a y will hold them accountable for their sin. 00:25:55 Speaker 1: God's presence receded. There was nothing more to say. It seemed that the people would still be punished for this crime against their God, but Moses would still lead them until that day. He would also be responsible for preparing the innocence to follow the commandments and laws. It would be them who would take the promised land. When Moses returned to camp. Over the following days, news reached his tent that a voracious plague had inflicted the people. This was one sign he did not need to interpret for them. Justice was being enacted on the remaining guilty Israelites for their crimes against their God. This prey Door conproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Cattina, Max Bard, Zach Slabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People. Narrated by Paul Coltefianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris bag You can hear more prey dot com productions on the Prey dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store. If you enjoyed the Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.