Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain.

The people kept ¹  their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness ²  where God was. ³ 

So all ¹  the people broke off the gold earrings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron.

So they got up early on the next day and offered up burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, ¹  and they rose up to play. ² 

When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, ¹  he said to Moses, “It is the sound of war in the camp!”

Moses saw that the people were running wild, ¹  for Aaron had let them get completely out of control, causing derision from their enemies. ² 

And the Lord sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf ¹  – the one Aaron made. ² 

When the people heard this troubling word ¹  they mourned; ²  no one put on his ornaments.

(Now the Lord granted the people favor with ¹  the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s servants and by the Egyptian people.) ² 

¹ When Pharaoh released ²  the people, God did not lead them ³  by the way to the land ⁴  of the Philistines, ⁵  although ⁶  that was nearby, for God said, ⁷  “Lest ⁸  the people change their minds ⁹  and return to Egypt when they experience war.”

When it was reported ¹  to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, ²  the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, ³  “What in the world have we done? ⁴  For we have released the people of Israel ⁵  from serving us!”

But the people were very thirsty ¹  there for water, and they murmured against Moses and said, “Why in the world ²  did you bring us up out of Egypt – to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?” ³ 

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come ¹  to you in a dense cloud, ²  so that the people may hear when I speak with you and so that they will always believe in you.” ³  And Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

“I will grant this people favor with ¹  the Egyptians, so that when ²  you depart you will not leave empty-handed.

He ¹  will speak for you to the people, and it will be as if ²  he ³  were your mouth ⁴  and as if you were his God. ⁵ 

Aaron spoke ¹  all the words that the Lord had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people,

and the people believed. When they heard ¹  that the Lord had attended to ²  the Israelites and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed down close to the ground. ³ 

The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? ¹  Return to your labor!”

Then Pharaoh summoned ¹  Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray ²  to the Lord that he may take the frogs away ³  from me and my people, and I will release ⁴  the people that they may sacrifice ⁵  to the Lord.”

But Pharaoh hardened ¹  his heart this time also and did not release the people.