37. Moses is the one who told the people of Israel, “God will choose one of your people to be a prophet, just as he chose me.”
38. Moses brought our people together in the desert, and the angel spoke to him on Mount Sinai. There he was given these life-giving words to pass on to us.
39. But our ancestors refused to obey Moses. They rejected him and wanted to go back to Egypt.
40. The people said to Aaron, “Make some gods to lead us! Moses led us out of Egypt, but we don't know what's happened to him now.”
41. Then they made an idol in the shape of a calf. They offered sacrifices to the idol and were pleased with what they had done.
42. God turned his back on his people and left them. Then they worshipped the stars in the sky, just as it says in the Book of the Prophets, “People of Israel, you didn't offer sacrifices and offerings to me during those forty years in the desert.
43. Instead, you carried the tent where the god Molech is worshipped, and you took along the star of your god Rephan. You made those idols and worshipped them. So now I will have you carried off beyond Babylonia.”