20. The Lord was also angry enough with Aaron to kill him, so I prayed for Aaron at the same time.
21. I took that sinful thing that you had made — that metal bull calf — and threw it into the fire. Then I broke it in pieces, ground it to dust, and threw the dust into the stream that flowed down the mountain.
22. “You also made the Lord your God angry when you were at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth Hattaavah.
23. And when he sent you from Kadesh Barnea with orders to go and take possession of the land that he was giving you, you rebelled against him; you did not trust him or obey him.
24. Ever since I have known you, you have rebelled against the Lord.
25. “So I lay face downwards in the Lord's presence those forty days and nights, because I knew that he was determined to destroy you.
26. And I prayed, ‘Sovereign Lord, don't destroy your own people, the people you rescued and brought out of Egypt by your great strength and power.
27. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and do not pay any attention to the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of this people.
28. Otherwise, the Egyptians will say that you were unable to take your people into the land that you had promised them. They will say that you took your people out into the desert to kill them, because you hated them.
29. After all, these are the people whom you chose to be your own and whom you brought out of Egypt by your great power and might.’