He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”
27. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel He commands the Levites to gird themselves with their swords, to commit slaughter throughout the whole camp; and this may at first sight seem to be cruel and inhuman, when they are forbidden to spare their brothers, their friends, and neighbors; but it was by no means excessive, if we reflect how much more grievous it is...
Moses begins with Aaron, not ordering his death like the ringleaders, because there is a world of difference between those who rush headlong into sin and those surprised by infirmity into it. Aaron deserved to be cut off, and would have been, except Moses interceded for him; now he calls him to repentance, showing him he hardened their hearts and strengthened their hands in idolatry.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 32:21-29
And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses,.... They girded their swords by their sides, went through the camp, and slew their brethren, companions and neighbours, who were keeping holy day in honour of the idol: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men; the Vulgate Latin version reads 23,000, very wrongly; now these being chiefly, if...