The golden calf
Exodus 32; Deuteronomy 9:7–21; Acts 7:39–41; 1 Corinthians 10:7
While Moses was on the mountain for forty days, the people made a golden calf and worshiped it; Moses broke the tablets and interceded for them.
He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 32:4 (World English Bible)
Tired of waiting, the people pressed Aaron to make gods to lead them. He melted their gold into a calf, and they held a feast in its honor, only weeks after hearing “You shall have no other gods before me.”
God threatened to destroy the nation and start again with Moses. Moses pleaded God's own promises and reputation, and God relented. Coming down, Moses smashed the tablets, ground the calf to powder, and called for those on Yahweh's side; the Levites answered.
Places
Dating notes
At the end of Moses' first forty days on the mountain (Exodus 24:18; 32:1). Ussher places it in the fourth month of 1491 BC.