Reading Exodus with Leon Kass: Moses and the Levites

Once a week, Mosaic has taken to publishing brief excerpts of Leon R. Kass’s new book on Exodus, Founding God’s Nation. Curious about one of the foundational texts of the Jewish tradition? Read along with us. To read earlier excerpts, go here.

This week, Jewish communities all over the world begin their study of Exodus 30:11-34:35, a portion of the text named Ki Tisa. This portion—the longest in the book of Exodus—includes the episode of the Golden Calf, in which, while Moses remains atop Mount Sinai, the Israelites below fashion from the golden earrings they took from Egypt an idol to worship. Upon learning of this violation of the Israelites’ twice ratified covenantal promise not to worship any other gods, Moses persuades God not to destroy them.

But Moses himself descends from the mountain in order to punish the people on account of this grave sin, and to reestablish order. He does so in one of the most dramatic and violent actions in the book of Exodus. Moses recruits to his side his fellow Levites, and orders that “each man kill his brother and each man his fellow and each man his kin” (Exodus 32:27). Before interpreting Moses’ response, Leon Kass offers a challenge: “Whether or not you like what he did, see if you have a better idea.”