²⁷ Then Moses said to them, “The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: ‘Every man must put on his sword and go through the camp from ·one end to the other [^Lgate to gate]. Each man must kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’” ²⁸ The ·people from the family [^Lsons] of Levi obeyed Moses, and that day about three thousand of the Israelites died. ²⁹ Then Moses said, “Today you have been ·given for service [ordained; ^Cto the priesthood] to the Lord. You were willing to kill your own sons and brothers, and God has blessed you for this.”