Moses in the mount was warned of the apostasy in the camp 318 and was directed to return without delay. "Go, get thee down," were the words of God; "thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made them a molten calf, and have worshiped it." God might have checked the movement at the outset; but He suffered it to come to this height that He might teach all a lesson in His punishment of treason and apostasy.

Moses blev underrettet på bjerget om frafaldet i lejren og blev straks sendt tilbage. "Skynd dig og stig ned," sagde Herren, "thi dit folk, som du førte ud af Ægypten, har handlet ilde; hastig veg de bort fra den vej, jeg bød dem at vandre; de har lavet sig en støbt tyrekalv og tilbedt den." Gud kunne have standset dette frafald lige fra begyndelsen; men han lod det komme så vidt for at vise alle, hvordan han straffer forræderi og frafald.