When Moses, on returning to the camp, confronted the rebels, his severe rebukes and the indignation he displayed in breaking the sacred tables of the law were contrasted by the people with his brother's pleasant speech and dignified demeanor, and their sympathies were with Aaron. To justify himself, Aaron endeavored to make the people responsible for his weakness in yielding to their demand; but notwithstanding this, they were filled with admiration of his gentleness and patience. But God seeth not as man sees. Aaron's yielding spirit and his desire to please had blinded his eyes to the enormity of the crime he was sanctioning. His course in giving his influence to sin in Israel cost the life of thousands. In what contrast with this was the course of Moses, who, while faithfully executing God's judgments, showed that the welfare of Israel was dearer to him than prosperity or honor or life.

Da Moses ved sin tilbagekomst til lejren stod over for oprørene, sammenlignede folket hans strenge irettesættelse og den harme, han viste, da han knuste de hellige stentavler, med hans broders behagelige tale og værdige optræden, og folkets sympati var på Arons side. For at retfærdiggøre sig søgte Aron at gøre folket ansvarlige for, at han havde været så svag at give efter for deres krav; men til trods herfor var de fulde af beundring for hans mildhed og tålmodighed. Men Gud ser ikke, som mennesker ser. Arons eftergivenhed og hans ønske om at behage havde forblindet hans øjne for den uhyre store forbrydelse, han billigede. Det kostede tusinder livet, at Israel syndede på grund af hans indflydelse. Moses' handlemåde står i skarp modsætning hertil. Samtidig med at han med troskab fuldbyrdede Guds domme, viste han, at Israels velfærd lå ham mere på sinde end fremgang, ære eller selve livet.