AND IN his absence the people of Moses took to worshipping the effigy of a calf [made] of their ornaments, which gave forth a lowing sound."* Did they not see that it could neither speak unto them nor guide them in any way? [And yet] they took to worshipping it, for they were evildoers:

But then, [so they told Moses,* the Samaritan] had produced for them [out of the molten gold] the effigy of a calf, which made a lowing sound;* and thereupon they said [to one another], "This is your deity, and .the deity of Moses-but he has forgotten [his past]