Moses told them to do what?!

Exodus 32:26-29(NKJV)

26then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’S side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him. 

27And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let every man put his sword on his side, and go in and out from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and let every man kill his brother, every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’” 

28So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And about three thousand men of the people fell that day. 

29Then Moses said, “Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, that He may bestow on you a blessing this day, for every man has opposed his son and his brother.”

What the heck?  Didn't Moses just come down off of the mountain with the 10 Commandments inscribed on tablets?  And what was one of the ten?  Thou shall not murder! 

Now Moses did nothing more than relay an order from God.  So God told the sons of Levi to go kill these people for the sin that they had committed.  They had worshipped other gods.  Then after they were done God blessed them for doing it!

Now did God just contradict himself here?  Did He just order all of these people murdered?  Did God just reward them for doing evil?  Or is there a distinction here that we need to understand?      Unless you think God condones and blesses evil then there has to be another explanation.

I think that the difference is killing carried out as part of righteous judgment from God is not considered murder or evil in His eyes.  In other words there is a distinct difference between murder and punishment in God's Word.

Oh but that is just the OT, it's different now.  Is it?

Matthew 10:34-37(NKJV)

34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ £ 

37He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

Notice the similarities?  In both cases it was about choosing sides.  Are you on God's side or not?