What's the Point of Exodus 32?

Alex Castellanos: When you say putting the people to the band, is that a euphemism for killing them?Castellanos: Yeah. Because of the idolatry and sexual immorality of the Canaanites, they will be put under the ban. They will be slain. And on this occasion, these people who are in an unrepentant and in a blatant and high-handed way, they have thrown off the covenant. He says it's as if Israel has now become like the nation of Egypt.