the three men were preparing to build a house in the middle of the desert

According to the story, after the israelites were freed from slavery in egypt, they journeyed through the wilderness for many years, led by moses and aaron. while moses was on mount sinai receiving the ten commandments from god, the israelites became impatient and asked aaron, moses' brother, to make them a god to worship. aaron complied and made a golden calf, which the israelites began to worship and offer sacrifices to. when moses returned and saw what was happening, he became angry and threw the tablets containing the ten commandments to the ground, breaking them. he then had the golden calf melted down and the metal was used to make a basin for the tabernacle, a portable sanctuary for worship.