Parshas Ki Sisa: Vilna Gaon - Three Thousand Killed For The Ox
"Vayapel Min HaAm Bayom Hahu Kishloshes Alfei Ish." (Ki Sisa 32:28) "Three thousand people were killed in reprisal for the Chait HaEigel." The Medrash says that this is what the pasuk means, that you pay five cattle for each ox (Mishpatim 21:37). What is this Medrash pliah talking about?
The Vilna Gaon answers with a pasuk in Koheles (7:28) that says, "Ish Echad MeiElef Matzasi V'Isha Bichol Eileh Lo Matzasi; I found one man out of a thousand but but among these not even a single woman." The Medrash says that this refers to Chait HaEigel (where they said "Eileh Elohecha Yisrael") where one out of every thousand men sinned, but not even a single woman.
One out of a thousand means that only 600 men sinned. "If so," asks the Medrash, "why did three thousand die?"
"Chamisha Bakar Yishalem Tachas HaShor," the halacha is that if you steal and slughter or sell a cow you pay five times. Therefore, for the Chait of the Eigel or calf, Hashem collected five time which is three thousand.
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