Numbers 25:7-17

7 1When Phinehas 2the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand
8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.
9 Nevertheless, 3those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

The Zeal of Phinehas

10 And the LORD said to Moses,
11 "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he 4was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in 5my jealousy.
12 Therefore say, 6'Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace,
13 and it shall be to him and to 7his descendants after him the covenant of 8a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.'"
14 The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father's house belonging to the Simeonites.
15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of 9Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian.
16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
17 10"Harass the Midianites and strike them down,

Numbers 25:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 25

The contents of this chapter are, the sin of the people of Israel, their whoredom and idolatry, Nu 25:1-3, their punishment for it, multitudes being slain, Nu 25:4,5, whose number is given, Nu 25:9, the zeal of Phinehas in slaying two notorious offenders, Nu 25:6-8, whose names are observed, Nu 25:14,15 for which he is commended, and the covenant of priesthood was given and confirmed unto him, Nu 25:10-13, and the chapter is concluded with an order to vex the Midianites, for vexing Israel with their wiles, Nu 25:16-18.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Psalms 106:30
  • 2. Exodus 6:25
  • 3. Deuteronomy 4:3; [1 Corinthians 10:8]
  • 4. [2 Corinthians 11:2]
  • 5. Deuteronomy 32:16, 21; 1 Kings 14:22; Psalms 78:58; Zephaniah 1:18; Zephaniah 3:8; 1 Corinthians 10:22; [Exodus 20:5]
  • 6. Malachi 2:4, 5
  • 7. See 1 Chronicles 6:4-15
  • 8. Exodus 40:15
  • 9. Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:21
  • 10. Numbers 31:2, 7
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.