Numbers 25:7-17

7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest saw, he got up from the midst of the community and took a spear in his hand.
8 He went after the man of Israel into the woman's section of the tent, and he drove the two of them, the man of Israel and the woman, into her belly. And the plague among the {Israelites} stopped.
9 The ones who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.
10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
11 "Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, turned away my anger from among the {Israelites} when he was jealous with my jealousy in their midst, and I did not destroy the {Israelites} with my jealousy.
12 Therefore say, 'Behold, I [am] giving to him my covenant of peace,
13 and it will be for him and his {offspring} after him a covenant of an eternal priesthood because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the {Israelites}.'"
14 The name of the man of Israel who was struck with the Midianite woman [was] Zimri son of Salu, a leader of {the family} of the Simeonites.
15 The name of the Midianite woman who was struck [was] Cozbi daughter of Zur, {a leader} of [a] tribe of {the family} in Midian.
16 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "Attack the Midianites and strike them

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.

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [b]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [c]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [d]. Literally "seed"
  • [e]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
  • [f]. Or "the father's house" or "the ancestor's house"
  • [g]. Hebrew "Simeonite"
  • [h]. Literally "a head"
  • [i]. Or "the father's house" or "the ancestor's house"
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