Numbers 25:16-18

16 The LORD said to Moses,

17 “Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them.

18 They treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the Peor incident involving their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of that incident.”

Numbers 25:16-18 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

• 1. Numbers 31:7
• 2. Numbers 31:1-3
• 3. Exodus 23:22; Judges 2:16-18; Nehemiah 9:27; Psalms 8:2; Psalms 21:8; Psalms 74:23
• 4. Deuteronomy 21:1; 1 Samuel 17:9,35; 2 Kings 9:27; 2 Kings 10:25
• 5. S Numbers 23:28; Numbers 31:16