Numbers 25:15

15 And the woman of Midian who was put to death was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was the head of a family in Midian.

Numbers 25:15 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 25:15

And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was
Cozbi, the daughter of Zur
One of the five kings of Midian, ( Numbers 31:8 ) and so the Samaritan Chronicle says ^F11, it was the daughter of a king that came to a prince of the tribe of Simeon, and enticed him to eat of her food, and worship her idols. The Targum of Jonathan says she was called Selonae, the daughter of Balak, chief of the nation of Moab, whose habitation was in Midian:

he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian;
that is, Zur, the father of Cozbi, was; there were five sons of Midian, whose names are given, ( Genesis 25:4 ) from whence Jarchi concludes, that there were five principal families in Midian, and that this man was the head or chief of one of them, which is not improbable; and that also makes for the honour of Phinehas, that he spared not any for their rank and quality, of whatsoever nation they were.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Apud Hottinger, ut supra. (Smergma Oriental, l. 1. c. 8. p. 448.)

Numbers 25:15 In-Context

13 And by this agreement, he and his sons after him have the right to be priests for ever; because, by his care for the honour of his God, he took away the sin of the children of Israel.

14 Now the man of Israel who was put to death with the woman of Midian was Zimri, the son of Salu, a chief of one of the families of the Simeonites.

15 And the woman of Midian who was put to death was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was the head of a family in Midian.

16 Then the Lord said to Moses,

17 Take up arms against the Midianites and overcome them;