Numbers 25:1-8

Israel Worships Baal

1 While Israel was staying in Acacia Grove,^{[a] [b]} the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.

2 The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods.^[c]

3 So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor,^[d] and the Lord's anger burned against Israel.^[e]

4 The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute^[f] them in broad daylight before the Lord so that His burning anger may turn away from Israel."

5 So Moses told Israel's judges, "Kill each of the men who aligned themselves with Baal of Peor."

Phinehas Intervenes

6 An Israelite man came bringing a Midianite woman to his relatives in the sight of Moses and the whole Israelite community while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw [this], he got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,

8 followed the Israelite man into the tent,^[g] and drove it through both the Israelite man and the woman-through her belly. Then the plague on the Israelites was stopped,

Numbers 25:1-8 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

• [a] Or in Shittim
• [b] Nm 33:49; Jos 2:1; 3:1; Mc 6:5
• [c] Ex 34:15-16; 1 Co 10:8; Rv 2:14
• [d] Nm 23:28
• [e] Dt 4:3; Ps 106:28-29; Hs 9:10
• [f] Or impale, or hang, or expose; Hb obscure
• [g] Perhaps a tent shrine or bridal tent