Numbers 25:15

15 The name of the Midyanite woman who was slain was Kozbi, the daughter of Tzur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midyan.

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 it shall be to him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Yisra'el.

14 Now the name of the man of Yisra'el that was slain, who was slain with the Midyanite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers' house among the Shim`oni.

15 The name of the Midyanite woman who was slain was Kozbi, the daughter of Tzur; he was head of the people of a fathers' house in Midyan.

16 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,

17 Vex the Midyanim, and strike them;