Numbers 25:1

Moab Seduces Israel

1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

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Numbers 25:1 in Other Translations

KJV

1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

ESV

1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab.

NLT

1 While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women.

MSG

1 While Israel was camped at Shittim (Acacia Grove), the men began to have sex with the Moabite women.

CSB

1 While Israel was staying in Acacia Grove, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.

Numbers 25:1 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 25:1

And Israel abode in Shittim
A place in the plains of Moab, so called from the shittim wood, which grew here in great abundance, so often mentioned in the building of the tabernacle; which was a sort of white thorn, or rather the acacia tree, since there was scarcely any thing else grew in the deserts of Arabia, (See Gill on Exodus 25:5) its full name was Abelshittim, ( Numbers 33:49 ) , here the Israelites abode even to the death of Moses, for this was their last station in the wilderness; they were now on the borders of the land of Canaan, and just ready to enter into it, which is an aggravation of the sins they here fell into, and are next observed:

and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab;
and of Midian also, as appears from ( Numbers 25:6 ) ( Numbers 31:9 Numbers 31:16 ) by the advice of Balaam, the Moabites and Midianites found ways and means to become familiar with the Israelites, and to introduce their daughters into their company and conversation, and being ensnared and enamoured with them, they were drawn to commit lewdness with them, and hereby were led on to commit other abominations, which brought the divine displeasure upon them; so that what they dared not attempt by war, and could not effect by sorceries and divinations, they accomplished by those iniquitous arts, namely, bringing the wrath, the curse, and plague of God upon them.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Numbers 25:1 In-Context

1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods.

3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them.

4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

5 So Moses said to Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.”

Cross References 4

1. S Numbers 21:16; Joshua 2:1; Isaiah 66:11; Joel 3:18; Micah 6:5
2. Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 9:2; 1 Corinthians 10:8; Revelation 2:14
3. S Genesis 19:37
4. Numbers 31:16