Numbers 25:8

And he went after the man of Israel into the tent
Into which he went with his harlot; the word here used is different from what is commonly used for a tent: Aben Ezra observes that in the Kedarene or Arabic language there is a word near to it, which Bochart, putting the article "al" to it, says ^F1, is "alkobba", from whence is the word "alcove" with us; and Aben Ezra says, there was some little difference between the form of a tent and this, as well as others observe ^F2 there was in the matter of it, this being of skins and leather, and the other of hair, boughs of trees the author of Aruch ^F3 says, it was short, or narrow above and broad below, and interprets it a place in which whores were put; and so it is used in the Talmud ^F4 for a brothel house, and is so translated here by some interpreters ^F5:

and thrust both of them through;
with his javelin, spear, or pike;

the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly;
by which, it seems, they were killed in the very act of uncleanness; this was an extraordinary action, done by a person of public authority, and under a more than common emotion of spirit, and not to be drawn into an example by persons of a private character:

so the plague was stayed from the children of Israel;
which had broke out among them and carried off many; even a disease, the pestilence, according to Josephus ^F6; it ceasing upon this fact of Phinehas, shows that that was approved of by the Lord.