Numbers 25:1-8

1 Yisra'el abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Mo'av:

2 for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods; and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods.

3 Yisra'el joined himself to Ba`al-Pe`or: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Yisra'el.

4 The LORD said to Moshe, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to the LORD before the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Yisra'el.

5 Moshe said to the judges of Yisra'el, Kill you everyone his men who have joined themselves to Ba`al-Pe`or.

6 Behold, one of the children of Yisra'el came and brought to his brothers a Midyanite woman in the sight of Moshe, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.

7 When Pinechas, the son of El`azar, the son of Aharon the Kohen, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand;

8 and he went after the man of Yisra'el into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Yisra'el, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Yisra'el.

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.