Numbers25
English Standard Version
1While in , the to with the of .
2These the to the of their , and the and bowed to their .
3So himself to . And the of the Lord was against .
4And the Lord to , the of the and in the the Lord, that the of the Lord may from .
5And to the of , of those of his who have themselves to .
6And , of the of and a to his , in the of and in the of the of the of , while they were in the of the of .
7When the of , of the , it, he and the and a in his
8and the of into the and of them, the of and the her . Thus the on the of was .
9Nevertheless, those who by the were .
10And the Lord to ,
11 the of , of the , has my the of , in that he was with my them, so that I did the of in my .
12 , , I to him my of ,
13and it shall be to him and to his him the of a , he was for his and made the of .
14The of the of Israel, who was with the Midianite , was the of , of a belonging to the .
15And the of the who was was the of , who was the of a in .
16And the Lord to , ,
17 the and them down,
18for they have you with their , with they you in the of , and in the of , the of the of , their , who was on the of the on of .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Israelites enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian. (1–5). Phinehas puts Zimri and Cozbi to death. (6–15). The Midianites to be punished. (16–18).
vv1-5
The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity; for none can prevail against God's people if they are not overcome by their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt them, but the enticements of worldly interests and pleasures. Here is the sin of Israel, to which they are enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian. Those are our worst enemies who draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. Israel's sin did that which all Balaam's enchantments could not do; it set God against them. Diseases are the fruits of God's anger, and the just punishments of prevailing sins; one infection follows the other. Ringleaders in sin ought to be made examples of justice.
vv6-15
Phinehas, in the courage of zeal and faith, executed vengeance on Zimri and Cozbi. This act can never be an example for private revenge, or religious persecution, or for irregular public vengeance.
vv16-18
We read not that any Midianites died of the plague; God punished them with the sword of an enemy, not with the rod of a father. We must set ourselves against whatever is an occasion of sin to us, Mt 5:29, 30. Whatever draws us to sin, should be a vexation to us, as a thorn in the flesh. And none will be more surely and severely punished than those who, after Satan's example, and with his subtlety, tempt others to sin.
Key Words
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
שִׁטִּים: Shittim, a place East of the Jordan
עַם: a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
חָלַל: properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute)
זָנָה: to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah)
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
מוֹאָב: Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants
קָרָא: to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
זֶבַח: properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
Cross References
Numbers 25Direct poetic commentary on Israel joining themselves to Baal-peor and eating sacrifices of the dead.
Paul references the plague's death toll (twenty-three thousand vs twenty-four thousand total including executions).
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Hosea explicitly mentions Israel going to Baal-peor and separating themselves unto that shame.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Moses recalls what the Lord did because of Baal-peor, destroying all who followed him.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Commemorates Phinehas's intervention that stood up and executed judgment, staying the plague.
Explicitly connects this incident to Balaam's counsel to cause Israel to trespass at Peor.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Declares that Phinehas's zeal was counted to him for righteousness unto all generations.
Prophetic reference to God's covenant of life and peace established with Levi (Phinehas).
Identifies Shittim as Abel-shittim, the final camp of Israel before crossing Jordan.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Warns against making covenants, eating sacrifices of false gods, and taking their daughters.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Joshua references the 'iniquity of Peor' from which Israel was not yet cleansed.
Lists Zur, Cozbi's father, among the five kings of Midian slain in Israel's vengeance.
Supported by JFB
Jesus condemns Balaam's doctrine of casting a stumblingblock to eat sacrifices to idols.
Establishes the law that bodies hung on a tree must be taken down by sunset.
Supported by JFB
Similar judicial slaughter of idolaters by the Levites to turn away God's wrath.