And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Read it in contextThe Sin at Peor and Phinehas's Zeal
Start reading at Numbers 25:1 (Numbers 25:1 to Numbers 25:18).
The entire chapter details the events surrounding Israel's idolatry and immorality with the Moabites and Midianites, and God's subsequent judgment and the zealous act of Phinehas.
25:1And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
25:2And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
25:3And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
25:4And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
25:5And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.
25:6And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
25:7And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
25:8And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
25:9And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
25:10And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25:11Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.
25:12Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
25:13And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.
25:14Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
25:15And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.
25:16And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
25:17Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
25:18For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author. He is explicitly credited with writing Israel's journeys at the LORD's command. Biblical references: Numbers 33:2. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Numbers 25:1–25:18): The Israelites, Moabite women, Moses, the judges, and Phinehas are involved in the Baal-peor crisis. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel during the wilderness journey, including the generation preparing to enter Canaan, with the record preserved for later Israel. Biblical references: Numbers 1:1; Numbers 26:63; Numbers 36:13. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The people of Israel were invited by the daughters of Moab to participate in sacrifices to their gods, leading Israel to eat of the sacrifices and bow down to these foreign deities, an act of idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness.
What is God revealing? God reveals His righteous jealousy for His people and His intolerance for idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness, which provokes His anger against Israel.
What is the literary style? Narrative history.
When
When was it written? Approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? Approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
Where
Where did it happen? The events described took place in Shittim.
Where was the author located? The author, Moses, was located in the Wilderness and the plains of Moab.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The Sin at Peor and Phinehas's Zeal (Numbers 25:1 to Numbers 25:18).
Start reading at Numbers 25:1. The entire chapter details the events surrounding Israel's idolatry and immorality with the Moabites and Midianites, and God's subsequent judgment and the zealous act of Phinehas.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage describes Israel's grievous sin at Peor, a significant failure of faithfulness and a major apostasy before their entry into the promised land. It highlights the dangers of idolatry and immorality stemming from interaction with foreign nations, and God's swift judgment. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? The passage demonstrates God's righteous judgment against sin and idolatry, which ultimately points to Christ as the one who perfectly fulfilled God's righteousness and bore the judgment for sin. Phinehas's zealous act of atonement foreshadows Christ's ultimate and perfect atonement, through which true peace and reconciliation with God are established. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Believers today must guard against spiritual idolatry and immorality, avoiding compromise with worldly practices and false religions that draw them away from exclusive devotion to God. We are called to be zealous for God's honor and to remain separate from ungodly influences, recognizing the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Time covered by Numbers
About 38 years
Second year after the exodusBeginning · Numbers 1:1
Israel is counted at Sinai
The opening census is dated to the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt.
Fortieth year after the exodusClosing wilderness period
Israel prepares to enter the land
Aaron’s death is dated to the fortieth year. The closing instructions are given on the plains of Moab before Israel crosses the Jordan.
The dated narrative moves from the second year toward the end of the fortieth year, an interval of roughly 38 years.
View historical notes and sources
This is an approximate span of the narrative, not an exact count of days and not the date when the book was written. Numbers 33:38 dates Aaron’s death; Numbers 36:13 identifies the closing setting. Deuteronomy 1:3 places Moses’ subsequent address in the fortieth year.
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Numbers 25
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Numbers follows Israel in the wilderness and toward the plains of Moab. The narrative moves from one numbered generation to another, combining events with commands for Israel. Distinguish the date of a narrated event from a proposed date of composition. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Deaths and conflicts accompany the approach to Moab. Balaam's oracles are followed by Israel's sin at Peor, keeping blessing and responsibility together.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Deaths and conflicts accompany the approach to Moab. Balaam's oracles are followed by Israel's sin at Peor, keeping blessing and responsibility together.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Numbers
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Numbers follows Israel in the wilderness and toward the plains of Moab. The narrative moves from one numbered generation to another, combining events with commands for Israel. Distinguish the date of a narrated event from a proposed date of composition.
Connection to the wholeDeaths and conflicts accompany the approach to Moab. Balaam's oracles are followed by Israel's sin at Peor, keeping blessing and responsibility together.