Numbers 25

Israel Falls for Moabite Women & Worships Baal

1 While Israel was camped at Shittim, the men started messing around with Moabite women.

2 These women invited them to their sacrifices for their gods, and the Israelites ate with them and bowed down to their gods.

3 Before long, Israel was worshiping Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger burned against them.

4 The Lord told Moses, “Take all the leaders of these sinful men and execute them in broad daylight, so My anger can be turned away from Israel.”

5 So Moses told Israel’s judges, “Each of you must put to death the men in your tribes who have been worshiping Baal of Peor.”

Phinehas Steps Up & Stops the Plague

6 Right in front of Moses and everyone gathered at the entrance of the Tabernacle, an Israelite man boldly brought a Midianite woman into his tent.

7 When Phinehas, son of Eleazar (the son of Aaron), saw this, he grabbed a spear.

8 He followed the man into his tent and ran the spear through both him and the woman, killing them instantly. Then the plague that had been striking Israel stopped.

9 But 24,000 people had already died from the plague.

God Rewards Phinehas for His Zeal

10 The Lord told Moses.

11 “Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, turned away My anger from Israel because he was as passionate for My honor as I am. That is why I did not destroy Israel in My anger.”

12 “Tell him that I am making a covenant of peace with him.”

13 “This is an everlasting covenant of priesthood for him and his descendants because he was passionate for his God and made atonement for Israel.”

God Orders the Midianites to Be Taken Out

14 The Israelite man who was killed was Zimri, son of Salu, a leader from the Simeonite tribe.

15 The Midianite woman was Cozbi, daughter of Zur, a prominent chief among the Midianites.

16 The Lord told Moses.

17 “Attack the Midianites and strike them down!”

18 “They have deceived you and led you into sin with their tricks, both in the Baal of Peor incident and through Cozbi, the Midianite woman, who was killed during the plague that struck Israel.”