Numbers 25

1 While Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] was staying [dwelling, remaining] in Shittim [the Valley of Acacias, a place east of the Jordan River], the men began [to profane, to start anew] to indulge [commit, play the harlot] in sexual immorality [fornication, unfaithfulness] with the daughters [female children, women] of Moab [the land and descendants of Lot’s son], word study 2 who also invited [called to participate, summoned] them to the sacrifices [offerings, acts of worship] for their gods [idols, false deities]. And the people [nation, community] ate [partook, devoured] and bowed down [worshiped, prostrated themselves] to these gods [idols, pagan deities]. word study 3 So Israel [the descendants of Jacob] joined [united, coupled] in worshiping [serving, honoring] Baal [the Lord, master] of Peor [the gap, a mountain], and the anger [wrath] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] burned [was kindled, incensed] against them [His people, Israel]. word study 4 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to Moses, “Take [seize, arrest] all the leaders [chiefs, princes] of the people and execute [hang, dislocate] them in broad daylight before [before the sun, in full view] the LORD, so that His fierce anger [burning wrath, intense emotion] may turn away [return, be withdrawn] from Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen people].” word study 5 So Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] told the judges [rulers, governors] of Israel, “Each of you must kill [slay, put to death] all of his men [individuals, persons] who have joined [linked, devoted] in worshiping [serving, honoring] Baal [a false god, an idol] of Peor [a place of idolatrous worship].” word study 6 Just then [behold, look] an Israelite [a son of Israel, a descendant of Jacob] man [a male person, individual] brought to his family [brothers, relatives] a Midianite [from the tribe of Midian, a foreign woman] woman [a female person, wife] in the sight [before the eyes, in full view] of Moses [the leader, prophet] and the whole congregation [assembly, gathering] of Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob] while they [the Israelites, God’s people] were weeping [crying, mourning] at the entrance [door, gateway] to the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [worship, assembly]. word study 7 On seeing [beholding, perceiving] this, Phinehas [a priest, grandson of Aaron] son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron [the first high priest] the priest [one who serves God and leads others in worship], got up [rose, stood] from the assembly [congregation, gathering], took [grasped, seized] a spear [javelin, lance] in his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share], word study 8 followed [pursued, went after] the Israelite [man of Israel, descendant of Jacob] into his tent [pavilion, brothel house], and drove the spear [thrust, pierced] through both of them—through the Israelite [man of Israel] and on through the belly [stomach, abdomen] of the woman [female, wife]. So the plague [pestilence, divine judgment] against the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] was halted [restrained, stopped], word study 9 but those who died [came to their death, perished] in the plague [divine judgment, pestilence] numbered [were counted as] 24,000 [twenty and four thousand, a large multitude]. word study 10 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate] to Moses [the Israelite leader, receiver of the law], word study 11 “Phinehas [the son of Eleazar, a descendant of Aaron] son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest [who served as a mediator between God and the people], has turned My wrath [intense anger, rage] away from the Israelites [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]; for he was zealous [passionately dedicated, having God’s zeal] for My sake [on My behalf, in My interest] among them, so that I did not consume [destroy, annihilate] the Israelites in My zeal [my intense love and passion for what is right]. word study 12 Declare [say, proclaim], therefore [thus, so], that I am granting [giving, making] him My covenant [promise, agreement] of peace [shalom, completeness, wellness, friendship] [a special peace agreement, the peace of My covenant]. word study 13 It will be a covenant [promise, agreement, treaty] of permanent [everlasting, age-during] priesthood [office of priest, spiritual leadership] for him and his descendants [seed, offspring], because he was zealous [jealous, passionately dedicated] for his God [Elohim, the supreme One] and made atonement [covered, reconciled, made forgiveness possible] for the Israelites [children of Israel, God’s chosen people].” word study 14 The name [identity, reputation] of the Israelite [a descendant of Jacob, from the tribe of Israel] who was slain [put to death, killed] with the Midianite [from the tribe of Midian, a people known for strife] woman was Zimri [meaning ‘my music’ or ‘my praise’] son of Salu [meaning ‘valor’ or ‘strength’], the leader [prince, chief] of a Simeonite [from the tribe of Simeon, a son of Jacob] family [house, clan]. word study 15 And the name [identity, character] of the slain [smitten, killed] Midianite [from the tribe of Midian] woman was Cozbi [a Midianite woman, infamous for her actions], the daughter [female child, woman] of Zur [meaning rock, a personal name], a tribal chief [head, leader] of a Midianite family [people, community, house of a father]. word study 16 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate] to Moses [the Israelite leader, prophet], word study 17 “Attack [vex, harass, or take up arms against] the Midianites [those from the tribe of Midian, known for strife and conflict] and strike [smite, hit, or overcome] them [as enemies, namely the object of God’s judgment] dead. word study 18 For they assailed [vexed, troubled] you deceitfully [with their wiles, cunningly] when they seduced [beguiled, deceived] you in the matter [affair, thing] of Peor [a mountain where idolatry occurred] and their sister [relative, kin] Cozbi [a Midianite woman], the daughter [female child] of the Midianite [from the tribe of Midian] leader [prince, chief], the woman [female] who was killed [slain, smitten] on the day [time, period] the plague [pestilence, divine judgment] came because of Peor [the idol, the mountain].” word study