Numbers 25

Numbers 25:1

SHittim] This was the fourty second, or last Mansion or resting place of the Israelite, in their passage toward Canaan out of Egypt.

daughters of Moab] And of Midian also, vers. 17. & 18.

Numbers 25:3

Baal-Peor] Baal the Idol of the Moabites which was on the hill Peor, or Phegnor, Chap. 23. 28. so called from the manner of the Idol worshipped upon that mountaine; and the manner was such, that in it both spirituall and carnall uncleannesse met together, as vice and impudence. Heb. the God of opening, or nakednesse: by which is meant the abominable and shamelesse Idolatry of Priapus. Isid. Etymol. 50: 8. 100: 11.

Numbers 25:4

beads] The capitall offenders in that Trespasse; or the chiefe Rulers who gave way to such wickednesse.

against the sunne] Openly, in the sight of all (as Sauls sonnes, 2 Samuel 21:8.) for example of caution or warning to the rest; for things that are so done, are said in the Hebrew phrase to be done in the sight of the Sunne: See 2 Samuel 12:11.

Numbers 25:5

Slay you every one] Let him see execution done on them that are under his charge.

Numbers 25:6

one of the children] Named Zimrj, vers. 14.

Midianitish woman] For fleshly abuse; which sheweth that spirituall and corporall whoredome are sister sinnes.

weeping] For the offence and punishment in the matter of Baal-Peor, vers. 3.

Numbers 25:9

twenty and foure thousand] Of these, twenty and three thousand died by the immediate hand of God, and those are reckoned to twenty three thousand who fell in one day, 1 Corinthians 10:8. but besides these, there was execution done upon others, vers. 4, 5. which might make up another thousand; and though it be said, that 24. thousand died of the Plague, the word rendered Plague, by the best Interpreters of the Originall, may be read stroke, there dyed of that stroke of Divine justice (for all was either of Gods bidding or his doing) twenty foure thousand; the lesser number taken away by mans hand cast into the greater number, and so making up the totall of twenty foure thousand, there is rather a subordination then a contradiction, for the lesser number is contained in the greater.

Numbers 25:11

that I consumed not] Zeale of justice in the cause of God is a meanes to procure Gods mercy to man.

Numbers 25:13

everlasting Priest-bood] The word everlasting, as the words for ever, when applied to the Ceremoniall Law, and Priest-hood, import not either a duration of time without end, or a perpetuitie without interruption; for both that Law and Priest-hood expired when Christ the end of both (prefigured by them) was exhibited, but a long continuance of time; and so it was in the High-priest-bood of Phinehas the sonne of Eleazar; for though for a time, for the fallings of part of them who were to succeede him in it, the Priest-hood passed over from the line of Eleazar to the line of Ithamar his brother, in Eli his sonne, nephew, and great grand-child; yet afterward they of Elies race being corrupted, and the other reformed, it returned to the posteritie of Phinehas againe; which returne began in Davids time, who equally accepted of Abiathar of the posteritie of Eli, and of Zadok of the stock of Phinehas (2 Samuel 15:35. & 1 Chron. 15. 11.) and was protected by Solomon when he put downe Abiathar, who was the posteritie of Ithamar, and Eli; and set up Zadok in his stead, who had for his Ancestors in bloud, Eleazar, and Phinehas, 1 Kings 2:11. to whose Family when it was restored, it there continued (as some make the measure) to the coming of Christ; but certainely it held out a great while, whether we consider the person of Phinehas, who was yet alive at the Battell betwixt the Benjamites and the rest of the Israelites, Judg. 20. 28. or his posteritie, who had a succession of the Priest-hood (except for the interposition fore-mentioned) even after the captivie, Ezra 7. 1, &c. untill or very neere the approach of our Evangelicall Highpriest after the order of Melchisedec, (as our Saviour is called, Heb. 5. vers. 6.) See Annot. on Chap. 20. vers. 16.

Numbers 25:17

vex the Midianites] Take them for your enemies, and use them as enemies, because they cunningly plotted to insnare you in sinne, and to bring you to ruine; he saith not so of the Moabites, (though they were very faulty in corrupting the Israelites, vers. 2.) which may be either in favour to Lot, (as for his sake the Ammonites are favoured, Deut. 2. 19) or because Christ was to come of Ruth a Moabitesse; or because they were not so full of malignitie as the Midianites were, yet afterwards the Moabites never the better for any favour shewed them, were severely chastised by David, 2 Samuel 8:2.

Numbers 25:18

beguiled you] Causing you to commit both corporall and spirituall fornication by Balaams counsell, Chap. 31. 16. Revelation 2:14.