United Commentaries

Num.25.1-18

Israel was camped across the Jordan from Jericho, almost on the eve of conquest, but they plunged to a new low in moral failure and spiritual bankruptcy. Balaam’s advice led to the immorality and apostasy of Baal-peor (31:16); he found a way to damage Israel, if not through a curse, then through lust and idolatry. The same temptation to idolatry and immorality existed for the early church (1 Cor 10:6, 11).

Num.25.1

Acacia Grove: This type of tree thrives in arid regions. From here, Joshua later sent spies across the Jordan, and the Hebrews launched their conquest (Josh 2:1; 3:1).

Moabite women: The Moabites and Midianites shared culpability in the episode involving Balaam (Num 22:2-4, 7; 31:8, 15-16).

Num.25.2

The Israelites participated in worship feasts associated with the gods of Moab (see Ps 106:28).

Num.25.3

Baal of Peor might refer to Chemosh (21:29) by a different name, but probably Baal (“lord”), the Canaanite god, was included on the list of deities honored by the Moabites. Numerous place-names were formed with this deity’s name (e.g., Baal-gad, Baal-hermon, Baal-meon, Baal-peor), representing shrines for local manifestations of Baal. Peor was a mountain from which Balaam could see the Israelite camp in the plains of Moab; the mountain and the related shrine of Beth-peor (23:28; 25:3, 5, 18; 31:16; Deut 3:29; 4:3, 46; 34:6; Josh 13:20; 22:17) were somewhere in the vicinity of Mount Nebo.

Israel’s idolatry caused the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people; this included a plague (Num 25:8-9; 26:1; cp. 11:1, 10; 12:9).

Num.25.4

As he had at Sinai (Exod 32:27-28), the Lord required swift justice.

execute . . . in broad daylight: The guilty parties were perhaps impaled and left out in the sun (see 2 Sam 21:6, 9) so that everyone could see them and learn from their mistakes (cp. 2 Sam 12:12).

Num.25.6

Here another Israelite defiled himself with a foreign woman; apparently both Moabite and Midianite women had been involved in the scandal (25:1-3, 16-18; 31:1-2). The man’s sin was particularly brazen, as he apparently disregarded the judgment and mourning around him.

Some suggest that his tent was an unauthorized shrine associated with the worship of Yahweh, and not just Zimri’s dwelling.

Num.25.7-9

Phinehas, acting as a representative of the priestly family, killed Zimri and Cozbi with one thrust of a spear (25:7-8), which probably indicates that they were engaged in sexual intercourse. Phinehas’s zeal stopped the plague (25:1-3).

Num.25.10-13

Israel’s identity as the Lord’s people was severely threatened by their unfaithfulness on this occasion. Phinehas was as zealous as God in his pursuit of holiness and justice. As a result, Phinehas and his descendants were granted a special status; God made a special covenant of peace with Phinehas, and qualified men in his family inherited a permanent right to the priesthood (cp. Mal 2:5). This unconditional covenant was similar to that extended to David (see Jer 33:19-22).

Num.25.13

The deaths of Zimri and Cozbi helped to purify Israel from its sin; Phinehas’s act had atoning value (see study note on Lev 1:4).

Num.25.16-18

Attack the Midianites and destroy them: This war is recorded in ch 31.