Numbers 25

(1 Corinthians 10:1–13)

1While IsraelH3478 was stayingH3427 in ShittimH7851,1 the menH5971 beganH2490 to indulge in sexual immoralityH2181 withH413 the daughtersH1323 of MoabH4124, 2who also invitedH7121 themH5971 to the sacrificesH2077 for their godsH430. And the peopleH5971 ateH398 and bowed downH7812 to these godsH430. 3So IsraelH3478 joined in worshipingH6775 Baal of PeorH1187, and the angerH639 of the LORDH3068 burnedH2734 againstH3478 them.

4Then the LORDH3068 saidH559 toH413 MosesH4872, “TakeH3947 allH3605 the leadersH7218 of the peopleH5971 and executeH3363 themH853 inH5048 broad daylightH8121 before the LORDH3068, so thatH3068 His fierceH2740 angerH639 may turn awayH7725 from IsraelH3478.”

5So MosesH4872H413 toldH559 the judgesH8199 of IsraelH3478, “Each of you must killH2026 all of his menH376H582 who have joined in worshipingH6775 Baal of PeorH1187.”

The Zeal of Phinehas

6Just thenH2009 an IsraeliteH1121H3478 manH376 broughtH935H7126 toH413 his familyH251 a Midianite womanH4084 in the sightH5869 of MosesH4872 and the wholeH3605 congregationH5712H1121 of IsraelH3478 while theyH1992 were weepingH1058 at the entranceH6607 to the TentH168 of MeetingH4150. 7On seeing thisH7200, PhinehasH6372 sonH1121 of EleazarH499, the sonH1121 of AaronH175 the priestH3548, got upH6965 fromH8432 the assemblyH5712, tookH3947 a spearH7420 in his handH3027, 8followedH935H310 the IsraeliteH3478H376 intoH413 the tentH6898, and drove the spear throughH1856 both of themH8147—through the IsraeliteH376H3478 and on throughH413 the bellyH6897 of the womanH802.

So the plagueH4046 againstH5921 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 was haltedH6113, 9but those who diedH4191 in the plagueH4046 numbered 24,000H702H6242H505.

10Then the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H559, 11“PhinehasH6372 sonH1121 of EleazarH499, the sonH1121 of AaronH175 the priestH3548, has turnedH7725 My wrathH2534 away fromH5921 the IsraelitesH1121H3478; for he was zealousH7065 for My sake among themH8432, so that I did notH3808 consumeH3615 the IsraelitesH1121H3478 in My zealH7068. 12DeclareH559, thereforeH3651, thatH2005 I am grantingH5414 him My covenantH1285 of peaceH7965. 13It will beH1961 a covenantH1285 of permanentH5769 priesthoodH3550 for him and his descendantsH310H2233, becauseH8478 he was zealousH7065 for his GodH430 and made atonementH3722 forH5921 the IsraelitesH1121H3478.”

14The nameH8034 of the IsraeliteH376H3478 who was slainH5221 withH854 the Midianite womanH4084 was ZimriH2174 sonH1121 of SaluH5543, the leaderH5387 of a SimeoniteH8099 familyH1H1004. 15And the nameH8034 of the slainH5221 MidianiteH4084 womanH802 was CozbiH3579, the daughterH1323 of ZurH6698, a tribalH523 chiefH7218 of a MidianiteH4080H1931 familyH1H1004.

16And the LORDH3068H413 saidH1696 to MosesH4872H559, 17“AttackH6887 the MidianitesH4084 and strike them deadH5221. 18ForH3588 theyH1992 assailedH6887 you deceitfullyH5231 whenH834 they seducedH5230 you inH5921 the matterH1697 of PeorH6465 andH5921 their sisterH269 CozbiH3579, the daughterH1323 of the MidianiteH4080 leaderH5387, the woman who was killedH5221 on the dayH3117 the plagueH4046 cameH5921 because ofH1697 PeorH6465.”