Numbers 25:1-9

1While Israel was staying at Shittim, the men began to have sex with Moabite women

2who invited the people to the sacrifices offered to their gods. The people ate the meat from the sacrifices and worshiped these gods.

3Since the Israelites joined in worshiping the god Baal of Peor, the Lord became angry with Israel.

4The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people, and execute them in broad daylight in the Lord’s presence. This will turn the Lord’s anger away from Israel.”

5So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill the men who have joined in worshiping the god Baal of Peor.”

6One of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman to his brothers. He did this right in front of Moses and the whole community of Israel while they were crying at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

7Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of the priest Aaron, saw this. So he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand,

8and went into the tent after the Israelite man. He drove the spear through the man and into the woman’s body. Because of this, the plague that the Israelites were experiencing stopped.

9However, 24,000 people died from that plague.