Numbers 25:6

"Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor.”"

Key Reflection

In Numbers 25:6, Moses issues a direct command to the judges of Israel to execute judgment against those who had engaged in idolatrous worship at Baal Peor. This event occurred after the Israelites’ victory over Moab and the subsequent enticement by Moabite women, leading many Israelites to participate in Baal worship, which included sexual rites. The original audience would have understood this as a severe and swift punishment for breaking covenant laws, emphasizing the gravity of idolatry and the need for strict enforcement of divine mandates.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

A Midianite woman -literally, “the Midianite woman,” the particular one by whom he had been enticed (compareNumbers 25:15andNumbers 31:18). Her high rank proves that Zimri had not fallen in with her by mere chance, but had been deliberately singled out by the Midianites as one whom they must at any price lead astray.

More from Numbers 25

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion