Numbers 25:6-16 NIV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:14

Now the name of the Israelite that was slain ,.... By Phinehas, as before related: even that was slain with the Midianitish woman ; who was slain also, both together with one thrust: was Zimri, the son of Sela, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites ; or a prince of his father's house, or family; there were five families of the Simeonites, and this man was a prince of one of them, see Numbers 26:12 though Josephus F8 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 10. , and so the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:15

And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur ,.... One of the five kings of Midian, Numbers 31:8 and so the Samaritan Chronicle says F11 Apud Hottinger, ut supra. (Smergma Oriental, l. 1. c. 8. p. 448.) , it was the daughter of a king that came to a prince of the tribe of Simeon, and enticed him to eat of her food, and worship her idols. The Targum of Jonathan says she was called Selonae, the daughter of Balak, chief of the nation of Moab, whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:16

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... This was some time after the above affair happened; how long it was is not certain; and a little time before the death of Moses, see Numbers 31:1 , saying ; as follows. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:6

One of the children of Israel - Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief family in the tribe of Simeon, Numbers 25:14 , brought a Midianitish woman, Cozbi, daughter of Zur, head over a people of one of the chief families in Midian, Numbers 25:15 . The condition of these two persons plainly proves it to have been a matrimonial alliance, the one was a prince, the other a princess; therefore I must conclude that fornication or whoredom, in the common sense of the word, was not practiced... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:8

Thrust both of them through - Inspired undoubtedly by the Spirit of the God of justice to do this act, which can never be a precedent on any common occasion. An act something similar occurs in our own history. In 1381, in the minority of Richard II., a most formidable insurrection took place in Kent and Essex; about 100,000 men, chiefly under the direction of Wat Tyler, seized on London, massacred multitudes of innocent people, and were proceeding to the greatest enormities, when the king... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:9

Those that died - were twenty and four thousand - St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:8 , reckons only twenty-three thousand; though some MSS. and versions, particularly the latter Syriac and the Armenian, have twenty-four thousand, with the Hebrew text. Allowing the 24,000 to be the genuine reading, and none of the Hebrew MSS. exhibit any various reading here, the two places may be reconciled thus: 1,000 men were slain in consequence of the examination instituted Numbers 25:4 , and 23,000 in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:12-13

My covenant of peace - of an everlasting priesthood - As the word peace implied all kinds of blessings, both spiritual and temporal, it may mean no more here than the promise of God, to grant him and his family the utmost prosperity in reference to both worlds. The everlasting priesthood refers properly to the priesthood of Christ which was shadowed out by the priesthood under the law; no matter in what family it was continued. Therefore the עולם כהנת kehunnath olam , or eternal... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:6

Verse 6 6.And, behold, one of the children of Israel came. Moses here relates a case which was foul and detestable beyond others. There is no doubt but that many, in the midst of such gross licentiousness as had now for some time generally prevailed, had filled the camp with various scandalous offenses; but there was something peculiarly enormous in the atrocity of this act, in that this impious despiser of God wantonly insulted both God and men amidst the tears and lamentations of all, as if... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:7

Verse 7 7.And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar. The courage of Phinehas is celebrated, who, whilst the rest were hesitating, inflamed with holy zeal, hastens forward to inflict punishment. The backwardness of others is therefore condemned by implication, though their tears were praiseworthy; but, since they were almost stupified by grief, their virtue was not dear from all defect. And certainly, whilst the yet unbridled licentiousness of the people was foaming like a tempestuous sea, we cannot... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:9

Verse 9 9.And those that died in the plague. Paul, when he says that only twenty-three thousand died, appears to differ from Moses; but we know that the exact account of numbers is not always observed, and it is probable that about twenty-four thousand were slain. Paul, therefore, subtracted one thousand, and was content with the lesser number; (185) from which, however, we may perceive how severe and terrible was the punishment, teaching us to beware of provoking God by fornication. For, as it... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:12-13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:9

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