Numbers 25:1-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 25:1-5

Here is, I. The sin of Israel, to which they were enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian; they were guilty both of corporal and spiritual whoredoms, for Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor, Num. 25:3. Not all, nor the most, but very many, were taken in this snare. Now concerning this observe, 1. That Balak, by the advice of Balaam, cast this stumbling-block before the children of Israel, Rev. 2:14. Note, Those are our worst enemies that draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 25:6-15

Here is a remarkable contest between wickedness and righteousness, which shall be most bold and resolute; and righteousness carries the day, as no doubt it will at last. I. Never was vice more daring than it was in Zimri, a prince of a chief house in the tribe of Simeon. Such a degree of impudence in wickedness had he arrived at that he publicly appeared leading a Midianitish harlot (and a harlot of quality too like himself, a daughter of a chief house in Midian) in the sight of Moses, and all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:1

And Israel abode in Shittim ,.... A place in the plains of Moab, so called from the shittim wood, which grew here in great abundance, so often mentioned in the building of the tabernacle; which was a sort of white thorn, or rather the acacia tree, since there was scarcely any thing else grew in the deserts of Arabia; see Gill on Exodus 25:5 its full name was Abelshittim, Numbers 33:49 , here the Israelites abode even to the death of Moses, for this was their last station in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:2

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods ,.... That is, the daughters of Moab and Midian, with whom the children of Israel carried on an unlawful correspondence, invited them, their gallants, to come and partake of the feasts which attended the sacrifices of their idols; for part of what was offered to idols a feast was kept with, to which great numbers were invited, and which was observed with all the circumstances of joy and pleasure imaginable, and which was very... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:3

And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor ,.... The name of an idol; one of the Baals, Baal being a general name for an idol; and, to distinguish this from other Baals or idols, it was called Peor, either from its opening its mouth in prophecy, as Ainsworth; or from some obscene posture and action used in the worship of it, being, as it is by many thought to be, the same with Priapus; or rather from the mountain Peor, where it was worshipped, as Jupiter is called Jupiter Olympius, Capitolinus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:4

And the Lord said unto Moses ,.... Being provoked with the sins of the people, he called to him out of the tabernacle, or out of the cloud: take all the heads of the people , the princes of the tribes, not to hang them, but to judge those that worshipped Peor, as Jarchi interprets it; though some think that these having sinned, were ordered to be taken and hanged, and made public examples of; but it can hardly be thought, though there were some that might be guilty of the above sins, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:5

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel ,.... Either the same with the heads of the people, or the rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, according to the distribution by the advice of Jethro: slay ye everyone his men, that were joined unto Baalpeor ; all that were under their several districts and jurisdictions, that were found guilty of that crime; these they are ordered to slay, either with their own hands, or rather cause to be slain by proper persons they should appoint... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:6

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came ,.... From one of the cities of Moab or Midian, the latter rather, by what follows; where he had been, very probably, to an idolatrous feast, and had eaten of the sacrifices, and worshipped idols, and committed fornication with the daughters of the land; and not content with indulging himself with those impurities at a distance and where he was less known: brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman ; into his father's family, into a tent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:7

And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it ,.... Saw the man pass by in this impudent manner, and his whore with him; his spirit was stirred up, he was filled and fired with zeal for the glory of God, and with an holy indignation against the sin and sinner, and with a just concern for the honour of the righteous law of God; and, to prevent others from falling into the same sin, led by the public example of so great a personage, as it appears afterwards this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:8

And he went after the man of Israel into the tent ,.... Into which he went with his harlot; the word here used is different from what is commonly used for a tent: Aben Ezra observes that in the Kedarene or Arabic language there is a word near to it, which Bochart, putting the article "al" to it, says F1 "conclave est camerati operis, quo lectus circumdatur", Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 4. c. 8. Colossians 1092 . Vid. Schultens Animadv. Philolog. in Job. p. 183. , is "alkobba", from whence... read more

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