Numbers 25:15-18

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 25:16-18

God had punished the Israelites for their sin with a plague; as a Father he corrected his own children with a rod. But we read not that any of the Midianites died of the plague; God took another course with them, and punished them with the sword of an enemy, not with the rod of a father. 1. Moses, though the meekest man, and far from a spirit of revenge, is ordered to vex the Midianites and smite them, Num. 25:17. Note, We must set ourselves against that, whatever it is, which is an occasion... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:17

Vex the Midianites, and smite them. Go to war with them, and smite them with the sword; not the Moabites, but the Midianites, though they were both confederates against Israel; but God had given a charge not to contend in battle with Moab, Deuteronomy 2:9 , they were spared for the sake of Lot, from whom they sprang; and, as Jarchi says, for the sake of Ruth, who was to come from them; and so in the Talmud F12 T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 38. 2. ; though they did not entirely escape the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 25:18

For they vex you with their wiles ,.... Not with wars, but with wiles, with cunning stratagems, and artful methods to draw them into sin, that thereby they might be exposed to the wrath of God: wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor ; the idol Peor, that is, Baalpeor; which seems to countenance the notion that Peor was the name of a man, some great personage, who was deified after his death; now the Midianites beguiled the Israelites, by sending their daughters among... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:17

Vex the Midianites, etc. - See this order fulfilled, Numbers 31:1-20. Twelve thousand Israelites attacked the Midianites, destroyed all their cities, slew their five kings, every male, and every grown up woman, and took all their spoils. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 25:17

Verse 17 17.Vex the Midianites, and smite them. Inasnmch as God constantly forbids His people to take vengeance, it is surprising that the people of Israel should now be instigated to do so; as if they were not already more than enough disposed to it. We must bear in mind, however, that since God, who is the just avenger of all wickedness, often makes use of men’s instrumentality, and constitutes them the lawful ministers for the exercise of his vengeance, it must not be altogether condemned... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 25:1-18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Numbers 25:1-18

It is necessary in the first place to point out that the act of Phinehas did really receive stronger testimony from God than any other act done proprio motu in the Old Testament. What he did was not done officially (for he held no office), nor was it clone by command (for the offenders were not under his jurisdiction as judge), nor in fulfillment of any revealed law or duty (for no blame would have attached to him if he had let it alone), and yet it had the same effect in staying the plague... read more

Group of Brands