Verse 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 is the word "alcove" with us; and Aben Ezra says, there was some little difference between the form of a tent and this, as well as others observe F2 Castel. Lex. Heptaglot. Colossians 3261 . there was in the matter of it, this being of skins and leather, and the other of hair, boughs of trees, &c.; the author of Aruch F3 Baal Aruch, fol. 133. 4. says, it was short, or narrow above and broad below, and interprets it a place in which whores were put; and so it is used in the Talmud F4 T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 17. 2. for a brothel house, and is so translated here by some interpreters F5 אל הקבה "in lupanar", V. L. "ad lupanar", Montanus; "in lupanar ipsum", Junius & Tremellius; "in fornicem", Tigurine version. :
and thrust both of them through ; with his javelin, spear, or pike:
the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly ; by which, it seems, they were killed in the very act of uncleanness; this was an extraordinary action, done by a person of public authority, and under a more than common emotion of spirit, and not to be drawn into an example by persons of a private character:
so the plague was stayed from the children of Israel ; which had broke out among them and carried off many; even a disease, the pestilence, according to Josephus F6 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 12.) ; it ceasing upon this fact of Phinehas, shows that that was approved of by the Lord.
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