Shittim — And this was their last station, from whence they passed immediately into Canaan. This is noted as a great aggravation of their sin, that they committed it, when God was going to put them into the possession of their long — expected land. The people — Many of them. Whoredom — Either becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
They — The Moabites being now neighbours to the Israelites, and finding themselves unable to effect their design by war and witchcraft, fell another way to work, by contracting familiarity with them, and, perceiving their evil inclinations, they, that is, their daughters, invited them. Unto the sacr... [ Continue Reading ]
Joined himself — The word implies a forsaking God to whom they were joined and a turning to, and strict conjunction with, this false God. Baal — peor — Called Baal, by the name common to many false Gods, and especially to those that represented any of the heavenly bodies, and Peor, either from the h... [ Continue Reading ]
Take all the heads — Take, that is, apprehend, all the heads, that is, the chief, of the people, such as were chief in this transgression, and in place and power, who are singled out to this exemplary punishment for their concurrence with others in this wickedness, which was more odious and mischiev... [ Continue Reading ]
Every one his men — Those under his charge, for as these seventy were chosen to assist Moses in the government, so doubtless the care and management of the people was distributed among them by just and equal proportions.... [ Continue Reading ]
One came — This was done, when Moses had given the charge to the Judges, and, as it may seem, before the execution of it; otherwise it is probable he would not have been so foolish to have run upon certain ruin, when the examples were frequent before his eyes. To his brethren — Into the camp of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Thrust them thro' — Phineas was himself a man in great authority, and did this after the command given by Moses to the rulers to slay these transgressors, and in the very sight, and no doubt by the consent of Moses himself, and also by the special direction of God's spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
Twenty four thousand — St. Paul says twenty three thousand, 1 Corinthians 10:8. The odd thousand here added were slain by the Judges according to the order of Moses, the rest by the immediate hand of God, but both sorts died of the plague, the word being used, as often it is, for the sword, or hand,... [ Continue Reading ]
My covenant of peace — That is, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, as it is expounded, Numbers 25:13, which is called a covenant of peace, partly with respect to the happy effect of this heroical action of his, whereby he made peace between God and his people; and partly with regard to the p... [ Continue Reading ]
At everlasting priesthood — To continue as long as the law and common — wealth of the Jews did. But this promise was conditional, and therefore might be made void, by the miscarriages of Phinehas's sons, as it seems it was, and thereupon a like promise was made to Eli of the line of Ithamar, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
The Midianites — And why not the Moabites. It is probable the Midianites were most guilty, as in persuading Balak to send for Balaam, Numbers 22:4, Numbers 22:7. So in the reception of Balaam after Balak had dismissed him, Numbers 31:8, and in farther consultation with him, and in contriving the mea... [ Continue Reading ]
With their wiles — For under pretence of kindred and friendship and leagues, which they offered to them, instead of that war which the Israelites expected, they sought only an opportunity to insinuate themselves into their familiarity, and execute their hellish plot of bringing that curse upon the I... [ Continue Reading ]