Numbers 25:3

_AND ISRAEL JOINED HIMSELF UNTO BAALPEOR: AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED AGAINST ISRAEL._ Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor. Baal was a general name for 'lord,' and Peor either for a hill in Moab, or derived from a verb signifying to open, to uncover, with reference to the abominable priapism which was the favourite worship in that temple. The idol was sometimes called simply Peor (Numbers 25:18; Numbers 31:16; Joshua 22:17). [The Septuagint has: Beelfegoor. _ WAYITSAAMED_ (H6775) _ YISRAA'EEL_ (H3478), and Israel was joined; but since it was a voluntary act on the part of those who did it, the pa

3._AndIsrael joined himself to Baal-peor. _Moses amplifies their crime by this expression, that they bound themselves to the idol in an impious alliance; and thus he alludes to that holy union whereby God had connected Himself with the people, and accuses them of broken faith and wicked rebellion. Nevertheless, it is probable that the people were not impelled by superstition, but enticed by the wiles of the women to offer worship to idols which they despised. Yet we are told how God declared that they were “joined” to the idol, which they merely pretended to worship, in order to comply with the ungodly wishes of the women. Hence, therefore, this general instruction may be gathered, that when we turn aside from pure religion, we in a manner connect ourselves with idols, so as to coalesce in one body with them, and conspire to renounce the true God. Baal was then the general name of almost...

1-5 The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity; for none can prevail against God's people if they are not overcome by their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt them, but the enticements of worldly interests and pleasures. Here is the sin of Israel, to which they are enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian. Those are our worst enemies who draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. Israel's sin did that which all Balaam's enchantments could not do; it set God against them. Diseases are the fruits of God's anger, and the just punishments of prevailing sins; one infection follows the other. Ringleaders in sin ought to be made examples of justice....

Verse Numbers 25:3. _ISRAEL JOINED HIMSELF UNTO BAAL-PEOR_] The same as the Priapus of the Romans, and worshipped with the same obscene rites as we have frequently had occasion to remark. The _joining to Baal-peor_, mentioned here, was probably what St. Paul had in view when he said, 2 Corinthians 6:14: _Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers_. And this joining, though done even in a matrimonial way, was nevertheless _fornication_, (see Revelation 2:14), as no marriage between an Israelite and a Midianite could be legitimate, according to the law of God. See the propositions at the close of the preceding chapter....

JOINED HIMSELF - i. e., by taking part in the sacrificial meals as described in the last verse. Compare Exodus 34:15; 1 Corinthians 10:18. The worship of Baal was attended with the grossest impurity, and indeed partly consisted in it Hosea 4:14; Hosea 9:10. BAAL-PEOR - i. e., the Baal worshipped at Peer, the place mentioned in Numbers 23:28 (compare Baal-meon, Numbers 32:38). (The identificat

EXPOSITION THE SIN OF ISRAEL AND ATONEMENT OF PHINEHAS (Numbers 25:1). NUMBERS 25:1 ABODE IN SHITTIM. For a considerable time; from their first arrival in the Arboth Moab until the crossing of the Jordan. Shittim is the shortened form of Abel-Shittim, "Field of Acacias" (Numbers 33:49). It seems to have been the northernmost part of the last encampment of Israel on that side Jordan, and the head-quarters of the host (Joshua 2:1;...

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, c. from the mountains where he had a temple, or was worshipped or from the name of some great personage, called Lord Peor, who was deified after his death; hence these Israelites are said to "eat the sacrifices of the dead", Psalms 106:28. Mr. Bedford t takes him to be Mizraim the son of Ham, the Osiris of the Egyptians, and the Priapus of other Heathens: and Father Calmet u is of opinion that he is t...

BAAL-PEOR Or, Baal of Peor. See (Numbers 23:28)....

2. ISRAEL'S SIN WITH THE DAUGHTERS OF MOAB: PHINEHAS CHAPTER 25 _ 1. The transgression and the anger of Jehovah (Numbers 25:1)_ 2. Phinehas' action (Numbers 25:6) 3. Phinehas and his reward (Numbers 25:10) 4. The Midianites to be smitten (Numbers 26:16) The sin of Israel was the result of Balaam's work. He could not turn Jehovah from Israel (no enemy can), but he could turn Israel from God. While we do not read here that the fornication and idolatry into which Israel fell was Balaam's work, elsewhere this information is given. See...

NUMBERS 25. In this chapter fragments of two distinct narratives have been united. In the first (from JE), the Israelites sin with _Moabite_ women, and the sin is punished by the _judicial execution_ of the offenders. In the second (from P), the sin is committed with _Midianite_ women, and is avenged by a _plague._ The first fragment lacks a conclusion, the second its beginning. NUMBERS 25:1. (JE). IMMORALITY WITH MOABITE WOMEN AT SHITTIM. This was followed by participation in the idolatrous worship of the Moabite god Chemosh (Numbers 21:29), who was styled (Numbers 25:3 _mg.)_ the Baal (or lord) of Peor (just as there was a Baal of Hermon, and a Baal of Lebanon). The carrying o