Numbers 25:5

_AND MOSES SAID UNTO THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL, SLAY YE EVERY ONE HIS MEN THAT WERE JOINED UNTO BAALPEOR._ Judges of Israel - the seventy elders, who were commanded not only to superintend the execution within their respective jurisdictions, but to inflict the punishment with their own hands (see the note at 1 Samuel 15:33)....

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 25:5. _SLAY YE EVERY ONE HIS MEN_] In the different departments where you preside over _thousands, hundreds, fifties_, and _tens_, slay all the _culprits_ that shall be found....

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 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 to be executioners....

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

The Israelites sinned with the women of Moab, and were invited by them to the sacrificial feasts of the local god (J E). 6 15. An Israelite brought a Midianite woman into the camp, and Phinehas, for his zeal in killing them both, received the promise that his descendants should perpetually possess the priesthood (P). The narratives are quite distinct, but both express condemnation of the immorality of the Israelites in consorting with foreign women. The interest of the former is prophetic, and is concerned with the struggle between the pure worship of Jehovah and the native local cults. The interest of the latter is ecclesiastical, and is concerned with the succession of the Aaronite priesthood....

II. IN MOAB (NUMBERS 25; NUMBERS 26; NUMBERS 27) A. GRAVE SINS WITH THE MOABITES (Numbers 25:1-9) TEXT Numbers 25:1. And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce

IDOLATRY AND IMMORALITY OF THE ISRAELITES AT SHITTIM. THE ZEAL OF PHINEHAS 1-5. The Israelites, who have just been exhibited as proof against enchantments, are not able to resist the temptations to idolatry, and its connected sin of immorality, arising from their proximity to the tribes of Moab and Midian. In Numbers 31:16 their apostasy is attributed to the counsel of Balaam (see also Revelation 2:14), who is afterwards put to death for it (Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:22). But it is difficult without violence to reconcile this conduct on the part of Balaam with his former attitude towards Israel, and his utterances regarding them. M