1 And Israel H3478 abode H3427 in Shittim, H7851 and the people H5971 began H2490 to commit whoredom H2181 with the daughters H1323 of Moab. H4124
And Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun H5126 sent H7971 out of Shittim H7851 two H8147 men H582 to spy H7270 secretly, H2791 saying, H559 Go H3212 view H7200 the land, H776 even Jericho. H3405 And they went, H3212 and came H935 into an harlot's H2181 house, H802 H1004 named H8034 Rahab, H7343 and lodged H7901 there.
And they pitched H2583 by Jordan, H3383 from Bethjesimoth H1020 even unto Abelshittim H63 in the plains H6160 of Moab. H4124
Neither G3366 let us commit fornication, G4203 as G2531 some G5100 of them G846 committed, G4203 and G2532 fell G4098 in G1722 one G3391 day G2250 three G5140 and twenty G1501 thousand. G5505
And Moses H4872 said H559 unto them, Have ye saved H2421 all the women H5347 alive? H2421 Behold, these H2007 caused H1961 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 through the counsel H1697 of Balaam, H1109 to commit H4560 trespass H4604 against the LORD H3068 in the matter H1697 of Peor, H6465 and there was a plague H4046 among the congregation H5712 of the LORD. H3068
And I find H4672 more bitter H4751 than death H4194 the woman, H802 whose heart H3820 is snares H4685 and nets, H2764 and her hands H3027 as bands: H612 whoso pleaseth H2896 H6440 God H430 shall escape H4422 from her; but the sinner H2398 shall be taken H3920 by her.
But G235 I have G2192 a few things G3641 against G2596 thee, G4675 because G3754 thou hast G2192 there G1563 them that hold G2902 the doctrine G1322 of Balaam, G903 who G3739 taught G1722 G1321 Balac G904 to cast G906 a stumblingblock G4625 before G1799 the children G5207 of Israel, G2474 to eat G5315 things sacrificed unto idols, G1494 and G2532 to commit fornication. G4203
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 25
Commentary on Numbers 25 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 25
Israel, having escaped the curse of Balaam, here sustains a great deal of damage and reproach by the counsel of Balaam, who, it seems, before he left Balak, put him into a more effectual way than that which Balak thought of to separate between the Israelites and their God. "The Lord will not be prevailed with by Balaam's charms to ruin them; try if they will not be prevailed with by the charms of the daughters of Moab to ruin themselves.' None are more fatally bewitched than those that are bewitched by their own lusts. Here is,
Num 25:1-5
Here is,
Num 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.
Num 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.