Números 25
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 25
NJB (MT versing) The Sin of Peor Israel's Harlotry in Moab Incident of Apostasy in Moab The People of Israel at Peor Israel at Peor 25:1-5 25:1-5 25:1-5 25:1-5 25:1-3 25:4-5 25:6-9 25:6-9 25:6-9 25:6-9 25:6-9 The Zeal of Phinehas 25:10-13 25:10-13 25:10-13 25:10-13 25:10-13 25:14-15 25:14-15 25:14-15 25:14-15 25:14-15 25:16-18 25:16-18 25:16-18 25:16-18 25:16-18 Etc.
Números 25:1-5
25:1 "Shittim" This place name is called "Abel-shittim" in Num. 33:49. It was on the east side of Jordan on the plains of Moab. It was from this campsite that Joshua sent the two spies to Jericho (cf. Josh. 2:1). TEV translates this as "the Acacia Valley." See SPECIAL TOPIC: ACACIA WOOD and NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 94-95. ▣ "the people began to play the harlot" This is a way of describing fertility worship. YHWH was viewed as a father or husband (cf. Hosea 1-3). To worship other gods was "spiritual adultery." In this case it was both literal (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE) and figurative. This incident is so shocking. Israel, with all of YHWH's blessing and presence (cf. Rom. 9:4), turned away so quickly! There is much about this event that is surprising. it happens suddenly with the mention of a sacrificial meal (Num. 25:2) it involves Midianite men (Num. 25:6, 14), not Moabite women (Num. 25:1, but note Num 22:4, 7) two different words for how to put offenders to death (i.e., Num. 25:4, 5) the execution by judges verses a divine plague (Num. 25:9); the NET Bible, p. 328, suggests that the "leaders" of the tribes who allowed this or participated in it were publicly executed by the Levite judges, but the others involved were killed by the divine plague Is this related somehow to Balaam? He is put to death by Israel (cf. Num. 31:8,16). All of this causes one to think this is a composite account. 25:2 This verse clearly states how the social interaction between Israelites and Canaanites was so dangerous to Israel's faith (cf. Deut. 7:1-5). Many, if not most, of the seemingly trivial laws of Moses are directed against any kind of social/religious contact (i.e., food laws, sacrificial, ritual, Sabbath regulations, etc.). 25:3 NASB, NKJV, Peshitta "joined themselves to" "yoked itself" "committed to" "attached itself" "joined in the worship" LXX (probably from Herodotus 4.79) "was initiated to" The MT has the VERB (BDB 855, KB 1032, Niphal IMPERFECT with waw), which means in Niphal stem, "to be joined with" in Pual stem, "to be strapped to" or "yoked to" (same root, different vowels) in Hiphil stem, "to be harnessed to" This implies intimate association with (cf. Deut. 4:3; Hos. 9:10). Notice how the text characterizes it. they ate a sacrificial meal, Num. 25:2 they bowed down to the god, Num. 25:2 they joined themselves to the god, Num. 25:3 (cf. Ps. 106:28) they were involved in imitation magic, fertility ritual, Num. 25:6, 8 ▣ "Baal of Peor" Ba'al was the male storm god of the Canaanite pantheon (see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 422-428). Han was worshiped by imitation magic (i.e., sexual union) to insure annual agricultural fertility. Ba'al worship was very popular in the ANE (i.e., Deut. 12:2-3; 1 Kgs. 57:3, 5, 7, 8; Jer. 2:20; 3:6; Ezek. 6:13). Every city, village, and locality had its own Ba'al worship site, usually a raised platform with an uplifted stone and a carved/live tree. 25:4-5 Sin and rebellion always have consequences! This public violation of YHWH's laws (i.e., Num. 25:6-9) called for a public judgment. This time it was both. by the hands of Levitical judges (Num. 25:5) and by the hand of God (i.e., the plague of Num. 25:9) There are several commands. take all the leaders (i.e., those tribal leaders who participated or allowed this event) ‒ BDB 542, KB 534, Qal IMPERATIVE execute them in broad daylight ‒ BDB 429, KB 431, Hiphil IMPERATIVE; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEATH PENALTY IN ISRAEL so that YHWH's fierce anger may turn away ‒ BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal JUSSIVE each judge was to slay his own tribal offenders ‒ BDB 246, KB 255, Qal IMPERATIVE (the number is not stated, but the 24,000 of v. 9 seems high); Num. 25:5 seems to be Moses limiting the execution to offenders only (cf. Jewish Study Bible, p. 335) 25:4 NASB, TEV "execute" NKJV, RSV (Rashi) "hang" NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "impale" REB, NJB (Arabic root) "hurl them down to their death" "make an example of them" "expose them" "crucify" "stone to death and then hang up" The MT has the VERB (BDB 429, KB 431, Hiphil IMPERATIVE), which means publicly expose (cf. 2 Sam. 21:6, 9, 13), possibly by impaling a dead body with broken legs and arms, possibly from a fall off a cliff (KB, Hiphil stem). The NEB and REB follow the BDB definition. In Num. 25:5, which is parallel, another VERB (BDB 246, KB 255, Qal IMPERATIVE) is used which, in this context, means "judicial killing by men" at God's command (cf. Exod. 32:27; Lev. 20:15, 16; Deut. 13:10; Ezek. 9:6). These deaths were to be a public, communal rejection of Ba'al worship among YHWH's people! It is hard for modern westerners to feel the emotional reactions of ANE people to an improper burial public exposure (i.e., Saul in 1 Sam. 31:9-10)
Números 25:6-9
25:6, 8 An Israelite, in the presence of Israel, gathered at the tent of meeting, took a Midianite girl into his tent to participate in Ba'al ritual sex. This must have been a later event than vv. 2-3, but a related event. It shocked the gathered Israelite worshipers. It is surprising that this occurs right after Balaam's blessing the woman is Midianite, not Moabite the leaders are to kill the offenders, yet in v. 9, it is a "plague" from YHWH 25:6 "while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting" We are not told why the Israelites were "weeping." In the larger context it is probably related to the worship of Ba'al (Num. 25:1-3). While Israel was repenting of fertility worship, one of them flaunted his union (maritally or ritually) with a pagan woman, within the camp. 25:8 NASB, NKJV, NRSV "into the tent" NJB, LXX "the alcove" "the chamber" "the nuptial tent" "the private chamber" "brothel" This is not the normal word for "tent" (BDB 13, cf. v. 6). KB 1060 I has several suggestions (word used only here). inner part of a private tent a small cultic tent given to rituals This is either a violation of idol worship a marriage to a non-Israelite (cf. Deut. 7:1-5) It is obvious from the context that this event is separated in time from Num. 25:2-3, but it is surely related to them. ▣ "through the body" This is literally "belly" (BDB 867, KB 1060), which is related to "tent" (BDB 866, KB 1060). They are the same root but different vowels. So, the options are in the belly (euphemism for genitalia) in the inner room or cultic room 25:9 "the plague" There are several questions related to this plague. There had been divine plagues before for disobedience. This one may have come because Moses altered YHWH's word about killing the "leaders of the people" in v. 4, to killing just those involved in fertility religion. But this is "contextual speculation."
Números 25:10-13
25:11 Phinehas makes a very public obedience to YHWH's command in Num. 25:4-5. He felt and expressed YHWH's anger over this covenant violation. ▣ "jealous" This root (BDB 888, KB 1109; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 917-939) occurs several times in this context. VERB, Num. 25:11, Piel INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT NOUN, Num. 25:11 (twice) VERB, Num. 25:13, Piel PERFECT This term (BDB 888) is derived from something dyed an intense red (i.e., when anger or zeal caused the blood to flush the face). Human emotions are used to describe YHWH's emotions (anthropomorphism). He is zealous for His people (cf. Isa. 26:11). This zealousness can turn to jealousy (cf. Ezek. 5:13; 16:38, 42; 23:25; 36:5, 6; 38:19; Zeph. 1:18; 3:8). 25:12 "My covenant of peace" This phrase and "an everlasting covenant" are synonymous (cf. Ezek. 37:26). This symbolism is used several ways. Noah ‒ Isa. 54:10 (i.e., Gen. 9:8-17) the Patriarchs ‒ Ps. 105:9-10 (i.e., Gen. 12:1-3) David ‒ 2 Sam. 23:5; Ps. 89:3, 4, 34; Isa. 55:3 (i.e., 2 Samuel 8) Israel ‒ Gen. 17:7, 13, 19; Jer. 32:40; Ezek. 34:25 the new covenant of Jer. 31:31-34 ‒ Isa. 59:21 (explained in Ezek. 36:22-36) a way of referring to "the two ways" ‒ Mal. 2:4-5 (see Deut. 30:15,19; Psalm 1) Peace was dependent on obedience (see Special Topics: COVENANT and KEEP). The term "eternal" must be interpreted in context. It has a wide semantic field (cf. Num. 25:13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER). 25:13 Phinehas' act of devotion to YHWH and His word was counted as a sin offering which "made atonement" (BDB 497, KB 493, Piel IMPERFECT with waw). See SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT. This is Hebrew corporality. One act covered the guilt of many acts (i.e., substitutionary atonement, cf. Isaiah 53; Mark 10:45; 2 Cor. 5:21).
Números 25:14-15
25:14-15 This is very specific, eyewitness documentation. See SPECIAL TOPIC: OT HISTORICAL NARRATIVE.
Números 25:16-18
24:17-18 Surprisingly, these are not IMPERATIVES. Because the Midianites were hostile ‒ BDB 865 II, KB 1058 tricked ‒ BDB 647 (NOUN) deceived ‒ BDB 647, KB 699, Piel PERFECT they must be struck down (BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil PERFECT with waw). The sending of Midian women into the camp of Israel for the purpose of luring them into fertility worship acts was a planned agenda to cause YHWH to judge (i.e., not bless His own people)!