251 And Israel dwelleth in Shittim, and the people begin to go a-whoring unto daughters of Moab, 2 and they call for the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people eat, and bow themselves to their gods, 3 and Israel is joined to Baal-Peor, and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Israel. 4 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them before Jehovah—over-against the sun; and the fierceness of the anger of Jehovah doth turn back from Israel.' 5 And Moses saith unto the judges of Israel, 'Slay ye each his men who are joined to Baal-Peor.'
6 And lo, a man of the sons of Israel hath come, and bringeth in unto his brethren the Midianitess, before the eyes of Moses, and before the eyes of all the company of the sons of Israel, who are weeping at the opening of the tent of meeting; 7 and Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, seeth, and riseth from the midst of the company, and taketh a javelin in his hand, 8 and goeth in after the man of Israel unto the hollow place, and pierceth them both, the man of Israel and the woman—unto her belly, and the plague is restrained from the sons of Israel; 9 and the dead by the plague are four and twenty thousand.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 25:1-9
Commentary on Numbers 25:1-5
(Read Numbers 25:1-5)
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.
Commentary on Numbers 25:6-15
(Read Numbers 25:6-15)
Phinehas, in the courage of zeal and faith, executed vengeance on Zimri and Cozbi. This act can never be an example for private revenge, or religious persecution, or for irregular public vengeance.