Numbers 25:1-5·~1 min

Moab Seduces Israel

Israel's men enter sexual relations with Moabite women and are drawn into sacrificial meals and worship of their gods. The chapter names this plainly as Israel joining itself to Baal of Peor under the LORD's anger.

W¹hile Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab, ²who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. ³So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

The LORD answers Israel's apostasy with a command to execute the leaders before Him in open daylight. Moses then orders Israel's judges to kill the men who joined themselves to Baal of Peor.

⁴Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.” ⁵So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”

Section summaryIsrael's stay in Shittim becomes a scene of moral and religious betrayal as the men are drawn into Moabite worship. The section binds sexual immorality to idolatry, then shows the LORD's anger answered with a command for public judgment.

Role in the chapterThis opening movement names the crisis that governs the whole chapter. It explains why wrath falls on Israel and sets the terms that Phinehas's later act will answer.