Bible Commentaries
Numbers 25

Introduction

Overview

Numbers 25:1, Israel at Shittim commit whoredom and idolatry; Numbers 25:6, Phinehas kills Zimri and Cozbi; Numbers 25:10, God therefore gives him an everlasting priesthood; Numbers 25:16, The Midianites are to be vexed.

Verse 1

Shittim: Numbers 33:49, Joshua 2:1, Joshua 3:1, Micah 6:5

the people: Numbers 31:15, Numbers 31:16, Ecclesiastes 7:26, 1 Corinthians 10:8

Reciprocal: Exodus 23:32 - nor with Exodus 34:16 - General Exodus 36:20 - shittim wood Numbers 7:15 - General Deuteronomy 4:3 - what the 1 Kings 11:2 - surely Ezra 9:1 - Moabites Psalms 78:32 - they sinned Psalms 106:28 - joined Proverbs 5:14 - General Proverbs 7:13 - she Proverbs 23:28 - increaseth Isaiah 2:6 - and they Isaiah 57:5 - Enflaming Jeremiah 5:7 - by troops Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst Ezekiel 20:21 - the children Joel 3:18 - the valley Ephesians 5:3 - fornication Revelation 2:14 - Balaam Revelation 2:20 - and to seduce

Verse 2

they called: Exodus 34:15, Exodus 34:16, Joshua 22:17, 1 Kings 11:1-8, Psalms 106:28, Hosea 9:10, 1 Corinthians 10:20, 1 Corinthians 10:27, 1 Corinthians 10:28, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Revelation 2:14

bowed: Exodus 20:5, Exodus 23:24, Joshua 23:7, Joshua 23:16, 1 Kings 19:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:20 - sacrificeth Exodus 23:32 - nor with Exodus 32:6 - sat down Numbers 22:41 - high places Deuteronomy 9:7 - from the day Psalms 141:4 - and let me Isaiah 2:6 - and they Isaiah 57:5 - Enflaming Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst Ezekiel 18:6 - not Ezekiel 20:16 - for their Daniel 3:2 - sent Acts 15:20 - from pollutions 1 Corinthians 8:1 - touching 1 Corinthians 8:10 - sit James 3:6 - a world Revelation 2:20 - and to seduce

Verse 3

joined: Numbers 25:5, Deuteronomy 4:3, Deuteronomy 4:4, Joshua 22:17, Psalms 106:28, Psalms 106:29, Hosea 9:10

the anger: Joshua 22:17, Judges 2:14, Judges 2:20, Psalms 90:11, Jeremiah 17:4

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:41 - high places Deuteronomy 3:29 - General Joshua 13:20 - Bethpeor Romans 11:4 - Baal

Verse 4

all the heads: Numbers 25:14, Numbers 25:15, Numbers 25:18, Exodus 18:25, Deuteronomy 4:3, Joshua 22:17, Joshua 23:2

and hang: Dr. Kennicott remarks, that the Samaritan and Hebrew Texts must be united to make the sense of this verse complete: "And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto all the heads of the people; and let them slay the men that were joined to Baal-peor; and hang them up before the Lord, against the sun," etc. Deuteronomy 13:6-9, Deuteronomy 13:13, Deuteronomy 13:15, Deuteronomy 21:23, 2 Samuel 21:6, 2 Samuel 21:9, Esther 7:9, Esther 7:10

that the fierce: Numbers 25:11, Deuteronomy 13:17, Joshua 7:25, Joshua 7:26, Psalms 85:3, Psalms 85:4, Jonah 3:9

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:4 - General Numbers 25:9 - General Deuteronomy 21:22 - General Joshua 10:26 - hanged 2 Kings 10:6 - take ye Ezra 10:14 - the fierce Hosea 14:4 - for

Verse 5

judges: Exodus 18:21, Exodus 18:25, Exodus 18:26

Slay ye: Exodus 22:20, Exodus 32:27, Exodus 32:28, Deuteronomy 13:6, Deuteronomy 13:9, Deuteronomy 13:13, Deuteronomy 13:15, Deuteronomy 17:3-5, 1 Kings 18:40

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:6 - the judges Numbers 25:3 - joined Numbers 25:8 - thrust Numbers 25:9 - General Numbers 25:14 - a prince 2 Samuel 21:6 - hang Psalms 106:28 - joined

Verse 6

a Midianitish: Numbers 25:14, Numbers 25:15, Numbers 22:4, Numbers 31:2, Numbers 31:9-16

in the sight of Moses: Numbers 15:30, Numbers 15:31, Deuteronomy 29:19-21, Jeremiah 3:3, Jeremiah 8:12, Jeremiah 36:23, Jeremiah 42:15-18, Jeremiah 43:4-7, Jeremiah 44:16, Jeremiah 44:17, 2 Peter 2:13-15, Jude 1:13

weeping: Judges 2:4, Ezra 9:1-4, Ezra 10:6-9, Isaiah 22:12, Ezekiel 9:4-6, Joel 2:17

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 16:22 - went in 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian 2 Kings 22:19 - wept 1 Chronicles 1:32 - Midian 1 Chronicles 6:4 - Phinehas Psalms 94:16 - rise up Psalms 106:30 - General Proverbs 7:13 - she Isaiah 57:5 - Enflaming Acts 17:16 - his spirit 1 Corinthians 5:2 - mourned 2 Corinthians 11:29 - and I burn

Verse 7

Phinehas: Exodus 6:25, Joshua 22:30, Joshua 22:31, Judges 20:28

a javelin: 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Samuel 18:11, 1 Samuel 19:9

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:20 - sacrificeth Exodus 32:27 - slay every man Numbers 8:9 - shalt gather the whole Numbers 31:6 - Phinehas Joshua 22:13 - Phinehas Judges 3:21 - thrust it 1 Samuel 15:33 - hewed Ezra 7:5 - Phinehas Ezekiel 9:5 - Go Ephesians 4:26 - ye

Verse 8

thrust: Numbers 25:5, Numbers 25:11, Psalms 106:29-31

So the plague: Numbers 16:46-48, 2 Samuel 24:25, 1 Chronicles 21:22

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:20 - sacrificeth Numbers 1:23 - General Numbers 16:48 - General Numbers 25:18 - which Judges 3:21 - thrust it 1 Samuel 15:33 - hewed 2 Samuel 24:21 - the plague 1 Kings 18:45 - there was Proverbs 7:23 - a dart Ezekiel 9:5 - Go

Verse 9

St. Paul reckons only 23,000: Moses includes in the 24,000 he names, the 1,000 men who were slain in consequence of the judicial examination - Numbers 25:4, as well as the 23,000 who died of the plague; while St. Paul only refers to the latter. Numbers 25:4, Numbers 25:5, Numbers 16:49, Numbers 16:50, Deuteronomy 4:3, Deuteronomy 4:4, 1 Corinthians 10:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:23 - General Numbers 11:33 - smote Numbers 14:12 - smite Numbers 14:37 - died Numbers 26:1 - General Numbers 31:16 - and there Deuteronomy 28:21 - General 2 Samuel 24:15 - the Lord 1 Chronicles 21:14 - seventy Psalms 106:29 - the plague Proverbs 7:23 - a dart Hebrews 2:2 - every

Verse 11

turned my: Joshua 7:25, Joshua 7:26, 2 Samuel 21:14, Psalms 106:23, John 3:36

for my sake: Heb. with my zeal, 2 Corinthians 11:2

that I: Exodus 22:5, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, Deuteronomy 29:20, Deuteronomy 32:16, Deuteronomy 32:21, Joshua 24:19, 1 Kings 14:22, Psalms 78:58, Ezekiel 16:38, Nahum 1:2, Zephaniah 1:18, Zephaniah 3:8, 1 Corinthians 10:22

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:29 - Moses Numbers 25:4 - that the fierce Numbers 25:8 - thrust Numbers 31:3 - avenge the Lord Joshua 22:13 - Phinehas 1 Samuel 2:30 - I said 1 Kings 2:35 - Zadok 1 Kings 19:10 - very jealous 1 Chronicles 9:20 - the Lord 1 Chronicles 24:4 - sons of Eleazar Psalms 106:31 - General Proverbs 6:34 - General Proverbs 29:8 - wise Song of Solomon 8:6 - jealousy Hosea 14:4 - for Galatians 4:18 - it is Revelation 3:19 - be

Verse 12

Numbers 13:29, Malachi 2:4, Malachi 2:5, Malachi 3:1

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 13:29 - the covenant

Verse 13

his seed: 1 Samuel 2:30, 1 Kings 2:27, 1 Chronicles 6:4-15, 1 Chronicles 6:50-53

an everlasting: Exodus 40:15, Isaiah 61:6, Jeremiah 33:18, Jeremiah 33:22, Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 7:17, Hebrews 7:18, 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6

zealous: 1 Kings 19:10, 1 Kings 19:14, Psalms 69:9, Psalms 106:31, Psalms 119:139, John 2:17, Acts 22:3-5, Romans 10:2-4

atonement: Exodus 32:30, Joshua 7:12, 2 Samuel 21:3, Hebrews 2:17, 1 John 2:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 17:8 - everlasting Leviticus 1:4 - atonement Leviticus 15:15 - an atonement Numbers 31:3 - avenge the Lord Deuteronomy 18:5 - General 1 Samuel 2:35 - I will build 2 Samuel 21:14 - God Nehemiah 13:29 - the covenant Malachi 2:5 - covenant Titus 2:14 - zealous

Verse 14

a prince: Numbers 25:4, Numbers 25:5, 2 Chronicles 19:7

chief house: Heb. house of a father

the Simeonites: Numbers 1:23, Numbers 26:14

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:4 - General Numbers 25:6 - a Midianitish Numbers 31:2 - the Midianites 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian 1 Chronicles 2:6 - Zimri Job 31:34 - the contempt Psalms 106:30 - General Revelation 7:7 - Simeon

Verse 15

Zur: Numbers 31:8, Joshua 13:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:28 - Midianites Numbers 22:4 - elders Numbers 25:4 - all the heads Numbers 25:6 - a Midianitish 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian Job 31:34 - the contempt Psalms 106:30 - General

Verse 17

Balaam's counsel seems to have been first given to Balak, king of Moab; but probably the Midianitish women, especially of the higher ranks, as Cozbi was, were the principal tempters; and the nation of Midian seems to have come into the execrable measure more generally and heartily than that of Moab: they were therefore first selected to be made examples of, for a warning to the Moabites, who were spared at this time. Numbers 31:2, Revelation 18:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:2 - Midian Genesis 37:28 - Midianites Deuteronomy 25:17 - General Judges 6:1 - Midian

Verse 18

vex you: Numbers 31:15, Numbers 31:16, Genesis 26:10, Exodus 32:21, Exodus 32:35, Revelation 2:14

beguiled: Genesis 3:13, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15, 2 Peter 2:18

which: Numbers 25:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:2 - Midian Numbers 25:4 - all the heads Numbers 31:2 - Avenge Numbers 31:8 - Zur Deuteronomy 25:17 - General Judges 6:1 - Midian 1 Kings 11:18 - Midian Amos 2:1 - For three Micah 6:5 - Balak Colossians 2:18 - no