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Baal Worship at Peor
25 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”
And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.
The Zeal of Phinehas
And the LORD said to Moses, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.’”
The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father’s house belonging to the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father’s house in Midian.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”
(ESV)
Numbers 25 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The Bible was not written to convince us that we are good, but rather, to illustrate that God is good despite how much we fail. This is clearly seen in the book of Numbers. Moses can hardly turn his head for a second before the people are complaining, chasing idolatry or engaging in sexual immorality.
Numbers 25 is most likely two stories blended into one narrative. We read about the general sin of the people playing harlot with the daughters of Moab. Then we read a specific example where a Simeonite named Zimri becomes involved with a Midianite woman named Cozbi. There is evidence to indicate she may have been a priestess of Baal.
Probably the most troubling part of the story is the phrase, “in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation.” Some commentators even believe he engaged in sexual acts in plain view outside the tent. I am not arguing that it would have been better had they done it in secret, however, it does show just how calloused Zimri’s heart had become. He had no fear of being held accountable for what he knew was a terrible decision. Moreso, he had no fear of God.
This is a problem that plagues the church today. No fear. No reverence. No problems. I’m covered in grace, right? Jesus will forgive me later. In the meantime, I’ll just go on sinning in plain sight because no one can judge me. How and why does this happen?
It starts as a subtle compromise. We entertain it and it grows. Conviction comes but we continually push it aside. Before long, we’ve seared our conscience and opened our hearts to more of what we want and less of what God wants. But it starts with fear… or lack thereof. The Bible speaks extensively on how foundational the fear of God is to our relationship with Him.
“Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
2 Chronicles 19:7 NASB
“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'”
Job 28:28 NASB
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NASB
The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4 NASB
And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the LORD is his treasure.
Isaiah 33:6 NASB
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Acts 9:31 NASB
How comfortable have you become these days in your waywardness? What will it take to restore in you a fear (reverence) of the Lord?