E- Numbers-22-25
Pgs. 417-435
Ch. 22-25
SECTION XL.
BALAK. AND Balak bar Zippor saw what Israel had done to the Amoraee. And theMoabaee feared before the people greatly because they were many, and they weredistressed in their life before the sons of Israel. And they said to the eldersof the Midianee, for the people had been one and the kingdom one unto that day:Now will this congregation consume all that is about them, as the ox eateth upthe grass of the field. And Balak bar Zippor, a Midianite, was the king of Moabat that time; without (a Midianite) being such at another time; for so was thetradition among them, to have kings from this people and from that, by turns. And he sentunto Laban the Aramite, who was Bileam, (so called because he it was) whosought (Biluva) to swallow up (Amma) the people of the house of Israel: the son of Beor,who was insane[1] <l > from the vastness of his knowledge;and would not spare Israel, the descendants of his sons and daughters: and thehouse of his habitation in Padan was at Pethor, a name signifying aninterpreter of dreams. It was built in Aram upon the Phrat, in a land where thechildren of the people worshipped and adored him. (To him did Balak send) tocall him, saying: Behold, a people hath come out of Mizraim, and, lo, theycover the face of the earth, and are encamped over against me. But now, Ientreat, come, curse this people for me, for they are stronger than I, if I maybut be able to meet them, though smaller than they, and drive them from theland. For I know that he whom thou dost bless is blessed, and he whom thou dostcurse is cursed. And theelders of Moab and of Midian went, with the price of divinations sealed up intheir hands, and came to Bileam, and told him the words of Balak. [JERUSALEM.And the sages of the Moabites and of the Midianites went, with sealed lettersin their hands, and came to Bileam, and spake with him the words of Balak.] Andhe said to them, Abide here to-night, and I will return you word as theLord shall speak with me. And the princes of Moab stayed with Bileam. And theWord from before the Lord came to Bileam, and He said, What men are these whoare now lodging with thee? And Bileam said before the Lord, Balak bar Zippor,king of the Moabaee, hath sent messengers to me, saying: Behold, a people hathcome out of Mizraim, and cover the face of the land: now therefore, come, cursethem for me, so that I may be able to fight and drive them away. And the Lordsaid unto Bileam, Thou shalt not go with them, nor curse the people, for theyare blessed of Me from the day of their fathers. And Bileam rose up early, andsaid to the princes of Moab, Go unto your country, for it is not pleasingbefore the Lord to permit me to journeywith you. And the princes of Moab arose and came to Balak, and said, Bileamhath refused to come with us. But Balak added to send (other) princes more, and nobler than they; andthey came to Bileam, and said to him: Thus saith Balak bar Zippor, Let notanything hinder thee from coming to me; for honouring I will honour theegreatly, and whatever thou biddest me I will do. Come therefore now, and cursethis people for me. And Bileam answered the servants of Balak, and said, IfBalak would give me out of his treasury a house full of silver and gold, I haveno power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord my God, to fabricatea word either small or great. But I entreat you to remain here this night also,that I may know what the Word of the Lord may yet speak with me. And the Word came from before the Lord[2] <l > unto Bileam in thenight, and said to him, If these men come to call thee, arise, go with them;only, the word that I will speak with thee, that shalt thou do. And Bileam, arose in themorning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. [JERUSALEM. AndBileam arose in the morning, and made ready his ass, and went with the princesof Moab.] But the anger of the Lord was provoked, because he would go (that hemight) curse them; and the angel of the Lord stood in the way to be anadversary to him. But he sat upon his ass, and his two young men, Jannes andJambres, were with him. And the ass discerned the angel of the Lord standing inthe way with a drawn sword in his hand, and the ass turned aside out of theroad, to go into the field. And Bileam smote the ass to make her return untothe way. And the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path that was in the midstbetween vineyards, [JERUSALEM. And the angel of the Lord stood between thevineyards, a hedge (being) on this and on that side,] in the place where Jacoband Laban raised the mound, the pillar on this side and the observatory on thatside,[3] <l > which they raised, that neithershould pass that limit to do evil (to the other). And the ass discerned theangel of the Lord, and thrust herself against the hedge, and bruised Bileam’sfoot by the hedge, and he smote her again; for the angel was invisible to him.And the angel of the Lord yet passed on, and stood in a distant place, wherethere was no way to turn either to the right or left. And the ass saw the angelof the Lord, and fell under Bileam; and Bileam’s wrath was strong, so that hesmote the ass with his staff.-Ten things were created after the world hadbeen founded at the coming in of the Sabbath between the suns,-the manna,the well, the rod of Mosheh, the diamond, the rainbow, the cloud of glory, themouth of the earth, the writing of the tables of the covenant, the demons, andthe speaking ass. And in that hour the Word of the Lord opened her mouth, andfitted her to speak: and she said to Bileam. What have I done to thee, thatthou hast smitten me these three times? And Bileam said to the ass, Becausethou hast been false to me; if there was now but a sword in in hand, I wouldkill thee. And the ass said to Bileam, Woe to thee, Bileam, thou wanting-in-mindwhen me, an unclean beast, who am to die in this world, and not to enter theworld to come, thou art not able to curse; how much less (canst thou harm)the children of Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, on account of whom the world hathbeen created, but whom thou art going to curse! So hast thou deceived thesepeople, and hast said, This is not my ass, she is a loan in, my hand, and myhorses remain in the pasture. But am I not thine ass upon whom thou hast riddenfrom thy youth unto this day? and have I been used to do thus with thee? And hesaid, No. [JERUSALEM. And the ass said to Bileam, Woe to thee, Bileam the wicked,wanting in understanding and wisdom! Behold, me, an unclean beast, who am todie in this world and not to enter the world to come, thou hast not power withall thy skill to curse; how much less the children of Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob,on whose account the world was created at the beginning! And why art thou goingto curse them? For thou hast deceived the people, saying to them, This is notmy ass: she is a loan in my hand. But am I not thy ass, upon whom thou hastridden from thy youth unto this day? Did I indeed intend to do thus with thee?And he said to her, No.] And the Lord unveiled the eyes of Bileam, and hebeheld the angel of the Lord standing in the way, his sword unsheathed in hishand; and he bowed, and worshipped on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him, why hast thou smitten thine assthese three times? Behold, I have come out to withstand thee; and the ass,fearing, saw, and turned from the way. It is known before me that thou seekestto go to curse the people, a thing that is not pleasing to me. But the assdiscerned me, and turned away from me these three times: had she not turnedfrom me, surely now I should have slain thee, and spared her alive. And Bileamsaid to the angel of the Lord, I have sinned, because I knew not that thou waststanding against me in the way. But now, if it displease thee, I will go back.But the angel of the Lord said to Bileam, Go with these men; but the word thatI will tell thee that thou shalt speak. And Bileam went with the princes ofBalak. And Balakheard that Bileam was coming, and came out to meet him at a city of Moab on theborder of Arnon, which is on the side of the frontier. And Balak said toBileam, Did I not send to call thee? Why camest thou not to me? Didst thou notindeed say that I could not do thee honour? And Bileam said to Balak, Behold, Ihave come to thee; yet now am I able to say any thing to thee? But the wordthat the Lord shall ordain for my mouth, that I must speak. And Bileam wentwith Balak, and they came to a city surrounded with walls, to the streets ofthe great city, the city of Sihon, which is Berosha. And Balak slew oxen andsheep, and sent to Bileam and the princes, and those who were with them. And atthe time of the morning Balak took Bileam, and brought him up to the high placeof the idol Peor; and be saw from thence the camp of Dan, which went at therear of the people; and they were discovered under the Cloud of Glory.
XXIII. And Bileam, as he looked upon them, knew that strange worship wasamong them, and rejoiced in his heart; and he said to Balak, Build here sevenaltars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. And Balak did asBileam had said, and Balak and Bileam offered a bullock and a ram upon analtar. And Bileam said to Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go, ifpreadventure the word of the Lord may come to meet me; and the word that shallbe discovered to me, that I will declare to thee. And he went, bending as aserpent. [JERUSALEM. And Bileam went with a humbled heart.] And the Word from before the Lord met with Bileam, who said before Him,The seven altars I have set in order, and have offered a bullock and a ram uponevery altar. And the Lord put a word in Bileam’s mouth, and said, Return toBalak, and thus speak. And he returned to him, and, behold, he was standing byhis burnt-offering, he and all the nobles of Moab. And he took up theparable of his prophecy, and said: From Aram onEuphrates hath Balak king of the Moabaee brought me; from the mountains of theeast come, curse for me the house of Jakob; come, for me make Israel small.[JERUSALEM. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said: Balak, theking of the Moabaee, hath brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east:Come, curse for me the house of Jakob, come, diminish for me the tribes of thehouse of Israel.] How shall I curse, (while) the Word of the Lord blesseth them?and whom shall I diminish, when the Word of the Lord increaseth them? For, saidBileam the wicked, I look on this people who are led on for the sake of theirrighteous fathers, who are like the mountains, and of their mothers, who arelike the hills: behold, this people alone are to possess the world, becausethey are not led by the laws of the nations. And when Bileam the sinner beheldthe house of Israel, a circumcised people, hidden in the dust of the desert, hesaid, Who can number the merits of these strong ones, or count the good worksof one of the four camps of Israel? Bileam the wicked said: If the house ofIsrael kill me with the sword, then, it is made known to me, I shall have noportion in the world to come: nevertheless if I may but die the death of thetrue! O that my last end may be as the least among them! [JERUSALEM. Wherewithshall I curse the house of Jakob, when the Word of the Lord blesseth them? andhow shall I diminish the house of Israel, when the Word of the Lord dothmultiply them? I see this people, who are conducted through the merit of theirrighteous fathers, Abraham, Izhak, and Jakob, who are like the mountains, andof their four mothers, Sarah, Rivekah, Rahel, and Leah: behold, this peopleshall dwell alone, and not be mixed with the laws of the Gentiles. Who cannumber the youth of the house of Jakob, of whom it is said, They are to be likethe stars of the skies? Bileam the wicked said, in the parable of his prophecy,If Israel do kill him with the sword Bileam himself declareth that he hath noportion in the world to come: but if Bileam may die as the faithful die, mayhis last end be as one of the least among them.] And Balak said to Bileam, Whathast thou done to me? I brought thee to curse my enemies, and, behold,blessing, thou hast blessed them. But he answered and said, That which the Lordhath put in my mouth shall I not be careful to speak? And Balak said to him,Come now with me where thou mayest see him from another place. Thou shalt seeonly the camp that goeth in his rear, but not all their camps; and curse himfor me there. And he brought him to the field of the observatory on the top ofthe hill, and builded seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on everyaltar. And he said to Balak, Stand thou here by thy burnt offering and I willmeet (Him) yonder. And the Word from before the Lord met Bileam, and put a wordin his mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus speak. And he came to him,and, behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moabwith him. And Balak said to him, What hath the Lord spoken? And he took up theparable of his prophecy, and said:
Arise, Balak, and hear; listen to my words, Bar Zippor. The Wordof the living God is not as the words of men for the Lord, the Ruler of allworlds, is the unchangeable (but) man speaketh and denieth. Neither are Hisworks like the works of the children of flesh, who consult, and then repentthem of what they had decreed. But when the Lord of all worlds hath said, Iwill multiply this people as the stars of the heavens, and will give them topossess the land of the Kenaanites, is He not able to perform what He hathspoken? and what He hath said, can He not confirm it? Behold, from the mouth ofthe Holy Word I have received the benediction, and their appointed benedictionI cannot restrain from them. [JERUSALEAL 15. And I with My Word will honourthee. 19. Not as the word of the sons of men is the or of the living God, norare the works of God as the works of men. Men say, and do not; they decree, butdo not confirm; but God saith and performeth, He maketh decree and confirmethit, and His decrees are established forever. Behold, I have received to blessIsrael, and I cannot restrain the blessings from them.]
Bileam thewicked said, I see not among them of the house of Jakob such as worship idols:they who serve false idols are not established among the tribes of the sons ofIsrael. The Word of the Lord their God is their help, and the trumpets of theKing Meshiha resound among them: Unto Eloha, who redeemed and led them out ofMizraim free, belong power and exaltation, glorification and greatness. They ofthe house of Jakob who use divination are not establisbed, nor the enchanters,who enchant among the greatness (multitudes) of Israel. At this time it is saidto the house of Jakob and Israel, How glorious are the miracles and wonder-workswhich God hath wrought! This people reposeth alone, and dwelleth strong as alion, and reareth himself as an old lion. They sleep not till with greatslaughter they have slain their adversaries, and taken the spoils of the slain.[JERUSALEM.I have not seen the worshippers of a lie, nor those who offer strange service,among the tribes of the sons of Israel. The Word of the Lord is with them, andthe trumpet of their glorious King protecteth them. Unto God who redeemed, andbrought them out from Mizraim free, belong power, and praise, and exaltation.For I see not those who perform divination in the house of Jakob, nor them whoenchant with enebantments among the tribes of Israel. At this time it is saidto Jakob, What bounties and comforts are prepared of the Lord to bestow uponyou of the house of Jakob! Then said he in the parable of his prophecy, O happysaints, how goodly is the reward prepared for you by your Father in heaven, inthe world to come! Behold, these people dwell as a lion, like the strong lion;as the lion resteth not, nor is quiet, until he hath taken and eaten flesh anddrunk up blood, so this people will rest not, nor be in quiet, till they haveslain their enemies, and have shed the blood of their slaughtered foes likewater.] And Balaksaid to Bileam, Neither curse them nor bless them. But Bileam answered and saidto Balak, Did I not tell thee at the beginning, Whatsoever the Lord speaketh,that must I do? And Balak said to Bileam, Come, and I will now take thee toanother place, if so be it may be pleasing before the Lord, that thou mayestcurse him for me from thence. And Balak led Bileam to the high place of theprospect which looketh toward Beth Jeshimoth. And Bileam said to Balak, Erecthere for me seven altars, and prepare me seven bullocks and seven rams. AndBalak did as Bileam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram upon every altar.
XXIV. AndBileam, seeing that it was good before the Lord to bless Israel, went not, asonce and again before, in quest of divinations, but set his face toward thewilderness, to recall to memory the work of the calf which they had therecommitted. And Bileam lifted up his eyes, but beheld Israel dwelling togetherby their tribes in their schools, and (saw) that their doors were arranged soas not to overlook the doors of their companions: and the Spirit of prophecyfrom before the Lord rested upon him. [JERUSALEM. And Bileam saw that it waspleasing before-the Lord to bless Israel, so that he went not, as he hadgone from time to time, to seek for divinations, or to provide enchantments;but went and set his face toward the wilderness to recall to memory their workof the calf, (still) being desirous to curse Israel.] But he took up theparable of his prophecy, and said:
Bileam, son of Beor, speaketh; the man speaketh who is more honourablethan his father, (because) the dark mysteries hidden from the prophets havebeen revealed to him; and who, because he was not circumcised, fell upon hisface when the angel stood over against him: he hath said who heard the Wordfrom before the living God; who beheld the vision before God the Almighty,and, seeking that it might be discovered to him, fell upon his face, and thesecret mysteries hidden from the prophets were revealed to him.
Howbeautiful your houses of instruction, in the tabernacle where Jakob your fatherministered; and how beautiful this tabernacle of ordinance which is found amongyou, and the tents that surround it, O house of Israel! As tides of waters, soare the house of Israel, dwelling like flocks made strong by the doctrine ofthe law; and as gardens planted by the flowing streams, so are their disciplesin the fellowships of their schools. The light of their faces shineth as thebrightness of the firmament which the Lord created on the second day of thecreation of the world, and outspread for the glory of the Shekinah. They areexalted and lifted up above all the nations, like cedars of Lebanon planted byfountains of waters. From them their King shall arise, and their Redeemer be ofthem and among them, and the seed of the children of Jakob shall rule over manynations. The first who will reign over them will make war with the house ofAmalek, and will be exalted above Agag their king; but because he had sparedhim his kingdom will be taken from him. Unto Eloha, who brought them out freefrom Mizraim, belong might, and exaltation, and glory, and power. He willdestroy the nations of their adversaries, and break down their strength andwill send forth the plague-arrows of His vengeance among them, anddestroy them. They shall repose and dwell as a lion, and as an old lion, thatsleeping who will (dare to) awake? They who bless them are blessed, as Moshehthe prophet, the scribe of Israel; and they who curse them are accursed, asBileam son of Beor.
AndBalak’s wrath grew strong against Bileam, and, smiting his hands, Balak said toBileam, I brought thee to curse my enemies, and, behold, in blessing thou hastblessed them these three times. [JERUSALEM. 3. And he took up in parable hisprophecy and said: Bileam the son of Beor saith; the man saith who is morehonourable than his father, for what hath been hidden from all prophets isrevealed to him; the man saith who heard the Word from before the Lord, and whosaw the vision before the Almighty; when, inquiring, prostrate on his face, themysteries of prophecy were disclosed to him, and of himself he did prophesythat he shall fall by the sword, a prophecy to be confirmed at the end!
How goodlywere the tabernacles in which Jakob their father did pray; and the tabernacleof ordinance which you have made to My name, and your own tabernacles, O houseof Israel! As torrents that prevail, so shall Israel overpower theiradversaries; and as gardens planted by fountains of water, so shall be theircities, giving forth scribes and teachers of the law; and as the heavens whichthe Memra of the Lord spread forth for the dwelling of His Shekinah, so shallIsrael live, and endure unto eternity, beautiful and renowned as cedars by thewaters which grow up oil high. Their King will arise from among their children,and their Redeemer will be of them and among them; and He will gather theircaptives from the cities of their adversaries, and their children shall haverule among the peoples. And the kingdom of the King Meshiha shall be made great:stronger is He than Shaul who vanquished Agag the kill of the Amalkaab. UntoGod who redeemed, and brought them out free from the land of Mizraim, belongpower, and praise, and exaltation. The sons of Israel will prevail over theirenemies, will divide their cities, slay their heroes, and disperse theirresidue. Behold, these people will dwell as a lion, and be as the strong lions.He who blesseth you, O Israel, shall be blessed, as Mosheh the prophet, thescribe of Israel; and he who curseth you will be accursed, as Bileam, the sonof Beor. And Balak’s anger grew strong against Bileam, and Balak smote hishands, and said to Bileam, I brought thee to curse my enemies, and thou hastonly blessed.] And now flee to thy place. I had said that honouring I wouldhonour thee; but, behold, the Lord hath kept back Bileam from honour. ButBileam said to Balak, Did I not tell thy messengers whom thou. sentest to me,saying, If Balak would give me the fulness of his treasures of silver and gold,I have no power to transgress the decree of the Word of the Lord to do good orevil of my own will: what the Lord saith shall I not speak. And now,behold, I return to go to my people. Come, I will give thee counsel: Go, furnishtavern houses, and employ seductive women to sell food and drinks cheaply, andto bring this people together to eat and drink, and commit whoredom with them,that they may deny their God; then in a brief time will they be delivered intothy hand, and many of them fall. Nevertheless, after this they will still havedominion over thy people at the end of the days. And he took up the parable of his prophecy, and said Bileam the son ofBeor speaketh; the man speaketh who is more honourable than his father, becausethe mysteries hidden from prophets have been revealed to him; he speaketh whoheard the Word from before the Lord, and who knoweth the hour when the MostHigh God will be wroth with him; (he speaketh) who saw the vision before theAlmighty, seeking, prostrate on his face, that it should be revealed to him;the secret, concealed from the prophets, was disclosed unto him.
I shallsee Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but it is not near. When the mightyKing of Jakob’s house shall reign, and the Meshiha, the Power-sceptre ofIsrael, be anointed, He will slay the princes of the Moabaee, and bring tonothing all the children of Sheth, the armies of Gog who will do battle againstIsrael and all their carcases shall fall before Him. And the Edomaee will beutterly driven out, even the sons of Gabela from before Israel their foes, andIsrael will be strengthened with their riches and possess them. And a prince ofthe house of Jakob will arise and destroy and consume the remnant that haveescaped from Constantina the guilty city, and will lay waste and ruin therebellious city, even Kaiserin the strong city of the Gentiles. And he looked on the house of Amalek, and took up the parable of hisprophecy, and said: The first of the nations who made war with the house ofIsrael were those of the house of Amalek; and they at last, in the days of theKing Meshiha, with all the children of the east, will make war against Israel;but all of them together will have eternal destruction in their end. And he looked upon Jethro, who had been made proselyte, and took upthe parable of his prophecy, and said: How strong is thy habitation, who hastset thy dwelling in the clefts of the rocks! Yet so is it decreed that thechildren of the Shalmaia must be despoiled, but not until Sancherib the king ofAthur shall come and make thee captive.
[JERUSALEM. And now, behold,I go to my people. Come now, I will counsel thee how thou art to act with thispeople. Lead them into sin; for else thou canst have power against them toprevail over thy people at the end of the days. And he took up the parable ofhis prophecy, and said:
Bileam the sonof Beor saith; the man who is more honourable than his father saith, for whathath been hid from all the prophets is revealed unto me: the man speaketh whoheard the Word from before the Lord, and learned knowledge from the Most High;who saw the vision in the presence of the Almighty, seeking prostrate on hisface, when the visions of prophecy were disclosed to him, and he was made toforeknow of himself that he will fall by the sword, but that his prophecy willbe confirmed.
I shallsee Him, but not now; I shall behold Him, but He is not nigh. A King is toarise from the house of Jakob, and a Redeemer and Ruler from the house ofIsrael, who will slay the strong ones of the Moabaee, and bring to nothing andconsume all the children of the east. And Edom may inherit Mount Gabela fromtheir enemies but Israel will be stronger with a mighty host. A King will arisefrom the house of Jakob, and destroy what shall remain of the strong city. Andhe beheld the Amalkaah, and took up the parable of his prophecy and said: Thehouse of Amalek was the first of the peoples to make war with Israel, and atlast in the end of the days they willarray battle against them; but their end is to perish, and their destruction tobe for ever. And when he looked upon the Shalmaia, taking up the parable of hisprophecy, he said, How strong is thy abode, who hast set the house of thy dwellingin the clefts of the rock! But the Shalmaia will not be spoiled, until Athuriashall arise, and take thee captive.] And hetook up the parable of his prophecy, and said, Woe to them who are alive at thetime when the Word of the Lord shall be revealed, to give the good reward to therighteous, and to take vengeance on the wicked, to smite the nations and thekings, and bring these things upon them! And ships (lit., sails) armed for warwill come forth with urreat armies from Lombarnia, and from the land of Italia,[4] <l >conjoined with the legions that will come forth from Constantina, and willafflict the Athuraee, and bring into captivity all the sons of Eber;[5] <l >nevertheless the end of these and of those is to fall by the hand of the KingMeshiha, and be brought to everlasting destruction: [JERUSALEM. Woe to him whois alive when the Word of the Lord setteth Himself to give the good reward tothe just, and to take vengeance on the wicked! And great hosts in Livernia willcome from the great city, and will conjoin with them many legions of theRomaee, and subjugate Athuria, and afflict all the children beyond the river.Nevertheless the end of these and of those is to perish, and the destruction tobe everlasting. And Bileam rose up and went to return to his place; and Balakalso.] And Bileamrose up and went to return to his place, and Balak also went upon his way, andappointed the daughters of the Midianites for the tavern booths at BethJeshimotb, by the snow mountain, where they sold sweetmeats cheaper than their price, after the counsel of Bileam thewicked, at the dividing of the way.
XXV. And Israel dwelt in the place which is called Shittim, on accountof the (Shetutha) foolishness[6] <l >and depravity which were among them. And the people began to profane theirholiness, and to strip their bodies to the image of Peor, and commitfornication with. the daughters of the Moabites, who brought out the image ofPeor, concealed under their bundles. And they invited the people to thesacrifices of their idols; and the people ate in their feasts, and bowedthemselves to their idols. And the people of the house of Israel joinedthemselves to Baala-Peor, like the nail in the wood, which is notseparated but by breaking up the wood (or, with the splinters). And the angerof the Lord was kindled against Israel. And theLord said to Mosheh, Take all the chiefs of the people, and appoint them forjudges, and let them give judgment to put to death the people who have goneastray after Peor, and hang them before the word of the Lord upon the wood overagainst the morning sun, and at the departure of the sun take them down andbury them and turn away the strong anger of the Lord from Israel. And Moshehsaid to the judges of Israel, Slay every one a man of his tribe of those whohave joined themselves to the idol of Peor. [JERUSALEM. And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began tocommit fornication with the daughters of the Moabites. And they invited thepeople to the sacrifices of their idols. And Israel were united with the worshippersof the idol of Peor; and the anger of the Lord was strong against Israel. Andthe Word of the Lord said to Mosheh, Take all the chiefs of the people and setthem for a Sanhedrin before the Lord, and let them bang all who are worthy ofdeath; and at sunset take down their bodies and bury them, that so may beaverted the strong anger of the Lord from Israel. And Mosheh said to theprinces of Israel, Slay each one a man of his house of them who have joinedthemselves to the idol of Peor.]
Andbehold, a man of the sons of Israel came, holding a Midianitess, and brought herto his brethren, in the sight of Mosheh and all the congregation of thechildren of Israel. He answered and said to Mosheh, What is it (that is wrong)to have company with her? If thou sayest, It is forbidden, didst thou notthyseIf take a Midianitess, the daughter of Jethro? When Mosheh heard, hetrembled and swooned. But they wept, and cried, Listen! And they stood at thedoor of the tabernacle of ordinance. And Phinehas bar Elazar-bar Aharon,the priest, saw, and, remembering the ordination, answered, and said: He whoought to kill, let him kill! Where are the lions of the tribe of Jehudah? Whenthey saw, they were quiet. And he arose from among his Sanhedrin, and took alance in his hand. [JERUSALEM. And, behold, a man of the sons of Israel cameand brought to his brethren a Midianitha, before Mosheh and all the congregationof the children of Israel; and, behold, they were weeping at the door of thetabernacle. And Phinehas bar Elazar bar Aharon, the high priest, saw, and arosefrom among the assembly, and took a lance.]
Twelvemiracles were wrought for Phinehas at the time that he went in after the man ofIsrael with the Midianitha. The first sign was, He would have parted them butcould not. 2. Their mouth was closed, that they could not cry out; for had theycried out, they would have been rescued. 3. He drave the lance through both ofthem. 4. The lance remained fixed in the wound. 5. When he bare them aloft, thelintel was uplifted for him until he had gone forth. 6. He carried them throughthe whole camp, six miles, without fatigue. 7. He held them up by his rightarm, in sight of their kindred, who had no power to hurt him. 8. The lance wasmade strong so as not to be broken with the load. 9. The iron transpiercedthem, but was not withdrawn. 10. An angel came and made bare their corpses insight of the people. 11. They lingered alive till they had been carried throughthe entire camp, lest the priest in the tabernacle should be defiled by thedead. 12. Their blood thickened so as not to flow upon him; but when he hadborne them through the camp, it brake forth, and they died.
Answering, he said before the Lord of the world, Can it be that, onaccount of these, twenty and four thousands of Israel shall die? Immediatelythe compassions of Heaven were moved, and the plague was stayed from thechildren of Israel. [JERUSALEM. And he went in after the man of Israel into thetent, and thrust both of them, the man and the woman, through the body; and theplague was stayed from the children of Israel.] And the number who died by thepestilence was twenty and four thousand. [JERUSALEM. And those who died by thatplague were twenty and four thousand.] [1] Or,"gross."
[1] Glossary,p. 16.
[1] Gen. xxxi.51.
[1] Vulgate, Venientin trieribus de Italia.
[1] Peschito,"and subjugate all the Hebrews."
[1]Shoteh, in Chaldee is, "a fool or sot." The above derivation seemsfanciful. The place took its name probably from the Acacia trees which may haveabounded there; the Shittah, Mimosa Nilotica.
[1] <l > Or, "gross."
[2] <l > Glossary, p. 16.
[3] <l > Gen. xxxi. 51.
[4] <l > Vulgate, Venient in trieribus deItalia.
[5] <l > Peschito, "and subjugate all theHebrews."
[6] <l >Shoteh, in Chaldee is, "a fool or sot." The above derivation seemsfanciful. The place took its name probably from the Acacia trees which may haveabounded there; the Shittah, Mimosa Nilotica.