Numbers 25

Numbers 25:1

abode: i.e. till after Moses’ death. Compare Joshua 2:1; Joshua 3:1, and see Micah 6:5.

Shittim. Called Abel-shittim in Numbers 33:49.

with = to (Hebrew. ’el). Requiring the supply of the Ellipsis “to join themselves to”, from Numbers 25:3.

Numbers 25:2

they: i.e. the daughters of Moab.

their. Feminine pronoun.

Numbers 25:3

joined = yoked.

Baal-peor. Baal = Lord; Peor was the mountain on which he was worshipped (Numbers 25:18. Joshua 22:17). Baal was a Moabitish idol, and those who called (Numbers 25:2) the Israelites were the prostitutes necessary for his worship by others. Compare Hosea 9:10. Jeremiah 11:13. Peor also means “opening”, and may have relation to this “worship”.

anger of the LORD (Hebrew. Jehovah.

Numbers 25:4

said. See note on Numbers 3:40.

heads: i.e. chiefs or princes of the People. The number not stated here, but must have been 1,000, and included in the 24,000 of Numbers 25:9, and excluded in 1 Corinthians 10:8. The 23,000 mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:8 “fell in one day”: the day of the plague, verses: Numbers 25:9, Numbers 25:18. And those who were hanged prior to that (verses: Numbers 25:4, Numbers 25:5) are not included.

hang them up: i.e. impaled or nailed to a stake, as in crucifixion (Vulg, renders it “crucify”, which means the same thing).

Numbers 25:6

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

children = sons.

who = and they.

door = entrance. Hebrew. ’ohel. App-40.

tabernacle = tent.

Numbers 25:7

Phinehas. Compare Psalms 106:30.

Numbers 25:8

tent. Hebrew. kubbah, a high and vaulted pleasure tent, used in the worship of Baal. Occurs only here.

belly. Hebrew. kobah, the part between the ribs, and loins. Occurs only here, for the Figure of speech Paronomasia (App-6).

Numbers 25:9

twenty and four thousand. This includes the 1,000 previously “hanged” (verses: Numbers 25:4, Numbers 25:5), as well as those who died of the “plague”. These must have been 23,000 of 1 Corinthians 10:8, which “fell in one day”.

Numbers 25:10

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1.

Numbers 25:13

he shall have it. See Psalms 106:30, Psalms 106:31, and Malachi 2:4, Malachi 2:5. Compare 1 Chronicles 6:4-15. 1 Samuel 22:18. 1 Kings 2:27 with 1 Samuel 14:17. Also 1 Chronicles 6:4-15. Ezra was of his line (Ezra 7:1, Ezra 7:5).

everlasting priesthood. Restored to Phinehas, and remained with him, after Eli.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33.

Numbers 25:15

people = clan or tribe. Hebrew. ’ummoth. Occurs only here, Genesis 25:16 and Psalms 117:1.

Numbers 25:17

Vex. Compare Numbers 31.

Numbers 25:18

wiles = seductions. Hebrew. nekal. Occurs only here.

day: i.e. the “one day” of 1 Corinthians 10:8.