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Selected Verse: Numbers 25:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Nu 25:1	Strong Concordance	And Israel [03478] abode [03427] in Shittim [07851], and the people [05971] began [02490] to commit whoredom [02181] with the daughters [01323] of Moab [04124].
	King James	And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
THE ISRAELITES' WHOREDOM AND IDOLATRY WITH MOAB. (Num. 25:1-18) Israel abode in Shittim--a verdant meadow, so called from a grove of acacia trees which lined the eastern side of the Jordan. (See Num 33:49).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

THE ISRAELITES' WHOREDOM AND IDOLATRY WITH MOAB. (Num. 25:1-18)

Israel abode in Shittim--a verdant meadow, so called from a grove of acacia trees which lined the eastern side of the Jordan. (See Num 33:49).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The records of the neighboring cities of the plain, and the circumstances of the origin of Moab (Gen 19:30 ff) suggest that the people among whom Israel was now thrown were more than ordinarily licentious.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The Lord had defended His people Israel from Balaam's curse; but the Israelites themselves, instead of keeping the covenant of their God, fell into the snares of heathen seduction (Num 25:1, Num 25:2). Whilst encamped at Shittim, in the steppes of Moab, the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab: they accepted the invitations of the latter to a sacrificial festival of their gods, took part in their sacrificial meals, and even worshipped the gods of the Moabites, and indulged in the licentious worship of Baal-Peor. As the princes of Midian, who were allied to Moab, had been the advisers and assistants of the Moabitish king in the attempt to destroy the Israelites by a curse of God; so now, after the failure of that plan, they were the soul of the new undertaking to weaken Israel and render it harmless, by seducing it to idolatry, and thus leading it into apostasy from its God. But it was Balaam, as is afterwards casually observed in Num 31:16, who first of all gave this advice. This is passed over here, because the point of chief importance in relation to the object of the narrative, was not Balaam's share in the proposal, but the carrying out of the proposal itself. The daughters of Moab, however, also took part in carrying it out, by forming friendly associations with the Israelites, and then inviting them to their sacrificial festival. They only are mentioned in Num 25:1, Num 25:2, as being the daughters of the land. The participation of the Midianites appears first of all in the shameless licentiousness of Cozbi, the daughter of the Midianitish prince, from which we not only see that the princes of Midian performed their part, but obtain an explanation of the reason why the judgment upon the crafty destroyers of Israel was to be executed upon the Midianites. (Note: Consequently there is no discrepancy between Num 25:1-5 and Num 25:6-18, to warrant the violent hypothesis of Knobel, that there are two different accounts mixed together in this chapter-An Elohistic account in Num 25:6-18, of which the commencement has been dropped, and a Jehovistic account in Num 25:1-5, of which the latter part has been cut off. The particular points adduced in proof of this fall to the ground, when the history is correctly explained; and such assertions as these, that the name Shittim and the allusion to the judges in Num 25:5, and to the wrath of Jehovah in Num 25:3 and Num 25:4, are foreign to the Elohist, are not proofs, but empty assumptions.) Shittim, an abbreviation of Abel-Shittim (see at Num 22:1), to which the camp of the Israelites in the steppes of Moab reached (Num 33:49), is mentioned here instead of Arboth-Moab, because it was at this northern point of the camp that the Israelites came into contact with the Moabites, and that the latter invited them to take part in their sacrificial meals; and in Jos 2:1 and Jos 3:1, because it was from this spot that the Israelites commenced the journey to Canaan, as being the nearest to the place where they were to pass through the Jordan. זנה, construed with אל, as in Eze 16:28, signifies to incline to a person, to attach one's self to him, so as to commit fornication. The word applies to carnal and spiritual whoredom. The lust of the flesh induced the Israelites to approach the daughters of Moab, and form acquaintances and friendships with them, in consequence of which they were invited by them "to the slain-offerings of their gods," i.e., to the sacrificial festivals and sacrificial meals, in connection with which they also "adored their gods," i.e., took part in the idolatrous worship connected with the sacrificial festival. These sacrificial meals were celebrated in honour of the Moabitish god Baal-Peor, so that the Israelites joined themselves to him. צמד, in the Niphal, to bind one's self to a person. Baal-Peor is the Baal of Peor, who was worshipped in the city of Beth-Peor (Deu 3:29; Deu 4:46; see at Num 23:28), a Moabitish Priapus, in honour of whom women and virgins prostituted themselves. As the god of war, he was called Chemosh (see at Num 21:29).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The Lord had defended His people Israel from Balaam's curse; but the Israelites themselves, instead of keeping the covenant of their God, fell into the snares of heathen seduction (Num 25:1, Num 25:2). Whilst encamped at Shittim, in the steppes of Moab, the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab: they accepted the invitations of the latter to a sacrificial festival of their gods, took part in their sacrificial meals, and even worshipped the gods of the Moabites, and indulged in the licentious worship of Baal-Peor. As the princes of Midian, who were allied to Moab, had been the advisers and assistants of the Moabitish king in the attempt to destroy the Israelites by a curse of God; so now, after the failure of that plan, they were the soul of the new undertaking to weaken Israel and render it harmless, by seducing it to idolatry, and thus leading it into apostasy from its God. But it was Balaam, as is afterwards casually observed in Num 31:16, who first of all gave this advice. This is passed over here, because the point of chief importance in relation to the object of the narrative, was not Balaam's share in the proposal, but the carrying out of the proposal itself. The daughters of Moab, however, also took part in carrying it out, by forming friendly associations with the Israelites, and then inviting them to their sacrificial festival. They only are mentioned in Num 25:1, Num 25:2, as being the daughters of the land. The participation of the Midianites appears first of all in the shameless licentiousness of Cozbi, the daughter of the Midianitish prince, from which we not only see that the princes of Midian performed their part, but obtain an explanation of the reason why the judgment upon the crafty destroyers of Israel was to be executed upon the Midianites.

(Note: Consequently there is no discrepancy between Num 25:1-5 and Num 25:6-18, to warrant the violent hypothesis of Knobel, that there are two different accounts mixed together in this chapter-An Elohistic account in Num 25:6-18, of which the commencement has been dropped, and a Jehovistic account in Num 25:1-5, of which the latter part has been cut off. The particular points adduced in proof of this fall to the ground, when the history is correctly explained; and such assertions as these, that the name Shittim and the allusion to the judges in Num 25:5, and to the wrath of Jehovah in Num 25:3 and Num 25:4, are foreign to the Elohist, are not proofs, but empty assumptions.)

Shittim, an abbreviation of Abel-Shittim (see at Num 22:1), to which the camp of the Israelites in the steppes of Moab reached (Num 33:49), is mentioned here instead of Arboth-Moab, because it was at this northern point of the camp that the Israelites came into contact with the Moabites, and that the latter invited them to take part in their sacrificial meals; and in Jos 2:1 and Jos 3:1, because it was from this spot that the Israelites commenced the journey to Canaan, as being the nearest to the place where they were to pass through the Jordan. זנה, construed with אל, as in Eze 16:28, signifies to incline to a person, to attach one's self to him, so as to commit fornication. The word applies to carnal and spiritual whoredom. The lust of the flesh induced the Israelites to approach the daughters of Moab, and form acquaintances and friendships with them, in consequence of which they were invited by them "to the slain-offerings of their gods," i.e., to the sacrificial festivals and sacrificial meals, in connection with which they also "adored their gods," i.e., took part in the idolatrous worship connected with the sacrificial festival. These sacrificial meals were celebrated in honour of the Moabitish god Baal-Peor, so that the Israelites joined themselves to him. צמד, in the Niphal, to bind one's self to a person. Baal-Peor is the Baal of Peor, who was worshipped in the city of Beth-Peor (Deu 3:29; Deu 4:46; see at Num 23:28), a Moabitish Priapus, in honour of whom women and virgins prostituted themselves. As the god of war, he was called Chemosh (see at Num 21:29).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Shittim - And this was their last station, from whence they passed immediately into Canaan. This is noted as a great aggravation of their sin, that they committed it, when God was going to put them into the possession of their long - expected land. The people - Many of them. Whoredom - Either because they prostituted themselves to them upon condition of worshipping their God: or because their filthy God was worshipped by such filthy acts, as Priapus and Venus were. The daughters of Moab - And of Midian too; for both these people being confederated in this wicked design, the one is put for the other, and the daughters of Moab may be named, either because they began the transgression, or because they were the chief persons, possibly, the relations or courtiers of Balak.

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⁴⁹ And they pitched [02583] by Jordan [03383], from Bethjesimoth [01020] even unto Abelshittim [063] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124].

³⁰ And Lot [03876] went up [05927] out of Zoar [06820], and dwelt [03427] in the mountain [02022], and his two [08147] daughters [01323] with him; for he feared [03372] to dwell [03427] in Zoar [06820]: and he dwelt [03427] in a cave [04631], he and his two [08147] daughters [01323].

²⁹ Woe [0188] to thee, Moab [04124]! thou art undone [06], O people [05971] of Chemosh [03645]: he hath given [05414] his sons [01121] that escaped [06412], and his daughters [01323], into captivity [07622] unto Sihon [05511] king [04428] of the Amorites [0567].

²⁸ And Balak [01111] brought [03947] Balaam [01109] unto the top [07218] of Peor [06465], that looketh [08259] toward [06440] Jeshimon [03452].

⁴⁶ On this side [05676] Jordan [03383], in the valley [01516] over against [04136] Bethpeor [01047], in the land [0776] of Sihon [05511] king [04428] of the Amorites [0567], who dwelt [03427] at Heshbon [02809], whom Moses [04872] and the children [01121] of Israel [03478] smote [05221], after they were come forth [03318] out of Egypt [04714]:

²⁹ So we abode [03427] in the valley [01516] over against [04136] Bethpeor [01047].

²⁸ Thou hast played the whore [02181] also with the Assyrians [01121] [0804], because [01115] thou wast unsatiable [07646]; yea, thou hast played the harlot [02181] with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied [07654].

¹ And Joshua [03091] rose early [07925] in the morning [01242]; and they removed [05265] from Shittim [07851], and came [0935] to Jordan [03383], he and all the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and lodged [03885] there before they passed over [05674].

¹ And Joshua [03091] the son [01121] of Nun [05126] sent [07971] out of Shittim [07851] two [08147] men [0582] to spy [07270] secretly [02791], saying [0559], Go [03212] view [07200] the land [0776], even Jericho [03405]. And they went [03212], and came [0935] into an harlot's [02181] house [0802] [01004], named [08034] Rahab [07343], and lodged [07901] there.

⁴⁹ And they pitched [02583] by Jordan [03383], from Bethjesimoth [01020] even unto Abelshittim [063] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124].

¹ And the children [01121] of Israel [03478] set forward [05265], and pitched [02583] in the plains [06160] of Moab [04124] on this side [05676] Jordan [03383] by Jericho [03405].

⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], Take [03947] all the heads [07218] of the people [05971], and hang them up [03363] before [05048] the LORD [03068] against the sun [08121], that the fierce [02740] anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] may be turned away [07725] from Israel [03478].

³ And Israel [03478] joined [06775] himself unto Baalpeor [01187]: and the anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] was kindled [02734] against Israel [03478].

⁵ And Moses [04872] said [0559] unto the judges [08199] of Israel [03478], Slay [02026] ye every [0376] one [0376] his men [0582] that were joined [06775] unto Baalpeor [01187].

¹ And Israel [03478] abode [03427] in Shittim [07851], and the people [05971] began [02490] to commit whoredom [02181] with the daughters [01323] of Moab [04124].
² And they called [07121] the people [05971] unto the sacrifices [02077] of their gods [0430]: and the people [05971] did eat [0398], and bowed down [07812] to their gods [0430].
³ And Israel [03478] joined [06775] himself unto Baalpeor [01187]: and the anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] was kindled [02734] against Israel [03478].
⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], Take [03947] all the heads [07218] of the people [05971], and hang them up [03363] before [05048] the LORD [03068] against the sun [08121], that the fierce [02740] anger [0639] of the LORD [03068] may be turned away [07725] from Israel [03478].
⁵ And Moses [04872] said [0559] unto the judges [08199] of Israel [03478], Slay [02026] ye every [0376] one [0376] his men [0582] that were joined [06775] unto Baalpeor [01187].

⁶ And, behold, one [0376] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478] came [0935] and brought [07126] unto his brethren [0251] a Midianitish woman [04084] in the sight [05869] of Moses [04872], and in the sight [05869] of all the congregation [05712] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478], who were weeping [01058] before the door [06607] of the tabernacle [0168] of the congregation [04150].
⁷ And when Phinehas [06372], the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499], the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], saw [07200] it, he rose up [06965] from among [08432] the congregation [05712], and took [03947] a javelin [07420] in his hand [03027];
⁸ And he went [0935] after [0310] the man [0376] of Israel [03478] into the tent [06898], and thrust [01856] both [08147] of them through, the man [0376] of Israel [03478], and the woman [0802] through [0413] her belly [06897]. So the plague [04046] was stayed [06113] from the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
⁹ And those that died [04191] in the plague [04046] were twenty [06242] and four [0702] thousand [0505].
¹⁰ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
¹¹ Phinehas [06372], the son [01121] of Eleazar [0499], the son [01121] of Aaron [0175] the priest [03548], hath turned [07725] my wrath [02534] away [07725] from the children [01121] of Israel [03478], while he was zealous [07065] for my sake [07068] among [08432] them, that I consumed [03615] not the children [01121] of Israel [03478] in my jealousy [07068].
¹² Wherefore say [0559], Behold, I give [05414] unto him my covenant [01285] of peace [07965]:
¹³ And he shall have it, and his seed [02233] after [0310] him, even the covenant [01285] of an everlasting [05769] priesthood [03550]; because [0834] he was zealous [07065] for his God [0430], and made an atonement [03722] for the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
¹⁴ Now the name [08034] of the Israelite [0376] that was slain [05221], even that was slain [05221] with the Midianitish woman [04084], was Zimri [02174], the son [01121] of Salu [05543], a prince [05387] of a chief [01] house [01004] among the Simeonites [08099].
¹⁵ And the name [08034] of the Midianitish [04084] woman [0802] that was slain [05221] was Cozbi [03579], the daughter [01323] of Zur [06698]; he was head [07218] over a people [0523], and of a chief [01] house [01004] in Midian [04080].
¹⁶ And the LORD [03068] spake [01696] unto Moses [04872], saying [0559],
¹⁷ Vex [06887] the Midianites [04084], and smite [05221] them:
¹⁸ For they vex [06887] you with their wiles [05231], wherewith they have beguiled [05230] you in the matter [01697] of Peor [06465], and in the matter [01697] of Cozbi [03579], the daughter [01323] of a prince [05387] of Midian [04080], their sister [0269], which was slain [05221] in the day [03117] of the plague [04046] for Peor's [06465] sake [01697].

² And they called [07121] the people [05971] unto the sacrifices [02077] of their gods [0430]: and the people [05971] did eat [0398], and bowed down [07812] to their gods [0430].

¹ And Israel [03478] abode [03427] in Shittim [07851], and the people [05971] began [02490] to commit whoredom [02181] with the daughters [01323] of Moab [04124].

¹⁶ Behold, these [02007] caused [01961] the children [01121] of Israel [03478], through the counsel [01697] of Balaam [01109], to commit [04560] trespass [04604] against the LORD [03068] in the matter [01697] of Peor [06465], and there was a plague [04046] among the congregation [05712] of the LORD [03068].

² And they called [07121] the people [05971] unto the sacrifices [02077] of their gods [0430]: and the people [05971] did eat [0398], and bowed down [07812] to their gods [0430].

¹ And Israel [03478] abode [03427] in Shittim [07851], and the people [05971] began [02490] to commit whoredom [02181] with the daughters [01323] of Moab [04124].