Moab Seduces Israel
(1 Corinthians 10:1–13)

1While Israel (he wrestles with God) was staying in Shittim (Acacia Grove),a the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab (of his father), 2who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. 3So Israel (he wrestles with God) (lord of the gap) joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against them.

4Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel (he wrestles with God).”

5So Moses (drawn out) told the judges of Israel (he wrestles with God), “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor (lord of the gap).”

The Zeal of Phinehas

6Just then an Israelite (he wrestles with God) man brought to his family a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses (drawn out) and the whole congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7On seeing this, Phinehas (mouth of brass) son of Eleazar (God has helped), the son of Aaron (light bringer) the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand, 8followed the Israelite (he wrestles with God) into the tent, and drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and on through the belly of the woman.

So the plague against the Israelites was halted, 9but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

10Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), 11“Phinehas (mouth of brass) son of Eleazar (God has helped), the son of Aaron (light bringer) the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites (God prevails); for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal. 12Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace. 13It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God {Elohaw} and made atonement for the Israelites (God prevails).”

14The name of the Israelite (he wrestles with God) who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri (my music) son of Salu (weighed), the leader of a Simeonite family. 15And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi (my lie), the daughter of Zur (rock), a tribal chief of a Midianite (strife) family.

16And the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), 17“Attack the Midianites and strike them dead. 18For they assailed you⁺ deceitfully when they seduced you⁺ in the matter of Peor (cleft) and their sister Cozbi (my lie), the daughter of the Midianite (strife) leader, the woman who was killed on the day the plague came because of Peor.”