Numbers 25:1-9 ▼

1 While Israel was staying in the Acacia Grove, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.

2 The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods.

3 So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.

4 The LORD said to Moses, “ Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD so that His burning anger may turn away from Israel.”

5 So Moses told Israel’s judges, “ Kill each of the men who aligned themselves with Baal of Peor.”

6 An Israelite man came bringing a Midianite woman to his relatives in the sight of Moses and the whole Israelite community while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,

8 followed the Israelite man into the tent, and drove it through both the Israelite man and the woman  — through her belly. Then the plague on the Israelites was stopped,

9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000 .