Numbers 25:4-18 ▼

4 Then 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).”

5 So 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).”

6 Just 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.

7 On 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,

8 followed 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,

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

10 Then 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.

12 Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace.

13 It 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).”

14 The 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.

15 And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi (my lie), the daughter of Zur (rock), a tribal chief of a Midianite (strife) family.

16 And the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out),

17 “Attack the Midianites and strike them dead.

18 For 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.”