Numbers 25:5
So Moses told the judges of Israel, "Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor."
So Moses said
The phrase begins with Moses, the central human figure in the Pentateuch, who is acting as the leader and prophet of Israel. The Hebrew root for "said" is אָמַר (amar), which often implies a command or authoritative speech. Moses, as God's appointed leader, is delivering a divine directive. This highlights the gravity of the situation and the necessity for immediate action. Historically, Moses' leadership is pivotal during Israel's wilderness journey, and his words carry the weight of divine authority.

to the judges of Israel
The "judges" here refers to the leaders or officials appointed to maintain order and justice among the people. The Hebrew word שֹׁפְטִים (shoftim) indicates those who are responsible for executing judgment. In the context of Israel's theocratic society, these judges were not only civil leaders but also spiritual guides. Their role was crucial in upholding the covenantal laws given by God. This highlights the communal responsibility in addressing sin and maintaining holiness among God's people.

Each of you must kill
This phrase is a direct and severe command, reflecting the seriousness of the sin committed. The Hebrew verb הָרַג (harag) means to kill or slay, indicating a decisive action against those who have transgressed. This command underscores the necessity of purging evil from the community to prevent further divine judgment. It reflects the holiness code of Israel, where sin, especially idolatry, was intolerable and had to be eradicated to preserve the sanctity of the nation.

all of his men
The phrase "his men" refers to those under the authority of each judge, likely indicating the leaders of families or clans. This personalizes the command, making each judge responsible for those within his sphere of influence. It emphasizes the communal and familial nature of Israelite society, where leaders were accountable for the spiritual and moral conduct of their people.

who have yoked themselves
The imagery of "yoked" comes from the Hebrew word צָמַד (tsamad), meaning to join or bind together. This metaphor suggests a voluntary and intimate association with idolatry, akin to the binding of animals under a yoke. It implies a deliberate choice to align with pagan practices, which is a direct violation of the covenant with Yahweh. This highlights the spiritual adultery of Israel, as they forsake their exclusive relationship with God.

to Baal of Peor
Baal of Peor refers to a local manifestation of the Canaanite deity Baal, worshiped at Peor. The worship of Baal was often associated with fertility rites and immoral practices, which were abhorrent to the God of Israel. The historical and archaeological context reveals that Baal worship was a persistent temptation for Israel, representing a direct challenge to their covenantal identity. This phrase underscores the spiritual battle between the worship of the one true God and the seductive allure of pagan idolatry.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In Numbers 25:5, Moses is seen taking decisive action to address the sin among the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The people of God who were journeying to the Promised Land. At this point in their journey, they had fallen into sin by engaging in idolatry and immorality with the Moabites.

3. Moab
A region and people who led the Israelites into sin. The Moabites enticed the Israelites to worship their gods and engage in immoral acts.

4. Baal of Peor
A false god worshiped by the Moabites. The Israelites' worship of Baal of Peor was a direct violation of their covenant with God.

5. Judges of Israel
Leaders appointed to help Moses govern the people. Moses instructed them to execute those who had joined in the idolatry, as a means of purging the sin from the community.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of Sin
Sin, especially idolatry and immorality, is a grave offense against God. It requires immediate and decisive action to prevent it from spreading and corrupting the community.

Leadership Responsibility
Leaders are called to uphold God's standards and take action against sin. Moses' instruction to the judges highlights the importance of godly leadership in maintaining the holiness of God's people.

The Call to Holiness
Believers are called to be set apart for God, avoiding the temptations and practices of the surrounding culture that lead away from Him.

Repentance and Restoration
While the passage focuses on judgment, it also underscores the need for repentance and the possibility of restoration when God's people turn back to Him.

Community Accountability
The community of believers is responsible for holding each other accountable to God's standards, encouraging one another to live faithfully.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the response of Moses and the judges in Numbers 25:5 demonstrate the seriousness with which God views sin, particularly idolatry and immorality?

2. In what ways can we, as modern believers, be vigilant against the "idols" of our culture that may lead us away from God?

3. How does the concept of community accountability, as seen in Numbers 25, apply to the church today? What practical steps can we take to support one another in holiness?

4. Reflect on a time when you had to take a stand against sin in your own life or community. What challenges did you face, and how did you rely on God's guidance?

5. How can the events of Numbers 25 serve as a warning and a lesson for us, as Paul suggests in 1 Corinthians 10? What specific actions can we take to ensure we remain faithful to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 32
The incident of the golden calf, where the Israelites similarly fell into idolatry, provides a parallel to the events in Numbers 25. Both instances show the consequences of turning away from God.

Deuteronomy 13
This passage outlines the seriousness of idolatry and the need to remove it from the community, echoing the actions Moses took in Numbers 25.

1 Corinthians 10
Paul references the events of Numbers 25 as a warning to the Corinthians about the dangers of idolatry and immorality, emphasizing the need for vigilance in faith.
Moab Finds a More Effective WeaponD. Young Numbers 25:1-5
Evil Men Proceed by Degrees from Worse to WorseW. Attersoll.Numbers 25:1-9
God's Abhorrence of ImpurityW. Seaton.Numbers 25:1-9
Sin Deprives Us of God's ProtectionW. Attersoll.Numbers 25:1-9
The Sin of Israel At Shittim, and the Judgment of GodW. Jones.Numbers 25:1-9
The Valley of SensualityW. Seaton.Numbers 25:1-9
People
Aaron, Baalpeor, Cozbi, Eleazar, Israelites, Midianites, Midianitess, Moses, Phinehas, Salu, Simeonites, Zimri, Zur
Places
Midian, Moab, Peor, Shittim
Topics
Baal, Ba'al, Baalpeor, Baal-peor, Death, Honour, Joined, Judges, Kill, Moab, Peor, Pe'or, Relations, Slay, Themselves, Women, Worshiping, Yoked
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Numbers 25:5

     5358   judges

Numbers 25:1-9

     6237   sexual sin, nature of

Numbers 25:1-13

     8370   zeal

Numbers 25:3-5

     7312   Baal

Numbers 25:3-11

     4843   plague

Library
Whether Vengeance is Lawful?
Objection 1: It seems that vengeance is not lawful. For whoever usurps what is God's sins. But vengeance belongs to God, for it is written (Dt. 32:35, Rom. 12:19): "Revenge to Me, and I will repay." Therefore all vengeance is unlawful. Objection 2: Further, he that takes vengeance on a man does not bear with him. But we ought to bear with the wicked, for a gloss on Cant 2:2, "As the lily among the thorns," says: "He is not a good man that cannot bear with a wicked one." Therefore we should not take
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood
"That My covenant might be with Levi. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity."--MAL. ii. 4-6. ISRAEL was meant by God to be a nation of priests. In the first making of the Covenant this was distinctly stipulated. "If ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant,
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

How those that are at Variance and those that are at Peace are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 23.) Differently to be admonished are those that are at variance and those that are at peace. For those that are at variance are to be admonished to know most certainly that, in whatever virtues they may abound, they can by no means become spiritual if they neglect becoming united to their neighbours by concord. For it is written, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace (Gal. v. 22). He then that has no care to keep peace refuses to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Hence Paul
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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