Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Numbers 25:17

Vex the Midianites, and smite them:

Vex the Midianites. They seem to have been the most guilty parties (cf. Numbers 22:4; Numbers 31:8), and on them the storm of vengeance exclusively fell; while the Moabites were not only spared, but this matter of Peor is not enumerated among their offences against Israel, even when the interdict against their admission into the congregation of the Lord was issued (Deuteronomy 23:5).

Continues after advertising

See also Numbers 25:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Numbers 25:17. _VEX THE MIDIANITES, C._] See this order fulfilled, Numbers 31:1. Twelve thousand Israelites attacked the Midianites, destroyed all their cities, slew their five kings, every male...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    2. ISRAEL'S SIN WITH THE DAUGHTERS OF MOAB: PHINEHAS CHAPTER 25 _ 1. The transgression and the anger of Jehovah (Numbers 25:1)_ 2. Phinehas' action (Numbers 25:6) 3. Phinehas and his reward (Numbe...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    NUMBERS 25. In this chapter fragments of two distinct narratives have been united. In the first (from JE), the Israelites sin with _Moabite_ women, and the sin is punished by the _judicial execution_...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    VEX. Compare Numbers 31....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    are an editorial note. The compiler who placed side by side the two narratives in Numbers 25:1 here combines them in such a way as to represent the _Midianites_as responsible for tempting Israel in bo...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    VEX THE MIDIANITES— The Moabites are not named. See Deuteronomy 2:9. It is not unlikely, that the Midianites had the principal hand in this seduction of the Israelites; ready as we find they were to p...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    C. JEHOVAH DENOUNCES THE MIDIANITES vv. 16-18 TEXT Numbers 25:16. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 17. Vex the Midianites, and smite them: 18. For they vex with their wiles, wherewith they have...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    IDOLATRY AND IMMORALITY OF THE ISRAELITES AT SHITTIM. THE ZEAL OF PHINEHAS 1-5. The Israelites, who have just been exhibited as proof against enchantments, are not able to resist the temptations to id...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 25 THE *ISRAELITES *WORSHIP FALSE GODS – NUMBERS 25:1-18 V1 The *Israelites were camping in the valley call

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    VEX THE MIDIANITES, AND SMITE THEM. — The Midianites appear to have been joint actors with the Moabites throughout the whole of the opposition which was offered to Israel, and the chief actors in the...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    צָרֹ֖ור אֶת ־הַ מִּדְיָנִ֑ים וְ הִכִּיתֶ֖ם אֹ

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE ZEAL OF PHINEHAS AGAINST IMPURITY Numbers 25:1 Unable to curse Israel directly, Balaam suggested to Balak the device of destroying the union between Israel and their divine Protector by enticing...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The influence of Balaam is revealed in what is now recorded. The words of Jesus in His letter to the Church at Pergamum, quoted in our last note, are closely connected with the statement with which th...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Madianites. God spared the Moabites for the sake of Lot (Deuteronomy ii. 19,) and of Ruth, of whom David and Christ should be born. They were perhaps less guilty, but they did not escape due chastise...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    If we take this precept spiritually, it teaches that we are not to spare, nor suffer our eye to pity any, however dear or near to us in nature, who tempt us from our GOD. Deuteronomy 13:6....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The successes given to the children of Israel alarmed some of their neighbours, more particularly Moab; and this gives occasion for a striking episode in the history which brought to issue as solemn a...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    17._Vex the Midianites, and smite them. _Inasnmch as God constantly forbids His people to take vengeance, it is surprising that the people of Israel should now be instigated to do so; as if they were...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 22, 23, 24, AND 25. Moab also opposes in vain. Now they are in the plains of Moab, having only Jordan between them and the land of their rest. But had they a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    VEX THE MIDIANITES, AND SMITE THEM. Go to war with them, and smite them with the sword; not the Moabites, but the Midianites, though they were both confederates against Israel; but God had given a cha...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _Vex the Midianites, and smite them:_ Ver. 17. _Vex the Midianites._] As more malicious and mischievous than the Moabites; as appears, (1.) By their detaining of Balaam, when the Moabites dismissed h...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Vex the Midianites_ It is probable, from Numbers 25:6, compared with Numbers 21:16, that the Midianites had had the principal hand in seducing the Israelites into this shameful revolt from the worshi...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Israel at Shittim commit whoredome and Idolatrie. 6 Phinees killeth Zimri and Cozbi. 10 God therefore giueth him an euerlasting Priesthood. 16 The Midianites are to be vexed. [PHINEHAS KILLETH Z...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ISRAEL SEDUCED BY MOAB (vs.1-18) God had intervened to bless Israel when Moab was anxious to curse them. How inappropriate and senseless therefore was the harlotry of the men with the women of Moab....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    16-18 We read not that any Midianites died of the plague; God punished them with the sword of an enemy, not with the rod of a father. We must set ourselves against whatever is an occasion of sin to u...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    And why not the Moabites, who were as guilty, NUMBERS 25:1 ? ANSW. 1. Because God will reserve to himself a liberty of punishing or sparing, according to his own good pleasure. 2. God had a kindness...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    Here a new scene opens upon our view. We have been on the top of Pisgah, hearkening to God's testimony respecting Israel, and there all was bright and fair, without a cloud, without a spot. But now we...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Numbers 25:17 Harass H6887 (H8800) Midianites H4084 attack H5221 (H8689) Numbers 31:2;...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    Numbers 25:16 ‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,' Then Yahweh added a further sentence to His judgment. Numbers 25:17 ‘Vex the Midianites, and smite them, for they vex you with their wiles, with w...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Sin of Israel with daughters of Moab. CHARACTERS: God, Moses, Zimri, Phinehas, Cozbi. CONCLUSION: God's people are more endangered by the charms of a smiling world than by the terrors of a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Numbers 25:1. _The people began to commit whoredom._ Balaam stands accused of being the adviser of this intercourse with the Israelites. These illicit practices prepared the way for the feast, so that...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 25:1 Once again, Israel is unfaithful to the Lord. However, unlike earlier times when they were unfaithful—at Sinai (Exodus 25:1) and at Kadesh ...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 25:16 The ongoing struggle with MIDIAN is reported in ch. Numbers 31:1 and...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES Numbers 25:1. _Shittim_. An abbreviation of Abel-Shittim, “the meadow of the acacias.” It was situated in the plains of Moab, at the northern extremity of the camp of I...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE SIN OF ISRAEL AND ATONEMENT OF PHINEHAS (Numbers 25:1). NUMBERS 25:1 ABODE IN SHITTIM. For a considerable t

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    AND Israel was abiding there in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people into the sacrifices of their gods (Numbers 25:1-2): You see the...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Numbers 31:2; Revelation 18:6...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The Midianites — And why not the Moabites. It is probable the Midianites were most guilty, as in persuading Balak to send for Balaam, Numbers 22:4, Numbers 22:7. So in the reception of Balaam after Ba...

Continues after advertising