Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 25:1-5
Chapter 25 Israel Are Lured Into Sin By The Moabites and Midianites.
4). The Defeat of the Evil Influence of Moab (Numbers 25:1).
It is noteworthy that just as the glorious revelation on Mount Sinai was followed by the lapse into idolatry with the molten calf, so here the glorious repetition and expansion of the promises by Balaam is followed by gross idolatry. In each case the one contrasts with the other, the proclamation of the grace of God with the disobedience of man.
For having settled down in the Moabite plain Israel now demonstrated their propensity for sin at Shittim by enjoying close relations with the daughters of Moab, and ‘joining themselves' to Baal-peor. In spite of all Yahweh's warnings they engaged in idolatry. This would finally result in the death of a Simeonite chieftain and a plague on the people.
Analysis of the chapter.
a Israel sin at Shittim in regard to Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1 a).
b Yahweh is angry with Israel and demands their punishment. Moses calls on the judges to slay those who worshipped Baal-peor (Numbers 25:3)
c A Midianitish woman brought into the camp by a Simeonite chief for evil purposes (Numbers 25:6).
d Phinehas, son of Eleazar slays the chieftain and the woman (Numbers 25:7 a).
e As a result of his action judgment by plague is stayed (Numbers 25:8 b).
e Those who died in the plague are enumerated (Numbers 25:9)
d Phinehas is confirmed in the priesthood for his action (Numbers 25:10).
c The chieftain and the woman are identified (Numbers 25:14).
b Yahweh demands the punishment of Midian (Numbers 25:16)
a The punishment is in respect of the sin regarding Baal-peor (Numbers 25:18)
Israel Sin at Shittim in Regard to Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1 a)
‘And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.'
Settling down at Shittim after a period of continual travel, Israelite males began to take a fancy to certain young women who lived in Moab, and who seemingly made themselves available. (Note that the Midianitish woman is seen as ‘a daughter of Moab', that is a woman who lived in Moabite territory. There was clearly a very close relationship between these Midianites and Moab). Not being constantly on the move themselves their women were able to make themselves up more attractively, and the men of Israel clearly enjoyed the novelty. These were worshippers of Baal-peor, and we note that the sin is not said to have been sexual, although that no doubt occurred, but a turning to their idols, although in view of what follows sexual relations might well be seen as implied. And in view of the nature of the religion of Baal with its fertility rites there may well have been ritual sex acts between them. Outwardly, however, the sin is said to be that of being present at the sacrifices to their gods, eating sacred meals with them and bowing down to their gods. Among others they were disobeying the first two commandments.
Yahweh Was Angry with Israel and Demanded The Punishment Of Those Who Had Sinned (Numbers 25:3).
‘And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor: and the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel.'
Thus Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor (the lord of Peor). That is they became involved in idolatry and all the behaviour that went with it. The lord of Peor may have been Chemosh, the Moabite god, or a local Baal favoured by the Midianites. This resulted in Yahweh's anger being aroused, His righteous aversion to such evil behaviour. They had deserted Him and what He stood for and had chosen to follow idols and what they stood for.
‘And Yahweh said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up to Yahweh before the sun, that the fierce anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.'
That the failure took in a large number of Israelites is made apparent by the fact that only the chieftains among them were to be executed. Yahweh told Moses to hang up before Yahweh, in the sun, all the chieftains of the people who had been misbehaving. This suggests that a good number of chieftains were involved, which made the position even worse. Only then would His anger be turned away. (‘Them' cannot mean all the chiefs in Israel, for Moses now turned to some of them for assistance. It refers to those who were among those who had sinned - see Deuteronomy 24:16).
‘And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Slay you every one his men who have joined themselves to Baal-peor.” '
So Moses went to the high chiefs of Israel with special responsibility as judges and bade them slay all in their tribes who had committed idolatry and participated in the worship of Baal-peor, thereby ‘joining themselves' to him.