Chapter 25

1 Israel at Shittim commit whoredom and idolatry. 6 Phinehas killeth Zimri and Cozbi. 10 God therefore giveth him an everlasting priesthood. 16 The Midianites are to be vexed.

1. In Shittim. Literally, “acacia trees.” Inasmuch as the word here is in the plural and, in Hebrew, has the definite article with the preposition “in” or “among,” the expression may be translated, “Among the acacia trees.” It is from here that Joshua subsequently sent men to spy out the land of Canaan in the vicinity of Jericho (Joshua 2:1; 3:1). The more complete form of the name is Abel-Shittim (Num. 33:49). Its site, though not definitely known, is in the plains of Moab.

Whoredom. Literal whoredom was followed by its spiritual counterpart—the worship of idols. If the first step had not been taken, the second one would probably not have followed.

2. They called the people. That is, the Moabite women called the Israelites. Participation in the sacrificial feasts in honor of heathen gods was a natural sequel to literal whoredom (see Deut. 12:5, 7, 17, 18; Judges 9:27).

The people did eat. That is, of the sacrificial feast in honor of the god (see Ps. 106:28).

Bowed down. That is, the Moabite women and the Israelites they had invited. In thus eating of the sacrificial meal and bowing down to the heathen god they proclaimed themselves to be his followers (see Ex. 34:15).

4. Hang them up. The chiefs of the tribes, if guilty, were to be executed. Their position among the people and their participation in idolatry made them primarily responsible. Just what form the punishment took is difficult to say from the Hebrew. The same verb is used in Gen. 32:25 of the dislocation of Jacob’s thigh, except that here the causative form of the verb is used. It appears also in 2 Sam. 21:6 for the execution of Saul’s seven sons. Many commentators think the form of punishment here referred to was hanging or impalement.

Before the Lord. Probably in front of the tabernacle of the Lord, whose worship they had forsaken. There was no offering for sin such as theirs (Heb. 6:4–6; 10:26); therefore their own blood was shed to pay the penalty for their transgression.

Against the sun. Literally, “in sight of the sun,” that is, publicly, as a warning to the entire camp (see 2 Sam. 12:12; Jer. 8:2).

Turned away. By so drastic a course the judges (see v. 5) would prove their zeal for God and His worship.

5. The judges of Israel. Probably the 70 elders (Num. 11:25; cf. Ex. 18:12). There is no record of the execution of the command to slay the partakers of the idolatrous feast.

Every one his men. Each chief or elder would carry out the sentence upon those under his authority and for whom he was responsible (see Ex. 18:25, 26; 32:27).

6. A Midianitish woman. Moab and Midian were apparently collaborating in the plot to destroy Israel. This woman was introduced for immoral purposes (see ch. 31:16).

In the sight of Moses. In deliberate disrespect for the authority of Moses.

7. Phinehas. See Ex. 6:25. He was apparently the only son of Eleazar, and would succeed his father in the office of high priest (1 Chron. 9:20).

He rose up. See Ps. 106:30.

Took a javelin. This word is always translated “spear” or “spears” elsewhere in the OT, except once as “lancets” (1 Kings 18:28) and once as “buckler” (1 Chron. 12:8).

8. The tent. The word here translated “tent” is not used elsewhere in the OT, and its meaning is therefore somewhat uncertain. It may refer to the inner part of the main tent, to which the women of the household would retire. Others suggest that it may refer to special tents erected by the Israelites when they joined with the Moabites and Midianites in the idolatrous worship of Baal.

So the plague was stayed. The indignation of Phinehas, translated into action, pleased the Lord (v. 11), and the plague was stayed. The zealous indignation of Phinehas became an example for later generations (1 Macc. 2:26; 4 Macc. 18:12).

9. Twenty and four thousand. Compare the 23,000 of 1 Cor. 10:8. The difference may be explained by the words “fell in one day.” Or, a thousand were perhaps slain by the judges on another day and so not included in Paul’s round number of those that “fell in one day.”

10. The Lord spake. After so deplorable an event Moses probably went into the sanctuary for communion with God.

11. Turned my wrath away. Compare Ps. 106:23; Jer. 18:20.

Zealous for my sake. Literally, “he was jealous of my jealousy.” His zeal culminated in action, to restore honor to God’s name and people. In his zeal for God’s name he was a fitting type of Christ (Ps. 69:9; John 2:17).

That I consumed not. That is, by the plague then sweeping through the ranks (see 1 Kings 18:19; 19:10; 2 Kings 10:16).

12. My covenant of peace. Literally, “my covenant, peace” (Isa. 54:10; Eze. 34:25; 37:26; Mal. 2:5). Undoubtedly this promise of peace included divine protection for Phinehas from the avenging wrath of the kinsmen of Zimri (see v. 14). Peace comes with a proper standing with God.

13. An everlasting priesthood. The original recipients of God’s covenant were the men of Levi (Jer. 33:21; Mal. 2:4, 8), owing, perhaps, to their zeal on a former occasion (Ex. 32:25–29). Christ on thecross made sure all the blessings of the covenant of peace to His spiritual seed (Ps. 89:28, 29). In due course Phinehas succeeded Eleazar as high priest (Judges 20:28). It is presumed that because of some outstanding sin that is not mentioned in the divine record, there was a temporary break in the succession in the time of Eli. The succession was restored to Zadok, a descendant of Phinehas, by King Solomon, and so continued in that family until the Greek period.

Made an atonement. Compare ch. 16:47.

14. Zimri. This defiant sinner was a prince of the tribe of Simeon. For other instances of the name see 1 Kings 16:9; 1 Chron. 8:36. Zimri is derived from the word for chamois (Deut. 14:5).

15. The daughter of Zur. Compare ch. 31:8, where Zur is named as one of the five Midianite kings slain by the Israelites. Both Zimri and Cozbi were of prominent families, but this did not deter Phinehas, whose zeal for God made him lose sight of any personal danger that might have followed.

16. The Lord spake. How much time elapsed before the command was given by God, we are not told.

17. The Midianites. The Midianites had collaborated with the Moabites in the campaign of evil against Israel. As descendants of Abraham they should have manifested a different attitude toward God’s people. The Moabites did not completely escape due punishment, but, presumably because of the promise made to Lot (Deut. 2:9) or because their cup of sin was not yet full (see Gen. 15:16), they were passed over for the time being. Eventually, the Moabites were shut out even to the tenth generation from the congregation of Jehovah (Deut. 23:3, 4).

18. Beguiled you. By means of their women, at the evil suggestion of Balaam (ch. 31:16).

In the matter of Peor. By the worship of Baal-peor, into which they were inveigled by the women’s invitations to sacrificial feasts and the licentious rites that followed.

Ellen G. White comments

1-18PP 453-461

1-3PP 454, 684

1-5AH 326

8, 11-13, 15PP 455