Sunset on the plains of Moab: flat-topped acacia trees and a few dark tents in silhouette, the green line of the Jordan beyond, and the blue hills of Canaan in the distance under a glowing evening sky.

The Book of

Numbers 25

Balaam could not curse Israel. Then Moab invited them to a feast, and Israel bowed down to Baal.

18 verses≈ 3 min2 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–10Ready at SinaiCounted and ordered
11–14GrumblingTo Kadesh and refusal
15–21Forty yearsRebellion and mercy
22–25BalaamA curse turned to blessingChapter 25
26–36A new generationReady for the land

Moab Seduces Israel

At dusk, far off on a bare hilltop beyond the acacias, a rough stone altar and a standing stone with smoke rising and tiny figures gathered, while the Israelite tents below stand quiet and empty.

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab, who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

0:19

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Then the LORD said to Moses, “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.”

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So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”

Reflect

What a curse could not do

Balak offered rich rewards for a curse, and God turned every attempt into a blessing. Then came something softer: the women of Moab “invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods.” What the enemy could not do from the hilltop, an invitation did at the table. Where are you being invited, gently and often, to bow to something other than God? Write it down, and name the first step away from that table.

The Zeal of Phinehas

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.

I am granting him My covenant of peace

Numbers 25:12–13

At dawn inside the tabernacle court, a young priest in a white linen tunic, sash and cap, seen from behind, stands at the bronze altar as a thin column of smoke rises, the tent beyond.

Question

Quick question

God promised a lasting priesthood to one man and his descendants.

Whose son was Phinehas?

The name of the Israelite who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

And the LORD said to Moses, “Attack the Midianites and strike them dead.

For they assailed you deceitfully when they seduced you in the matter of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of the Midianite leader, the woman who was killed on the day the plague came because of Peor.”

The rebellions

Whiteboard

From the first complaint to Peor, the wilderness generation rebelled again and again, and God judged them each time. Yet He never let go of His promise: the manna still fell, the water still came, a remedy was lifted up, and a curse became a blessing. Paul says these things happened as examples and were written down as warnings for us, so that we would not crave evil as they did.

Pray

Turn away wrath

At Peor the plague stopped when one man was “zealous for his God” and “made atonement for the Israelites.” Ask God to keep you pure and to guard you from the invitations that lead hearts away from Him. Ask for a zeal for His honor that is joined to a gentle heart. Then thank Him for Jesus, whose death turned God’s wrath away from His people once and for all. Amen.

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Numbers 25

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A verse to carry with you

Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace. It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.

Numbers 25:12–13

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