Numbers 25:8
And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
On the very borders of the promised land near the close of the wilderness wandering, Phinehas the son of Eleazar rose from the weeping congregation with a javelin, followed an Israelite prince who had openly brought a Midianitish woman into his tent, and pierced them both through while the plague was still killing, and by that judgment the outbreak was ended. Israel had joined himself to Baal-peor through the wiles of the Midianites at Balaam's counsel, with feast-worship, idolatry and fornication that kindled anger and brought the plague, after Moses had commanded the judges to slay those joined to the idolatry. Twenty and four thousand had died in the plague before it was stayed, while other accounts reckon three and twenty thousand slain in one day by the sword with many thousands overthrown in the wilderness. Done in zeal for God and not from malice, the act turned wrath away so Israel was not consumed, made atonement for them, and received the covenant of peace and of an everlasting priesthood, showing both God's justice in punishing the guilty and His mercy in saving the obedient who cleaved to Him, which only thorough execution of His judgment could secure. These things happened for ensamples and admonition at the ends of the world, warning against lusting after evil things, idolatry and fornication, for Satan's snare at Peor just before Canaan is laid again today when pleasure-seeking and impurity increase, and persistent defiant sin still brings retribution.
Setting and Act at Peor
The act belongs to Baal-peor, also called Beth-peor, on the very borders of the promised land near the close of the wilderness wandering, just before Israel's entrance into Canaan. Israel was enticed to sin through the deceitful wiles of the Midianites laid at Balaam's suggestion and counsel, with the Midianite women as the principal criminals. Joining himself unto Baal-peor in feast-worship, idolatry, licentiousness and fornication kindled anger and brought a deadly plague. That enticement filled up the measure of Midianite iniquity.
When the act took place Moses had commanded the judges to slay those joined to Baal-peor, and the congregation was weeping before the door of the tabernacle under reproof, mourning and confessing sin. At that moment one of the children of Israel, a prince, openly brought a Midianitish woman to his brethren in their sight. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, rose up from among the congregation with a javelin. He went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man and the woman through her belly, while the plague was still killing people, and by that judgment the outbreak was ended and the plague was stayed.
In one account twenty and four thousand had died in the plague before it was stayed. In other accounts three and twenty thousand were slain in one day by the sword at Moses' command. Many thousands were destroyed, thousands fell in one day, and their bodies were overthrown in the wilderness.
Justice Mercy and Atonement
Phinehas acted under divine command as God's instrument doing His bidding, moved by zeal for God and for the divine glory, not by malice or revenge. When he saw open wrong committed while the congregation lay under reproof, he responded decisively with the javelin. That zeal turned away wrath from the children of Israel so that they were not consumed in His jealousy. It made an atonement for them, and for it God gave to Phinehas and to his seed after him His covenant of peace, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood.
The staying of the plague reveals how the Lord distinguishes between men. Those who obeyed and clave to Him and kept His commandments were kept alive, with no harm befalling them, while those who disobeyed and followed Baal-peor were destroyed and smitten with disease and death. This proves that obedience brings blessedness and prosperity and life, and that transgression brings death. The commandments are not grievous while the people remain firm in allegiance to God.
In that judgment are seen together both the justice of God in visiting punishment upon the guilty and His mercy in giving Israel victory over a people seeking by hellish arts to accomplish their destruction. The destruction was merciful, because the offenders if left alive would have corrupted the whole congregation. It illustrates that persistent, defiant sin can bring God's punishment even though He is compassionate and ready to pardon. As Creator and owner He has perfect right to take away abused blessings and to maintain His name and authority as ruler of the universe.
The plague was stayed only by thorough execution of God's judgment. Faithful thoroughness in executing such judgment is never reproved, while lack of faithfulness is reproved. To spare idolatrous, licentious transgressors from deserved retribution endangers the morals of Israel. A sympathy that would excuse wrong and shield the guilty is contrary to the will of God, dangerous to the prosperity of the church, and not Bible charity. Sin is a deadly leprosy contaminating all brought in contact with it, the friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity, and none can prevail against the servants of the living God except by tempting them to disobedience.
By enticing Israel to sin the Midianites filled up the measure of their iniquity. Their day of probation ended and the door of mercy closed to them. There followed the divine mandate to vex the Midianites and smite them. The offensive character of that sin at Peor can be estimated only in the light of the cross, where Christ took the guilt of the disobedient and suffered in the sinner's stead and the sword of justice was awakened against the Son of God.
Warning and Example Today
These things happened as examples and were written for admonition upon those on whom the ends of the world have come, so that whoever thinks he stands must take heed lest he fall, knowing that temptation is common to man and that God will make a way of escape. The warning is to not lust after evil things, not to be idolaters, and not to commit fornication, for God showed signal displeasure against the prevalence of fornication among ancient Israel. Lusting after evil things and committing fornication brought overthrow even upon a privileged people with whom God was not well pleased, judgment followed close upon the heinous sin when three and twenty thousand fell in one day, and their polluted bodies were left overthrown in the wilderness.
The episode was part of Satan's snares laid for Israel just before entrance into Canaan, and those same snares are laid for God's people today. The same history is being repeated when lightness, pleasure-seeking, selfishness, and impurity increase. God's people therefore need watchfulness and firm resistance to sin.
Rebellion against the Lord through false worship brings the wrath of God upon the whole nation, and living surrounded by idol worshipers brings danger of being led back into the same iniquity. The conditions of the covenant were repeated with warning through Moses against temptations that would assail them in the future, with earnest exhortation to remain separate from the surrounding nations and to worship God alone. Phinehas acted to stop the iniquity, yet many still cherished the same sins afterward. Those who reject the light and advantages given them and persist in sin face God's judgment, for Israel's sexual sin and defiance on the border of Canaan required severe punishment to stop impurity and crime. Their experience after feasting in connection with Baal-peor and giving themselves to licentiousness, when God's anger was aroused and a plague killed many of the Hebrews, warns against pleasure and self-indulgence leading to sin. In the future Judgment retribution will surely come on every soul that does evil according to deeds done in the body.
Israel had placed themselves on a level with idolatrous nations and experienced the sure results of their own choice, and the facts were to be repeated from time to time lest they be forgotten. The fearful consequences of the sin at Beth-peor remained fresh in the people's minds and made them regard Canaanite idolatry with disgust and horror.