Num. 25 The Israelites’ whoredom and idolatry: God commands the guilty to be put to death, Num. 25:1–5. A plague: Phinehas’s zeal; for which God promises him the priesthood, Num. 25:6–15. God commands the Midianites to be slain for this their treachery in drawing the people to sin, Num. 25:16–18.

Shittim; a place called more largely Abel-shittim, Num. 33:49, it being usual with the Hebrews to abbreviate long proper names, as Hermon is put for Baal-hermon, Judg. 3:3, Tholad for El-tholad, Josh. 19:4, Nimrim, Isa. 15:6 for Beth-nimrim, Num. 32:36.

They called the people: this may be noted, either, 1. As the consequent of their whoredom, an invitation to further society in their sacred feasts; or rather, 2. As the cause or occasion of their whoredom, the Hebrew vau here signifying for, as it oft doth.

Joined himself; the word implies a forsaking of God, to whom they were and should have been joined, and a turning to, embracing of, strict conjunction with, and fervent affection after, this false god. Compare Hos. 9:10, 2 Cor. 6:14.

The sense is, either, 1. Take, to wit. to thyself and thy assistance, all the heads, i.e. the judges, as they are called Num. 25:5, or rulers, of the people; and in their presence, and by their help, hang them, i.e. the people, now mentioned, to wit, such of them as were guilty, as was said Num.

Every one his men, i.e. those under his charge; for as these seventy were chosen to assist Moses in the government, so doubtless the care and management of the people was distributed among them by just and equal proportions.

This was done, either, 1. Before God’s command to Moses, and by him to the judges, Num. 25:4–5, such transpositions and disorders being not unusual in sacred story. Or rather, 2.

Into the tent, or brothel house; for since they gave way to such lewd practices, no doubt they singled out convenient places for their wickedness. Thrust both of them through; which is no warrant for private persons to take upon them the execution of justice upon any, though the greatest…

Object. They were but 23, 000, 1 Cor. 10:8. Answ. The odd thousand here added were slain by the judges according to the order of Moses, the rest by the immediate hand of God, but both sorts died of the plague, the word being used, as oft it is, for the sword, or hand, or stroke of God.

He was zealous, fervent and resolute and valiant, for my sake, for my satisfaction and vindication.

i.e. The covenant of an everlasting priesthood, as it is expounded, Num. 25:13, which is called a covenant of peace, partly with respect to the happy effect of this heroical action of his, whereby he made peace between God and his people; and partly with regard to the principal end and use of the…

And his seed after him. Quest. What advantage had he by this promise, seeing the thing here promised was due to him by birth? Answ. 1. The same blessing may be ofttimes promised, as the kingdom was to David; and the renewing of this promise might seem convenient here, To signify that bloodshed was…

A prince: this is added as a proof of Phinehas’s zeal, that he durst venture upon so great a person, who was likely to have many avengers of his blood. Of a chief house, Heb. of the house of his father. Every tribe was divided into great households, called the houses of their fathers, Num.

Zur; one of the kings or princes or Midian, Num. 31:8, Josh. 13:21. Of a chief house, or, and over her father’ s house.

And why not the Moabites, who were as guilty, Num. 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 for the Moabites for Lot’s sake, Deut. 2:9. 3.

For under pretence of kindred, and friendship, and leagues, yea, and marriages, which they offered to them, instead of that war which the Israelites expected from them, they sought only an opportunity to insinuate themselves into their familiarity, and execute their hellish plot of bringing that…