Numbers 25:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we see, first, Israel’s sin, to which the women of Moab and Midian tempted them. They were guilty of both bodily and spiritual unfaithfulness, for Israel joined himself to Baal-peor (Numbers 25:3). Not all of them, nor even most, but a large number fell into this trap.

Balak, following Balaam’s advice, set this stumbling block before the children of Israel (Revelation 2:14). Those who lead us into sin are our worst enemies, because no harm is greater than that. If Balak had brought armed men against Israel, they would have fought back bravely and likely prevailed. But when he sent beautiful women among them and invited them to idolatrous feasts, the Israelites shamefully gave in. Those who could not be struck by his sword were struck by this snare. We are more in danger from the pull of a smiling world than from the threat of a hostile one.

The women of Moab were the tempters and victors here. Since Eve first sinned, women, though the weaker sex, have often become a snare to many men. Even strong men have been wounded and ruined by the words of an immoral woman (Proverbs 7:26). Solomon is a sad example, for his wives became a trap and a net to him (Ecclesiastes 7:26).

Sexual sin and idolatry went together. First, they polluted their consciences by immoral acts with the women. Then, partly to please the women and partly to despise the God of Israel, they bowed down to idols. This was especially likely if, as many think, the uncleanness itself was part of the worship of Baal-peor. Those who break the fences of modesty will not stay within the bonds of godliness. Those who dishonor themselves with fleshly lusts will not hesitate to dishonor God with idol worship, and for this they are often given over to even worse desires.

By eating the sacrifices offered to idols, they also joined themselves to Baal-peor, to whom those sacrifices were offered. Paul uses this same idea when he warns Christians not to eat food offered to idols, because that would mean fellowship with demons, to whom those sacrifices were really offered (1 Corinthians 10:20). Scripture calls it eating the sacrifices of the dead (Psalm 106:28), not only because the idol was a lifeless thing, but because it stood for some great hero who was made a god after death, much like saints are treated in the Roman church.

Their sin was especially shameful because they stayed in Shittim, where they could already see the land of Canaan and were almost ready to enter it. It was the height of treachery and ingratitude to be false to the God who had been so faithful to them, and to feast on idol sacrifices when they were so near to being richly fed with God’s own blessings.

Second, we see God’s just anger against them for this sin. Israel’s unfaithfulness did what all Balaam’s magic could not do. It turned God against them, so that he became their enemy and fought against them. So many people, including many leaders, were guilty that the sin became national, and God was angry with the whole community.

A plague broke out at once. We read about it stopping (Numbers 25:8) and about the number who died from it (Numbers 25:9), but not about its beginning, which must be meant in the words, “The Lord’s anger burned against Israel” (Numbers 25:3). Scripture also says plainly, “The plague broke out” (Psalm 106:29). Epidemic diseases are often the fruit of God’s anger and the just punishment for widespread sin. One infection follows another. No doubt the plague struck hardest among those who were most guilty, and they soon paid dearly for their forbidden pleasure. God does not always punish such sinners in this way now, but this word will still be fulfilled: “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person” (1 Corinthians 3:17).

The leaders were then ordered to be put to death by public justice, and this was the only way to stop the plague (Numbers 25:4). The command was to take the heads of the people, that is, the leaders of the group that had gone out from Israel’s camp into Moab to join in idolatry, and hang them up before the sun as a sacrifice to God’s justice and a warning to everyone else. The judges were first to have them killed with the sword (Numbers 25:5), and then their bodies were to be hung up, so that the dull Israelites would see their princes and leaders severely punished for sexual sin and idolatry, with no special treatment for their rank. Leaders in sin ought to be made examples of justice.