Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Israel settled in Shittim, but the people soon found themselves entangled in prostitution with the daughters of Moab. The temptation was too great; they invited others to join them in sacrificing to their gods, and together they ate and bowed down before these false idols. Israel had now joined forces with Baal-peor, and God's anger burned fiercely against his people.

The Lord spoke to Moses, commanding him to take the leaders of the people and hang them up for all to see in the sunlight, hoping that this terrible display would turn away His wrath from Israel. But Moses instead called upon the judges of Israel to execute every man who had joined himself to Baal Peor.

As Moses issued these instructions, one of the Israelites appeared with his Midianite lover in tow, dragging her before the entire congregation at the entrance of the tabernacle. They were there weeping over the very thing that had led them astray. It was then that Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the high priest, saw this spectacle unfold and rose up from among the people to confront it. He seized a javelin in his hand and rushed into the tent where the Israelite and his lover were.

With one swift motion, Phinehas thrust both of them through with his javelin, killing the man and piercing the woman's womb as well. This bold act stayed the plague that had been sweeping through the children of Israel, resulting in a terrible loss of twenty-four thousand lives. The people realized too late what horrors their sin had unleashed.

The Lord spoke to Moses once again, commending Phinehas for his zealous actions. "Phinehas has shown himself jealous for my sake among My people," God said, "and I did not consume Israel because of my jealousy." As a reward for his bravery and loyalty, the covenant of peace was given to Phinehas and his descendants. This would be an everlasting priesthood, a testament to his zeal for God that had made atonement for the children of Israel.

The Israelite who perished alongside Cozbi, daughter of a Midianite prince, was Zimri, a leader from among the Simeonites. And Cozbi herself was the daughter of Zur, a prominent figure in Midian. But God was not finished speaking to Moses yet. He commanded him to put to death anyone who had committed the sin of Baal Peor and ordered an attack on the Midianites.

The reason for this was clear: they had cleverly deceived Israel into their treachery, leading them down a path of idolatry that ended in tragedy with Cozbi's involvement in Peor.