Numbers 25:1
INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 25
The contents of this chapter are, the sin of the people of Israel, their whoredom and idolatry, Nu 25:1, their punishment for it, multitudes being slain, Nu 25:4, whose number is given, Nu 25:9, the zeal of Phinehas in slaying two notorious offenders, Nu 25:6, whose names are observed, Nu 25:14 for which he is commended, and the covenant of priesthood was given and confirmed unto him, Nu 25:10, and the chapter is concluded with an order to vex the Midianites, for vexing Israel with their wiles, Nu 25:16.
Ver. 1. And Israel abode in Shittim,.... A place in the plains of Moab, so called from the shittim wood, which grew here in great abundance, so often mentioned in the building of the tabernacle; which was a sort of white thorn, or rather the acacia tree, since there was scarcely any thing else grew in the deserts of Arabia, See Gill on "Ex 25:5" its full name was Abelshittim, Nu 33:49, here the Israelites abode even to the death of Moses, for this was their last station in the wilderness; they were now on the borders of the land of Canaan, and just ready to enter into it, which is an aggravation of the sins they here fell into, and are next observed:
and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab; and of Midian also, as appears from Nu 25:6 by the advice of Balaam, the Moabites and Midianites found ways and means to become familiar with the Israelites, and to introduce their daughters into their company and conversation, and being ensnared and enamoured with them, they were drawn to commit lewdness with them, and hereby were led on to commit other abominations, which brought the divine displeasure upon them; so that what they dared not attempt by war, and could not effect by sorceries and divinations, they accomplished by those iniquitous arts, namely, bringing the wrath, the curse, and plague of God upon them.