Numbers 25:8
Ver. 8. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent,.... Into which he went with his harlot; the word here used is different from what is commonly used for a tent: Aben Ezra observes that in the Kedarene or Arabic language there is a word near to it, which Bochart, putting the article "al" to it, says {a}, is "alkobba", from whence is the word "alcove" with us; and Aben Ezra says, there was some little difference between the form of a tent and this, as well as others observe {b} there was in the matter of it, this being of skins and leather, and the other of hair, boughs of trees, &c. the author of Aruch {c} says, it was short, or narrow above and broad below, and interprets it a place in which whores were put; and so it is used in the Talmud {d} for a brothel house, and is so translated here by some interpreters {e}:
and thrust both of them through; with his javelin, spear, or pike;
the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly; by which, it seems, they were killed in the very act of uncleanness; this was an extraordinary action, done by a person of public authority, and under a more than common emotion of spirit, and not to be drawn into an example by persons of a private character:
so the plague was stayed from the children of Israel; which had broke out among them and carried off many; even a disease, the pestilence, according to Josephus {f}; it ceasing upon this fact of Phinehas, shows that that was approved of by the Lord.
{a} "conclave est camerati operis, quo lectus circumdatur", Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 4. c. 8. col. 1092. Vid. Schultens Animadv. Philolog. in Job. p. 183. {b} Castel. Lex. Heptaglot. col. 3261. {c} Baal Aruch, fol. 133. 4. {d} T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 17. 2. {e} hbqh la "in lupanar", V. L. "ad lupanar", Montanus; "in lupanar ipsum", Junius & Tremellius; "in fornicem", Tigurine version. {f} Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 4. c. 6. sect. 12.)