The big picture
Numbers 25 opens in verse 1 with “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.”, and closes in verse 18 with “For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of…” Repeated or prominent terms include Israel, children, LORD, Moses, people. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Numbers · King James Version · 18Numbers 25:1-6
1–6: Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with…
Numbers 25:1–6 opens with “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.” and reaches “And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The camp’s covenant unfaithfulness and the solemn action that stops the plague, with particular weight carried by Israel, LORD, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.” Naming Israel and Moab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gods, people, bowed. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
Numbers 25:1-6
King James Version1And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
4And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
5And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.
6And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 25:7-12
7–12: When Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it…
Numbers 25:7–12 opens with “And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from…” and reaches “Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The camp’s covenant unfaithfulness and the solemn action that stops the plague, with particular weight carried by Israel, children, Aaron.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation…” Naming Aaron and Eleazar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Numbers 25:7-12
King James Version7And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
8And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
9And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
10And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
11Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.
12Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
Numbers 25:13-18
13–18: He shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an…
Numbers 25:13–18 opens with “And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood…” and reaches “For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The camp’s covenant unfaithfulness and the solemn action that stops the plague, with particular weight carried by slain, chief, Cozbi.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
“Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of…” Naming Israelite and Midianitish keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Numbers 25:13-18
King James Version13And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.
14Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
15And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.
16And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
18For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Numbers 25:1 begins with “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.”
Where the chapter turns
Numbers 25:14 forms a natural hinge: “Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among…”
The final note
Numbers 25:18 leaves the reader with “For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Israel, children, LORD, Moses, people, slain help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What fulfills the earlier promise concerning Ishmael?
The named twelve princes and the account of his descendants.
What family pattern increases the twins' conflict?
Isaac favors Esau and Rebekah favors Jacob.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- spake
- spoke
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.