1 I srael settled down and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab,

While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.

2 W ho invited the to the sacrifices of their gods, and ate and bowed down to Moab’s gods.

For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

3 S o Israel joined himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel.

4 A nd the Lord said to Moses, Take all the leaders or chiefs of the people, and hang them before the Lord in the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.

The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.”

5 A nd Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each one of you slay his men who joined themselves to Baal of Peor.

So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor.”

6 A nd behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

7 A nd when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand

When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand,

8 A nd went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the plague was stayed from the Israelites.

and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body. So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked.

9 N evertheless those who died in the plague were 24, 000.

Those who died by the plague were 24, 000. The Zeal of Phinehas

10 A nd the Lord said to Moses,

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

11 P hinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My jealousy.

“ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

12 T herefore say, Behold, I give to Phinehas the priest My covenant of peace.

Therefore say, ‘ Behold, I give him My covenant of peace;

13 A nd he shall have it, and his descendants after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.

and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.’”

14 N ow the man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, a head of a father’s house among the Simeonites.

Now the name of the slain man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s household among the Simeonites.

15 A nd the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi daughter of Zur; he was head of a father’s house in Midian.

The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was head of the people of a father’s household in Midian.

16 A nd the Lord said to Moses,

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

17 P rovoke hostilities with the Midianites and attack them,

“ Be hostile to the Midianites and strike them;

18 F or they harass you with their wiles with which they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.

for they have been hostile to you with their tricks, with which they have deceived you in the affair of Peor and in the affair of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister who was slain on the day of the plague because of Peor.”