1 N ow Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.

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

2 T hey invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their 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 was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.

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

4 T hen the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the Lord, out 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 S o Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Every one of you kill his men who were joined 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 indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle 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 N ow when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin 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 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 body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel.

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 A nd those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.

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

10 T hen the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

11 “ Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.

“ 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 him My covenant of peace;

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

13 a nd it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’”

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 name of the Israelite who was killed, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader 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 name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people 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 T hen the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

17 “ Harass the Midianites, and attack them;

“ Be hostile to the Midianites and strike them;

18 f or they harassed you with their schemes by which they seduced you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed in the day of the plague because 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.”