Numbers 25
Lutheran reading notes
In Numbers chapter 25, the story continues to develop the theme of Israel’s wilderness journey and preparation for the promised land. Lutheran interpretation often highlights how the events reveal humanity’s need for God’s grace and the reliability of God's promises. The chapter illustrates both the reality of human weakness and the faithfulness of God who works through history.
1
And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Numbers 25:1 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Numbers 25:2 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
Numbers 25:3 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
And 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.
Numbers 25:4 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.
Numbers 25:5 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
And, 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 25:6 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
And 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;
Numbers 25:7 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
And 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.
Numbers 25:8 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Numbers 25:9 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 25:10 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Phinehas, 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. {for...: Heb. with my zeal}
Numbers 25:11 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
Numbers 25:12 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
And 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.
Numbers 25:13 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
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 Simeonites. {chief...: Heb. house of a father}
Numbers 25:14 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
And 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.
Numbers 25:15 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 25:16 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
Numbers 25:17 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
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, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
Numbers 25:18 highlights pilgrimage and testing with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.