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Numbers 25:1

New American Standard Bible (NASB ©1995) [2]
— While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
King James Version (KJV 1769) [2]
— And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
English Revised Version (ERV 1885)
— And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab:
American Standard Version (ASV 1901) [2]
— And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab:
Webster's Revision of the KJB (WEB 1833)
— And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit lewdness with the daughters of Moab.
Darby's Translation (DBY 1890)
— And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to commit fornication with the daughters of Moab.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible (EBR 1902)
— And Israel remained among the acacias,—and the people began to go away unchastely unto the daughters of Moab;
Young's Literal Translation (YLT 1898)
— And Israel dwelleth in Shittim, and the people begin to go a-whoring unto daughters of Moab,
Douay-Rheims Challoner Revision (DR 1750)
— And Israel at that time abode in Settim, and the people committed fornication with the daughters of Moab,
Geneva Bible (GNV 1560)
— Nowe whiles Israel abode in Shittim, the people began to commit whoredome with the daughters of Moab:
Original King James Bible (AV 1611) [2]
— And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people begun to commit whoredome with the daughters of Moab.
Lamsa Bible (1957)
— AND Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Brenton Greek Septuagint (LXX, Restored Names)
— And Israel sojourned in Sattin, and the people profaned itself by going a-whoring after the daughters of Moab.
Full Hebrew Names / Holy Name KJV (2008) [2] [3]
— And Yisrael abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moav.

Strong's Numbers & Hebrew NamesHebrew Old TestamentColor-Code/Key Word Studies
And Yiŝrä´ël יִשׂרָאֵל 3478
{3478} Prime
יִשְׂרָאֵל
Yisra'el
{yis-raw-ale'}
From H8280 and H0410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity.
abode 3427
{3427} Prime
יָשַׁב
yashab
{yaw-shab'}
A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry.
z8799
<8799> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 19885
in Šiţţîm שִׁטִּים, 7851
{7851} Prime
שִׁטִּים
Shittiym
{shit-teem'}
The same as the plural of H7848; acacia trees; Shittim, a place East of the Jordan.
and the people 5971
{5971} Prime
עַם
`am
{am}
From H6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively a flock.
began 2490
{2490} Prime
חָלַל
chalal
{khaw-lal'}
A primitive root (compare H2470); properly to bore, that is, (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an opening-wedge); denominatively (from H2485) to play (the flute).
z8686
<8686> Grammar
Stem - Hiphil (See H8818)
Mood - Imperfect (See H8811)
Count - 4046
to commit whoredom 2181
{2181} Prime
זָנָה
zanah
{zaw-naw'}
A primitive root (highly fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple forniciation, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah).
z8800
<8800> Grammar
Stem - Qal (See H8851)
Mood - Infinitive (See H8812)
Count - 4888
with x413
(0413) Complement
אֵל
'el
{ale}
(Used only in the shortened constructive form (the second form)); a primitive particle, properly denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, that is, near, with or among; often in general, to.
the daughters 1323
{1323} Prime
בַּת
bath
{bath}
From H1129 (as feminine of H1121); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively).
of Mô´äv מוֹאָב. 4124
{4124} Prime
מוֹאָב
Mow'ab
{mo-awb'}
From a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix 'm-' and H0001; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Numbers 25:1

_ _ Numbers 25:1-18. The Israelites’ whoredom and idolatry with Moab.

_ _ Israel abode in Shittim — a verdant meadow, so called from a grove of acacia trees which lined the eastern side of the Jordan. (See Numbers 33:49).

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Numbers 25:1-5

_ _ Here is, I. The sin of Israel, to which they were enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian; they were guilty both of corporal and spiritual whoredoms, for Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor, Numbers 25:3. Not all, nor the most, but very many, were taken in this snare. Now concerning this observe, 1. That Balak, by the advice of Balaam, cast this stumbling-block before the children of Israel, Revelation 2:14. Note, Those are our worst enemies that draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. If Balak had drawn out his armed men against them to fight them, Israel had bravely resisted, and no doubt had been more than conquerors; but now that he sends his beautiful women among them, and invites them to his idolatrous feasts, the Israelites basely yield, and are shamefully overcome: those are smitten with this harlots that could not be smitten with his sword. Note, We are more endangered by the charms of a smiling world than by the terrors of a frowning world. 2. That the daughters of Moab were their tempters and conquerors. Ever since Eve was first in the transgression the fairer sex, though the weaker, has been a snare to many; yea strong men have been wounded and slain by the lips of the strange woman (Proverbs 7:26), witness Solomon, whose wives were shares and nets to him Ecclesiastes 7:26. 3. That whoredom and idolatry went together. They first defiled and debauched their consciences, by committing lewdness with the women, and then were easily drawn, in complaisance to them, and in contempt of the God of Israel, to bow down to their idols. And they were more likely to do so if, as it is commonly supposed, and seems probable by the joining of them together, the uncleanness committed was a part of the worship and service performed to Baal-peor. Those that have broken the fences of modesty will never be held by the bonds of piety, and those that have dishonoured themselves by fleshly lusts will not scruple to dishonour God by idolatrous worships, and for this they are justly given up yet further to vile affections. 4. That by eating of the idolatrous sacrifices they joined themselves to Baal-peor to whom they were offered, which the apostle urges as a reason why Christians should not eat things offered to idols, because thereby they had fellowship with the devils to whom they were offered, 1 Corinthians 10:20. It is called eating the sacrifices of the dead (Psalms 106:28), not only because the idol itself was a dead thing, but because the person represented by it was some great hero, who since his death was deified, as saints in the Roman church are canonized. 5. It was great aggravation of the sin that Israel abode in Shittim, where they had the land of Canaan in view, and were just ready to enter and take possession of it. It was the highest degree of treachery and ingratitude to be false to their God, whom they had found so faithful to them, and to eat of idol-sacrifices when they were ready to be feasted so richly on God's favours.

_ _ II. God's just displeasure against them for this sin. Israel's whoredoms did that which all Balaam's enchantments could not do, they set God against them; now he was turned to be their enemy, and fought against them. So many of the people, nay, so many of the princes, were guilty, that the sin became national, and for it God was wroth with the whole congregation. 1. A plague immediately broke out, for we read of the staying of it (Numbers 25:8), and of the number that died of it (Numbers 25:9), but no mention of the beginning of it, which therefore must be implied in those words (Numbers 25:3), The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. It is said expressly (Psalms 106:29), The plague broke in. Note, Epidemical diseases are the fruits of God's anger, and the just punishments of epidemical sins; one infection follows the other. The plague, no doubt, fastened on those that were most guilty, who were soon made to pay dearly for their forbidden pleasures; and though now God does not always plague such sinners, as he did here, yet that word of God will be fulfilled, If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy, 1 Corinthians 3:17. 2. The ringleaders are ordered to be put to death by the hand of public justice, which will be the only way to stay the plague (Numbers 25:4): Take the heads of the people (that is, of that part of the people that went out of the camp of Israel into the country of Moab, to join in their idolatries) — take them and hang them up before the sun, as sacrifices to God's justice, and for a terror to the rest of the people. The judges must first order them to be slain with the sword (Numbers 25:5), and their dead bodies must be hanged up, that the stupid Israelites, seeing their leaders and princes so severely punished for their whoredom and idolatry, without any regard to their quality, might be possessed with a sense of the evil of the sin and the terror of God's wrath against them. Ringleaders in sin ought to be made examples of justice.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Numbers 25:1

Shittim — And this was their last station, from whence they passed immediately into Canaan. This is noted as a great aggravation of their sin, that they committed it, when God was going to put them into the possession of their long — expected land. The people — Many of them. Whoredom — Either because they prostituted themselves to them upon condition of worshipping their God: or because their filthy God was worshipped by such filthy acts, as Priapus and Venus were. The daughters of Moab — And of Midian too; for both these people being confederated in this wicked design, the one is put for the other, and the daughters of Moab may be named, either because they began the transgression, or because they were the chief persons, possibly, the relations or courtiers of Balak.

Geneva Bible Translation Notes

Numbers 25:1

And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the (a) daughters of Moab.

(a) With the women.

Cross-Reference Topical ResearchStrong's Concordance
Shittim:

Numbers 33:49 And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth [even] unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.
Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Joshua 3:1 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
Micah 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

the people:

Numbers 31:15-16 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? ... Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Ecclesiastes 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [as] bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.
1 Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
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Chain-Reference Bible SearchCross References with Concordance

Nu 31:15; 33:49. Jsh 2:1; 3:1. Ec 7:26. Mi 6:5. 1Co 10:8.

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