Numbers 31:16 - Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.
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What does "Numbers 31:16" mean?
This verse, Numbers 31:16, is a condemnation of the Midianite women for their role in leading the Israelites astray and causing a devastating plague. Let's break it down:
"Behold, these caused the children of Israel...": The "these" refers to the Midianite women who were captured after a battle described in Numbers 31. The verse states that they were the cause of the Israelite's sin.
"...through the counsel of Balaam...": Balaam was a prophet (or sorcerer, depending on the interpretation) who had been hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. God prevented Balaam from cursing them directly. However, instead of giving up, Balaam reportedly advised Balak on another strategy: to entice the Israelite men into idolatry and sexual immorality through the Midianite women. The Bible doesn't explicitly state Balaam suggested this, but this verse implies that he did. Some extra-biblical sources, like Josephus, explicitly attribute the plan to Balaam.
"...to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor...": "Trespass" means to sin or transgress against God. The "matter of Peor" refers to an incident described in Numbers 25. The Israelites, drawn to the Midianite women, engaged in sexual immorality and began to worship the Moabite god Baal-peor. This was a direct violation of their covenant with Yahweh.
"...and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.": As a result of their sin at Peor, God sent a plague upon the Israelites. Numbers 25:9 states that 24,000 people died in the plague.
In summary, the verse highlights the consequences of the Israelites' actions, attributing them to the seductive influence of the Midianite women, who were acting on the treacherous advice of Balaam. Their sin at Peor, which involved both sexual immorality and idolatry, provoked God's wrath and resulted in a deadly plague. It serves as a warning against the dangers of succumbing to temptation and straying from the covenant with God.
Numbers 31:16 - Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.
What does "Numbers 31:16" mean?
This verse, Numbers 31:16, is a condemnation of the Midianite women for their role in leading the Israelites astray and causing a devastating plague. Let's break it down:
"Behold, these caused the children of Israel...": The "these" refers to the Midianite women who were captured after a battle described in Numbers 31. The verse states that they were the cause of the Israelite's sin.
"...through the counsel of Balaam...": Balaam was a prophet (or sorcerer, depending on the interpretation) who had been hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. God prevented Balaam from cursing them directly. However, instead of giving up, Balaam reportedly advised Balak on another strategy: to entice the Israelite men into idolatry and sexual immorality through the Midianite women. The Bible doesn't explicitly state Balaam suggested this, but this verse implies that he did. Some extra-biblical sources, like Josephus, explicitly attribute the plan to Balaam.
"...to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor...": "Trespass" means to sin or transgress against God. The "matter of Peor" refers to an incident described in Numbers 25. The Israelites, drawn to the Midianite women, engaged in sexual immorality and began to worship the Moabite god Baal-peor. This was a direct violation of their covenant with Yahweh.
"...and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.": As a result of their sin at Peor, God sent a plague upon the Israelites. Numbers 25:9 states that 24,000 people died in the plague.
In summary, the verse highlights the consequences of the Israelites' actions, attributing them to the seductive influence of the Midianite women, who were acting on the treacherous advice of Balaam. Their sin at Peor, which involved both sexual immorality and idolatry, provoked God's wrath and resulted in a deadly plague. It serves as a warning against the dangers of succumbing to temptation and straying from the covenant with God.