Numbers 25:3

25:3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, ¹  the anger of the Lord flared up against Israel.

Numbers 25:5

25:5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must execute those of his men ²  who were joined to Baal-peor.”

Numbers 25:18

25:18 because they bring trouble to you by their treachery with which they have deceived ³  you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, ⁴  their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague that happened as a result of Peor.”

Numbers 31:16

31:16 Look, these people through the counsel of Balaam caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the Lord in the matter of Peor – which resulted in the plague among the community of the Lord!

¹ tn The verb is “yoked” to Baal-peor. The word is unusual, and may suggest the physical, ritual participation described below. It certainly shows that they acknowledge the reality of the local god.

² tn Heb “slay – a man his men.” The imperative is plural, and so “man” is to be taken collectively as “each of you men.”

³ tn This is the same word as that translated “treachery.”

⁴ sn Cozbi’s father, Zur, was one of five Midianite kings who eventually succumbed to Israel (Num 31:8). When the text gives the name and family of a woman, it is asserting that she is important, at least for social reasons, among her people.