Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

And they called - i. e., “the daughters of Moab called.”

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods,.... That is, the daughters of Moab and Midian, with whom the children of Israel carried on an unlawful correspondence, invited them, their gallants, to come and partake of the feasts which attended the sacrifices of their idols; for part of what was offered to idols a feast was kept with, to which great numbers were invited, and which was observed with all the circumstances of joy and pleasure imaginable, and which was very ensnaring, especially to young people; and the children of Israel being so much enamoured with the beauty of the Moabitish women, and so strong were their lusts and passions, that they could not refuse the invitation:

and the people did eat: of the things sacrificed to idols, and so became guilty of idolatry, even by so doing, and then when they had eaten and drank, and were merry, they were led on to other acts of idolatry:

and bowed down to their gods: which was a plain and open act of idolatry, whereby they testified their faith in their divinity, their reverence of them, and their homage and obedience to them: Jarchi says, when the evil concupiscence or lust was strong in them, and they solicited the daughters of Moab to hearken to them, and comply with them, they used to take the image of Peor out of their bosom, and said, worship this, signifying that on that condition they would gratify them; and thus whoredom led them on to idolatry, and they committed the one for the sake of being indulged in the other.

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Observe, the temptation is first to the body, and next to the soul. The Moabites first decoy Israel to bodily fornication, and then to spiritual. Alas! how speedily is the transition made, from bodily sins to spiritual. For if the mind be first defiled with uncleanness, the soul is soon given up to forgetfulness. So very important is that precept of the apostle, ever to be kept in view by the LORD'S heritage. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims upon earth, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Reader! I do not know what particular infirmity of the flesh, you may be most exposed to, but I would have you pause awhile over this view of the subject, and pray over it, that the LORD may keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

They — The Moabites being now neighbours to the Israelites, and finding themselves unable to effect their design by war and witchcraft, fell another way to work, by contracting familiarity with them, and, perceiving their evil inclinations, they, that is, their daughters, invited them.

Unto the sacrifices — Unto the feasts which were made of their parts of the sacrifices, after the manner of the Jews and Gentiles too, the participation whereof, was reckoned a participation in the worship of that God to whom the sacrifices were offered.

Of their gods — Of their God, Baal-peor, the plural Elohim being here used, as commonly it is, for one God.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Numbers 25:2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

Ver. 2. Unto the sacrifices of their gods.] Unto their idol feasts; for Sine cerere et libero friget Venus. Gluttony is the gallery that lechery walketh through.

And bowed down to their gods.] Nemo repente fit turpissimus: by degrees they were drawn to open idolatry. If a man’s foot slip into the mouth of hell, it is a miracle if he stop ere he come to the bottom. Principiis obsta. Dally not with the devil; sin is very insinuative; and the old serpent, if he once get in his head, will quickly wind in his whole body.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

They called the people: this may be noted, either,

1. As the consequent of their whoredom, an invitation to further society in their sacred feasts; or rather,

2. As the cause or occasion of their whoredom, the Hebrew vau here signifying for, as it oft doth. The Moabites being now neighbours to the Israelites, and finding themselves unable to effect their design against Israel by war and witchcraft, they now fell another way to work, by contracting familiarity with them; and perceiving their evil and lustful inclinations, they, i.e. their daughters, last mentioned, invited them to their feasts.

Unto the sacrifices, i.e. unto the feasts which were made of their parts of their sacrifices, after the manner of the Jews and Gentiles too, the participation whereof was reckoned a participation in the worship of that god to whom the sacrifices were offered, 1 Corinthians 10:18, and therefore was forbidden to the Israelites when such feasts and sacrifices belonged to a false god, Exodus 34:15. Yet this was a less and more modest kind of idolatry, and therefore is fitly used to usher in what was more gross and impious.

Of their gods, i.e. of their god, Baal-peor, the plural elohim being here used, as commonly it is, for one god.

Bowed down; which properly notes the outward act of worship, which here consisting in or being accompanied with filthy serious, may either signify or connote them.

To their gods; before their gods, or, to the honour and worship of their gods.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

Numbers 25:2. They called — The Moabites, being now neighbours to the Israelites, and finding themselves unable to effect their design by war and divination, fell another way to work, by contracting familiarity with them, and, perceiving their evil inclinations, they, that is, their daughters, invited them unto the sacrifices — Unto the feasts which were made of their parts of the sacrifices, after the manner of the Jews and Gentiles too, the participation whereof was reckoned a participation in the worship of that God to whom the sacrifices were offered. Of their gods — Of their god Baal-peor, the plural Elohim being here used, as commonly it is for one God.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

they: i.e. the daughters of Moab.

their. Feminine pronoun.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

They called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods, [ '

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) And they called the people . . . —The Moabitish women invited the Israelites to their sacrificial feasts, which were celebrated in honour of Baal-peor, who was worshipped in the city of Beth-peor (Deuteronomy 3:29). He is supposed to be identical with Chemosh, the Moabitish god of war.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

they called

Exodus 34:15,16; Joshua 22:17; 1 Kings 11:1-8; Psalms 106:28; Hosea 9:10; 1 Corinthians 10:20; 1 Corinthians 10:27,28; 2 Corinthians 6:16,17; Revelation 2:14

bowed

Exodus 20:5; 23:24; Joshua 23:7,16; 1 Kings 19:18

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:20 - sacrificeth;  Exodus 23:32 - nor with;  Exodus 32:6 - sat down;  Numbers 22:41 - high places;  Deuteronomy 9:7 - from the day;  Psalm 141:4 - and let me;  Isaiah 2:6 - and they;  Isaiah 57:5 - Enflaming;  Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst;  Ezekiel 18:6 - not;  Ezekiel 20:16 - for their;  Daniel 3:2 - sent;  Acts 15:20 - from pollutions;  1 Corinthians 8:1 - touching;  1 Corinthians 8:10 - sit;  James 3:6 - a world;  Revelation 2:20 - and to seduce