Study Desk

So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.

So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the Euphrates River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call for him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they have covered the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.

"Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left with the fees for divination in their hands; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.

'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

They came to Balaam and said to him, "This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: 'I beg you, let nothing keep you from coming to me;

And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall oppress Asshur and oppress Eber; So they also will come to destruction."

For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

for they have been hostile to you with their tricks, with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister who was killed on the day of the plague because of Peor."

The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were called by the congregation, who fought against Moses and against Aaron in the group of Korah, when they fought against the LORD,

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that group died, when the fire devoured 250 men, so that they became a warning sign.

But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the sons of Israel since no inheritance was given to them among the sons of Israel.

For the LORD had said of them, "They shall certainly die in the wilderness." And not a man was left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, before the leaders, and all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying,

"Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out, and at his command they shall come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, all the congregation."

'Besides the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, you shall present them with their drink offerings. They shall be without defect.

So they made war against Midian, just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.