Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 25
Overview:
The Israelites enticed
By the daughters of
Moab and
Midian.
(1-5) Phinehas puts Zimri and Cozbi to
Death.
(6-15) The
Midianites to be punished.
(16-18)
1-5 The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their
Enmity; for none can prevail against
God's people if they are
not overcome
By their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt
them, but the enticements of worldly interests and pleasures.
Here is the
Sin of
Israel, to which they are enticed
By the
daughters of
Moab and
Midian. Those are our worst enemies who
draw us to
Sin, for that is the greatest mischief any
Man can do
us.
Israel's
Sin did that which all
Balaam's
Enchantments could
not do; it set
God against them. Diseases are the fruits of
God's
Anger, and the just punishments of prevailing sins; one
infection follows the other. Ringleaders in
Sin ought to be made
examples of
Justice.
6-15 Phinehas, in the courage of zeal and
Faith, executed
vengeance
On Zimri and Cozbi. This act can never be an
Example
for private revenge, or religious
Persecution, or for irregular
public vengeance.
16-18 We read not that any Midianites died of the
Plague;
God
punished them with the
Sword of an enemy, not with the rod of a
Father. We must set ourselves against whatever is an occasion of
Sin to us, Mt 5:29,30. Whatever draws us to
Sin, should be a
vexation to us, as a
Thorn in the Flesh. And none will be more
surely and severely punished than those who, after
Satan's
Example, and with his subtlety, tempt others to
Sin.