1 Corinthians 10:8

“Neither let us commit fornication, etc.] To which the Corinthians were much addicted: hence the apostle elsewhere, in this epistle, makes use of arguments, to dissuade from it, as he does here, they judging it to be no evil: as some of them committed; i.e. fornication; as they did at Shittim, with the daughters of Moab, (<042501>Numbers 25:1) which was a stratagem of Balaam’s, and the advice he gave to Balak king of Moab, to draw them into that sin, which made way for their commission of idolatry, which they committed by eating the sacrifices of their gods, and bowing down unto them; particularly they joined themselves to Baal Peor, the same with Priapus, one part of whose religious rites…”

“fornication--literally, Fornication was generally, as in this case (Num. 25:1-18), associated at the idol feasts with spiritual fornication, that is, idolatry. This all applied to the Corinthians (Co1 5:1, Co1 5:9; Co1 6:9, Co1 6:15, Co1 6:18; Co1 8:10). Balaam tempted Israel to both sins with Midian (Rev 2:14). Compare Co1 8:7, Co1 8:9, "stumbling-block," "eat . . . thing offered unto . . . idol." three and twenty thousand--in Num 25:9 "twenty and four thousand." If this were a real discrepancy, it would militate rather against inspiration of the subject matter and thought, than against verbal inspiration. The solution is: Moses in Numbers includes all who died "in the plague"; Paul, all…”

“Neither let us commit fornication ... - The case referred to here was that of the licentious contact with the daughters of Moab, referred to in Numbers 25:1-9. And fell in one day - Were slain for their sin by the plague that prevailed. Three and twenty thousand - The Hebrew text in Numbers 25:9, is twenty-four thousand. In order to reconcile these statements, it may be observed that perhaps 23,000 fell directly by the plague, and 1,000 were slain by Phinehas and his companions (Grotius); or it may be that the number was between 23,000 and 24,000, and it might be expressed in round numbers by either - Macknight. At all events, Paul has not exceeded the truth. There were at least 23,000 that…”

“And fell in one day three and twenty thousand - Beside the princes who were afterwards hanged, and those whom the judges slew so that there died in all four and twenty thousand. Num 25:1, Num 25:9. 1 Corinthians 10:9”

“10:8 See Num 25:1-9.”

“Co1 6:9, Co1 6:18; Num 25:1-9; Psa 106:29; Rev 2:14 1 Corinthians 10:9”