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Numbers 25:5

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 25:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor.
Numbers 25:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 25

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2for they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
4And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto Jehovah before the sun, that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel.
5And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor.
6And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.
7And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand;
8and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
← Numbers 25:4Numbers 25:6 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, etc.] Either the same with the heads of the people, or the rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, according to the distribution by the advice of Jethro: slay ye everyone his men, that were joined unto Baalpeor; all that were under their several districts and jurisdictions, that were found guilty of that crime; these they are ordered to slay, either with their own hands, or rather cause to be slain by proper persons they should appoint to be executioners.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“judges of Israel--the seventy elders, who were commanded not only to superintend the execution within their respective jurisdictions, but to inflict the punishment with their own hands. (See on Sa1 15:33).”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Every one his men - Those under his charge, for as these seventy were chosen to assist Moses in the government, so doubtless the care and management of the people was distributed among them by just and equal proportions. Numbers 25:6”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“judges: Exo 18:21, Exo 18:25, Exo 18:26 Slay ye: Exo 22:20, Exo 32:27, Exo 32:28; Deu 13:6, Deu 13:9, Deu 13:13, Deu 13:15, Deu 17:3-5; Kg1 18:40 Numbers 25:6”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The judges were to put to death every one his men, i.e., such of the evil-doers as belonged to his forum, according to the judicial arrangements instituted in Ex 18. This command of Moses to the judges was not carried out, however, because the matter took a different turn. Numbers 25:6”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 25 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification