Numbers 25:9
And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽהְי֕וּ
H1961
וַיִּֽהְי֕וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 6
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַמֵּתִ֖ים
And those that died
H4191
הַמֵּתִ֖ים
And those that died
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
2 of 6
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Cross References
1 Corinthians 10:8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.Numbers 31:16Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Historical Context
Paul references this incident in 1 Corinthians 10:8, giving a count of 23,000 in one day (possibly not including leaders executed separately). The discrepancy in numbers is minor; both emphasize the devastating consequence of sexual immorality and idolatry. This became a perpetual warning for God's people.
Questions for Reflection
- How does one person's faithfulness benefit the entire community?
- What sins tolerated in the church today threaten similar corporate judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The plague killed 24,000 before Phinehas's action stopped it. The death toll demonstrates the corporate consequences of individual and communal sin. One person's zeal for God ended what many people's sin had begun. This teaches both the danger of tolerating sin and the power of one righteous person's decisive action for God's honor.