Numbers

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NASB	Numbers 25:1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
AMPLIFIED 2015 2015	Numbers 25:1 Israel settled and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the prostitute with the women of Moab [by being unfaithful to God].

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Bible Question: Shalom y'all,
In Num. 25:6-12, why did the elimination of the man and the Midianite woman by Phinehas stop the plague. I know that the two went into the tabernacle at that point (and that was definitely not a good thing) but the plague was already in progress. What I'm missing is the significance of the two and their termination. Did I miss some passages that stated their sin began the plague? Can someone enlighten me? How did their deaths contribute to the stopping plague? Or was it just Phinehas taking the initiative?

still learning
Cheri

Bible Answer: Israel was told explicitly not to worship false gods/idols or to intermingle with them. Those people of Israel who disobeyed this commandment were bringing judgment upon themselves. The Lord used plagues to bring death to those who disobeyed Him. As you see in verse four, to stop this rebellion the Lord gave instructions to put to death these rebellious leaders who were leading the people astray. Phinehas was obedient to the Lord when he saw the rebellious man and woman come into the tabernacle and the action he took. Reading down in the chapter it appears this man and the woman were people of influence who were trying to trick the people of Israel showing disregard for Jehovah God, verses 16-18. Phinehas was praised by the Lord for obeying Him as you see in verses 11-13. I don't know how this works itself out but you see from verse 11 Phinehas was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel, therefore the plague was stopped. The key word is atonement. I believe this is similar to the concept of the blood used over the doorposts when the angel of death took the firstborn back in Egypt but those who put the blood on the doorposts were covered by the blood thus they lived.
Shalom

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Numbers

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