1
And it came to pass that when Israel did abide in Shittim, the people began to commit whoredoms with the priestesses that were kept in the temple of Baal Peor;
2
And so it was that these women did call unto them until the seed of Jacob did desire to be with them;
3
¶ And it was then that the seed of Jacob did offer unto Baal Peor sacrifices; and the people did eat and bowed down to their elohim and enter into fornication.
4
And the temple of Baal of Peor was kept by Balaam, son of Bosor, a high priest of Balak;
5
For when Balaam, son of Beor would not curse Israel, for he was a prophet of יהוה (YHVH), then did Balak command his high priest to bring the people of Israel into sin against יהוה (YHVH):
6
And so it was that the seed of Jacob did join themselves unto Baal of Peor; and the anger of יהוה (YHVH) was kindled against all of Israel.
7
¶ And it came to pass that יהוה (YHVH) did say unto Moses: This people hath brought this plague amongst them;
8
Therefore, hang them up before against the sun, that my fierce anger be turned away from them.
9
And Moses gathered up the judges of Israel, saying: Find ye every man that were joined unto Baal of Peor and gather them up and cast them to the side (quarantine them).
10
¶ And it came to pass that one of the children of Israel (straight to God) came and brought unto his brethren a priestess of Baal of Peor against her will in the sight of Moses and all the congregation of the children of Israel.
11
And so it was that when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the High Priest, did see him and heard her weeping, he did rise up from amongst the congregation and took a spear in his hand;
12
And he went after the son of Jacob into the tent and thrust the son of Jacob through, and the woman was set free, for she did come up into the camp unwillingly.
13
¶ And it came to pass that because of the mercy of Phinehas, the plague was stayed from the children of Israel;
14
But unto the seed of Jacob, these were not spared; and those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
15
¶ And it came to pass that יהוה (YHVH) came unto Moses, saying: Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the Priest,
16
He hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, for he was zealous for my sake; therefore, I consume not the children of Israel in my jealousy.
17
And I do give unto him my covenant of peace; and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood,
18
And this because he was zealous for his Elohim and made an atonement for the children of Israel.
19
¶ Let it be known that the name of the Israelite that was slain was Zimri, the son of Salu, a noble one of a chief house among the Simeonites.
20
And so it was that the name of the Midian woman was Kozbi, and she was the daughter of Tzur; and he was one of the chief councilors of Balak, king over Midian.