Numbers 25:1

KJV

¶ And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Israel {H3478} abode {H3427} in Shittim {H7851}, and the people {H5971} began {H2490} to commit whoredom {H2181} with the daughters {H1323} of Moab {H4124}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Isra'el stayed at Sheetim, and there the people began whoring with the women of Mo'av.

Berean Standard Bible

While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,

American Standard Version

And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 25:1 marks a profound and tragic turning point in Israel's wilderness journey, occurring just as the nation stood poised on the threshold of the Promised Land. This verse vividly describes the Israelites' catastrophic moral and spiritual failing as they succumbed to the temptations of the surrounding pagan cultures. Encamped in Shittim, the people began to engage in illicit sexual relations with Moabite women, an act of physical "whoredom" that served as a direct gateway to spiritual apostasy and idolatry, setting the stage for a severe divine judgment and a devastating plague.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 25:1 immediately follows the climactic narrative of Balaam's failed attempts to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24). Despite Balak's persistent efforts and Balaam's prophetic pronouncements, God supernaturally turned every intended curse into a blessing, reaffirming His covenant faithfulness and Israel's protected status. This divine intervention should have solidified Israel's trust and commitment. However, the transition to chapter 25 reveals a sinister shift in strategy by Israel's enemies. Unable to defeat Israel through direct military confrontation or supernatural curses, the Moabites (and later the Midianites, as seen in subsequent verses) employed a more insidious tactic: moral corruption through seduction. This verse thus initiates a dramatic narrative pivot from external threat to internal decay, demonstrating that Israel's greatest danger often came from within, through compromise with pagan practices. The events here directly lead to the severe plague and the zealous act of Phinehas, highlighting the immediate and devastating consequences of their unfaithfulness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were encamped in Shittim, also known as Abel-Shittim, located on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River and directly opposite Jericho. This strategic location was their final major staging ground before entering Canaan. The Moabites, descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:37), were a neighboring people with their own distinct culture and religious practices. Their primary deity was Chemosh, but the events of Numbers 25 explicitly link the "whoredom" to the worship of Baal-peor (Numbers 25:3, 5). Baal-peor was a local deity associated with fertility, and his worship often involved licentious rituals, including cultic prostitution. The Moabite women, serving as agents of this cultural and religious influence, enticed the Israelite men into both sexual immorality and participation in their idolatrous feasts and sacrifices. This highlights the ever-present danger of syncretism—the blending of Israel's monotheistic faith with the polytheistic practices of surrounding nations—a recurring challenge throughout Israel's history.

* **Key Themes:** The incident at Shittim powerfully underscores several critical themes that resonate throughout the Pentateuch and beyond. Firstly, it vividly illustrates the profound danger of **spiritual and physical adultery**. The term "whoredom" (Hebrew: *zanah*) carries a dual meaning, signifying not only illicit sexual relations but, more significantly, a metaphorical betrayal of God, akin to a spouse's unfaithfulness. The physical acts with the Moabite women were inextricably linked to participation in their pagan worship, demonstrating how moral compromise often serves as a direct gateway to spiritual deviation. This mirrors the warnings found in [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15-16 "Exodus 34:15-16 - Warning Against Idolatry and Intermarriage"), which explicitly forbids intermarriage with foreign peoples due to the risk of idolatry. Secondly, the narrative highlights the **peril of compromise** and the constant need for vigilance. Despite witnessing God's miraculous provision and protection against Balaam's curses, Israel succumbed to the temptations of the surrounding culture, demonstrating that proximity to blessing does not negate the need for unwavering obedience and spiritual discernment. This serves as a stark reminder of the insidious nature of temptation, which often targets moments of complacency or perceived security. Finally, the **Moabite strategy** reveals a cunning form of spiritual warfare. Having failed to defeat Israel through overt force or curses, the enemy resorted to internal corruption, understanding that moral decay and spiritual apostasy could achieve what external attacks could not. This foreshadows later instances in Israel's history where internal sin proved more destructive than external enemies, a theme frequently explored in the prophetic books, such as [Hosea 4:12](/hosea/4-12 "Hosea 4:12 - Spiritual Harlotry").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **whoredom (Hebrew, _zānah'_):** The Hebrew verb זָנָה (*zānah*) primarily means "to commit fornication," "to be a harlot," or "to be unfaithful." While it certainly denotes physical sexual immorality, its theological weight in the Old Testament is far greater. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe spiritual unfaithfulness to Yahweh, particularly through idolatry. In the context of Numbers 25:1, the physical acts of "whoredom" with the Moabite women were not merely isolated sexual transgressions but were intrinsically linked to, and indeed led directly to, the worship of their false gods, specifically Baal-peor (as revealed in subsequent verses). Thus, *zānah* here signifies a profound act of covenant infidelity, a betrayal of Israel's exclusive relationship with God, and a descent into the very paganism they were commanded to avoid.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Israel abode in Shittim":** This clause establishes the geographical and temporal setting. "Shittim" (literally "acacias") was the final encampment of Israel on the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River from Jericho. This location signifies the culmination of their forty-year wilderness journey and their imminent entry into the Promised Land. The phrase "abode" (Hebrew: *yāšab*) suggests a settled, perhaps even complacent, period, a moment of rest before the final push, which tragically became a moment of spiritual vulnerability and moral lapse.
* **"and the people began to commit whoredom":** This phrase introduces the central action of the verse, marking a catastrophic moral and spiritual decline. The verb "began" (Hebrew: *ḥālal*) indicates the initiation of a new, destructive behavior. The "whoredom" (Hebrew: *zānah*) refers to illicit sexual relations, but as discussed in the Key Word Analysis, it carries the profound theological implication of spiritual unfaithfulness. This was not an isolated incident but a widespread engagement in practices forbidden by God's covenant, revealing a deep-seated spiritual rebellion within the community.
* **"with the daughters of Moab":** This specifies the object of the Israelites' illicit desire and the agents of their temptation. The "daughters of Moab" were the local women who enticed the Israelite men. This interaction was more than just physical attraction; it was part of a deliberate strategy by the Moabites to corrupt Israel from within, knowing that such relationships would inevitably lead to participation in their idolatrous religious practices, particularly the worship of Baal-peor, as the narrative quickly reveals. This highlights the danger of intimate relationships with those outside the covenant community, especially when those relationships lead to spiritual compromise.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 25:1 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its tragic message. The verse serves as a stark **Foreshadowing**, immediately signaling the impending divine judgment and the devastating plague that will follow in response to Israel's apostasy. The seemingly benign act of "abiding" in Shittim is quickly juxtaposed with the shocking moral decay, creating a dramatic sense of **Irony**; after God's miraculous protection against external curses from Balaam, Israel falls victim to internal temptation. The term "whoredom" functions as a potent **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**, extending beyond mere physical immorality to represent the deeper spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry that Israel committed against Yahweh, their covenant husband. This metaphorical usage is common throughout the prophetic literature, where Israel's relationship with God is often depicted as a marriage, and idolatry as spiritual adultery. The concise, direct language of the verse, devoid of elaborate description, also contributes to its impact, delivering the shocking news with chilling brevity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The incident at Shittim serves as a foundational warning against the insidious nature of sin, particularly the interconnectedness of moral laxity and spiritual apostasy. It underscores God's absolute demand for exclusive devotion from His covenant people, a principle enshrined in the First Commandment. This event vividly illustrates that spiritual warfare is not always overt; often, the most dangerous threats come through subtle cultural assimilation and moral compromise that lead to a betrayal of one's relationship with God. The swift and severe divine judgment that followed emphasizes God's holiness and His unwavering commitment to His covenant, even when His people are unfaithful. This narrative profoundly teaches that proximity to blessing does not guarantee faithfulness, and constant vigilance against temptation is required to maintain purity and covenant integrity.

* [1 Corinthians 10:8](/1_corinthians/10-8 "1 Corinthians 10:8 - Warning Against Idolatry and Immorality")
* [Deuteronomy 4:3-4](/deuteronomy/4-3-4 "Deuteronomy 4:3-4 - Warning from Baal-peor Incident")
* [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic events at Shittim offer timeless and poignant lessons for believers today, serving as a powerful reminder that spiritual complacency and moral compromise can lead to devastating consequences, even when one is on the cusp of experiencing God's full blessings. Just as Israel, after forty years of divine provision and protection, stumbled at the very threshold of the Promised Land, so too can contemporary believers be vulnerable to temptation when they feel secure or are close to achieving spiritual milestones. This narrative calls us to cultivate constant vigilance against the subtle allurements of the world, recognizing that seemingly harmless cultural influences or casual moral compromises can quickly become gateways to spiritual unfaithfulness. It underscores the vital link between physical purity and spiritual fidelity, urging us to guard our hearts, minds, and bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, Numbers 25:1 challenges us to examine our own lives for areas where we might be compromising our devotion to God, prompting us to renew our commitment to exclusive worship and holy living in a world that constantly entices us away from Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be susceptible to "abiding in Shittim," becoming complacent or vulnerable to compromise?**
* **How do seemingly minor moral compromises in my life potentially open the door to deeper spiritual unfaithfulness or idolatry?**
* **What "daughters of Moab" – cultural influences, relationships, or ideologies – might be subtly enticing me away from full devotion to God?**
* **How can I cultivate greater vigilance and discernment to identify and resist temptations that seek to corrupt my faith from within?**

### FAQ

**What was the significance of Israel's encampment in Shittim?**

Answer: Shittim (Abel-Shittim) was Israel's final major encampment before crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Its significance lies in its strategic location, marking the culmination of their forty-year wilderness journey. Spiritually, it represented a critical threshold—a moment of immense anticipation and potential fulfillment. However, it tragically became a place where Israel's faith was severely tested, and they failed, highlighting that proximity to blessing does not guarantee obedience. The events that unfolded there served as a severe warning about the dangers of complacency and compromise just before entering their inheritance.

**Why is "whoredom" used to describe this event, and what does it imply beyond physical immorality?**

Answer: The term "whoredom" (Hebrew: *zanah*) in Numbers 25:1 carries a profound double meaning. While it literally refers to illicit sexual relations between Israelite men and Moabite women, its primary theological implication is spiritual unfaithfulness. In the Old Testament, God often depicts His covenant relationship with Israel as a marriage, where He is the faithful husband and Israel is His bride. Therefore, engaging in idolatry or worshipping other gods is consistently portrayed as "spiritual whoredom" or "harlotry"—a betrayal of the covenant vows. The physical acts of immorality at Shittim were not isolated incidents but were intrinsically linked to participation in the idolatrous worship of Baal-peor, as detailed in the subsequent verses of [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Baal-Peor and Phinehas's Zeal"). Thus, the "whoredom" was a direct act of spiritual rebellion and a profound act of covenant infidelity against the Lord.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic account of Israel's "whoredom" in Shittim, leading to spiritual apostasy and divine judgment, finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Israel, as God's chosen people, repeatedly failed to maintain covenant fidelity, succumbing to the allure of idolatry and moral compromise, as vividly portrayed in [Numbers 25:1](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1 - Israel's Sin at Shittim"). Yet, in Christ, we see the perfect Israelite, the one who never succumbed to temptation, even in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He perfectly fulfilled the covenant requirements that Israel repeatedly broke. The "whoredom" at Shittim was a profound act of unfaithfulness, a turning away from the living God. Christ, however, is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to atone for humanity's spiritual adultery and rebellion. Through His death and resurrection, He establishes a new covenant, not based on human performance, but on His perfect obedience and atoning blood, enabling a true and lasting fidelity. The Church, as the [Bride of Christ](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ's Love for the Church"), is called to a purity and exclusive devotion that Israel often failed to maintain. By His Spirit, believers are empowered to resist the "whoredom" of the world's idols and to live in faithful communion with God, looking to Jesus as the author and perfecter of their faith, who delivers them from the very spiritual dangers that plagued ancient Israel (Hebrews 12:2; [Hebrews 4:1](/hebrews/4-1 "Hebrews 4:1 - Entering God's Rest")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Corinthians 10:8

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Joshua 2:1

¶ And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Numbers 33:49

And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth [even] unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.

Revelation 2:14

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Micah 6:5

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

Joshua 3:1

¶ And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

Numbers 31:15

And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?