Numbers 25:9

KJV

And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

KJV (with Strong's)

And those that died {H4191} in the plague {H4046} were twenty {H6242} and four {H702} thousand {H505}.

Complete Jewish Bible

nevertheless, 24,000 died in the plague.

Berean Standard Bible

but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

American Standard Version

And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 25:9 records the devastating death toll of twenty-four thousand Israelites who perished in a divinely sent plague. This catastrophic event was God's immediate and severe judgment against the nation for their egregious sin at Baal-peor, where they engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite women and, more critically, worshipped the Moabite god Baal-peor, thereby breaking their covenant with Yahweh through idolatry and spiritual harlotry. The verse serves as a solemn testament to the gravity of divine wrath against apostasy and compromise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 25:9 concludes the harrowing narrative of the Baal-peor incident, which begins in [Numbers 25:1](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1 - Israel's Sin at Baal-peor"). The preceding verses detail how Israelite men prostituted themselves with Moabite women and participated in their idolatrous feasts, bowing down to Baal-peor. This blatant act of disloyalty ignited God's fierce anger, leading to the plague. The narrative then shifts to Phinehas's zealous act of executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman caught in flagrant sin ([Numbers 25:7-8](/numbers/25-7 "Numbers 25:7-8 - Phinehas's Zealous Act")), which immediately halted the plague. Numbers 25:9 thus provides the final, chilling statistic of the judgment, setting the stage for the new census in [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census") for the generation that would enter the Promised Land, highlighting the cost of the previous generation's disobedience.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Numbers 25 occurred on the plains of Moab, just across the Jordan River from Jericho, at a place called Shittim, as Israel prepared to enter Canaan. The Moabites, along with the Midianites, were pagan peoples whose religious practices often involved fertility cults, including sacred prostitution and child sacrifice. Baal-peor was a local deity associated with fertility, and worshipping him would have involved participation in these immoral rites. For Israel, a people called to be holy and set apart, engaging in such practices was a direct violation of the Mosaic Covenant, particularly the first two commandments against idolatry and worshipping other gods ([Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-5 - The First Two Commandments")). Plagues were understood in the ancient Near East, and especially within Israelite theology, as direct manifestations of divine judgment, often linked to covenant curses for disobedience ([Deuteronomy 28:21-22](/deuteronomy/28-21 "Deuteronomy 28:21-22 - Curses for Disobedience")).
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 25:9 powerfully underscores several critical themes pervading the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment and Holiness**. God's immediate and severe response to Israel's sin at Baal-peor demonstrates His absolute holiness and His intolerance for idolatry and spiritual infidelity. He is a "jealous God" who demands exclusive worship from His covenant people ([Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy")). This event also highlights the **Consequences of Sin and Covenant Disobedience**. The death of twenty-four thousand people serves as a stark reminder that turning away from God's commands, particularly through syncretism and immorality, carries dire and often immediate repercussions. Finally, the narrative subtly introduces the theme of **Zeal for God's Honor**, exemplified by Phinehas, whose decisive action stemmed the tide of divine wrath, showing that righteous action can avert judgment, a theme echoed in other instances of intercession and repentance within Israel's history.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Plague (Hebrew, _maggēphāh'_):** This word (מַגֵּפָה) literally means a "blow," "stroke," or "slaughter." It is consistently used in the Old Testament to denote a divinely inflicted pestilence or calamity, emphasizing its supernatural origin as an act of God's judgment rather than a natural occurrence. Its use here highlights the directness and intentionality of God's wrath against Israel's sin.
* **Twenty and four thousand (Hebrew, _’eleph_):** The specific number (אַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף) is significant. While "thousand" (_’eleph_) can sometimes denote a large military unit or clan rather than a precise numerical value, in this context, given the immediate cessation of the plague by Phinehas's action, it is understood as a literal and precise count of the fatalities. This large number underscores the immense scale of God's judgment and the severity of the sin committed, serving as a powerful deterrent and a solemn warning to future generations.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And those that died in the plague":** This clause directly identifies the victims as those who succumbed to the divine pestilence. It links their deaths to a specific, supernatural cause—the "plague"—which was God's direct response to their apostasy and immorality at Baal-peor. The passive voice ("that died") emphasizes the overwhelming power of the plague and the helplessness of its victims before God's judgment.
* **"were twenty and four thousand":** This precise numerical statement quantifies the devastating impact of the plague. It is not an approximation but a definitive count, highlighting the immense cost of Israel's unfaithfulness. The sheer number underscores the gravity of the sin and the severity of God's holy wrath, serving as a stark memorial to the consequences of covenant disobedience.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Numerical Significance** to convey the magnitude of the divine judgment. The precise figure of "twenty and four thousand" is not merely a statistic; it is a powerful literary tool designed to shock and impress upon the reader the devastating consequences of Israel's sin. This specific number emphasizes the scale of God's wrath and the extensive reach of the plague, reinforcing the idea that no sin, especially idolatry and sexual immorality, goes unpunished by a holy God. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **Climax** to the Baal-peor narrative, providing the final, tragic outcome of the nation's rebellion and God's subsequent intervention. It also serves as a **Warning**, not just for the immediate Israelite audience but for all future generations, highlighting the unchanging nature of God's character and the serious repercussions of spiritual compromise.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 25:9 is a profound theological statement on God's unwavering holiness, His covenant fidelity, and the absolute seriousness with which He regards sin, particularly idolatry and sexual immorality. The plague serves as a stark reminder that God's justice is not abstract but active and immediate when His people defy His commands and compromise their exclusive devotion. This event underscores the foundational biblical truth that sin, especially that which involves spiritual infidelity, carries severe consequences, demonstrating that God will not tolerate the defilement of His covenant people. It highlights the principle that obedience brings life and blessing, while disobedience leads to judgment and death.

* [Psalm 106:28-31](/psalms/106-28 "Psalm 106:28-31 - Israel's Sin at Baal-peor and Phinehas's Righteousness")
* [1 Corinthians 10:8](/1_corinthians/10-8 "1 Corinthians 10:8 - Paul's Warning Against Immorality and Idolatry")
* [Deuteronomy 4:3](/deuteronomy/4-3 "Deuteronomy 4:3 - Warning Against Following Baal-peor")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The tragic account of Numbers 25:9 serves as an enduring and sobering lesson for believers today. It compels us to confront the reality of God's holiness and the severe consequences of spiritual compromise and moral impurity. In a world that often blurs lines between sacred and secular, this verse calls us to vigilant self-examination, ensuring our devotion to God remains undivided and untainted by worldly influences or cultural pressures that promote idolatry (whether of wealth, power, pleasure, or self) or sexual immorality. It reminds us that true freedom and blessing are found not in conforming to societal norms but in unwavering obedience and faithfulness to God's revealed will. Learning from Israel's costly mistakes at Baal-peor, we are urged to cultivate spiritual purity, guard our hearts against syncretism, and live lives that consistently honor God in every thought, word, and deed, recognizing that our actions have eternal implications.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be unknowingly compromising my devotion to God, perhaps by prioritizing worldly values or seeking fulfillment outside of Him?**
* **How does the severity of God's judgment in Numbers 25:9 impact my understanding of His holiness and justice today?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater spiritual purity and exclusivity in my relationship with God?**
* **How can I apply the lesson of Baal-peor to resist contemporary forms of idolatry and sexual immorality in my culture?**

### FAQ

**Why does 1 Corinthians 10:8 state 23,000 deaths, while Numbers 25:9 states 24,000?**

Answer: The apparent discrepancy between the 24,000 in Numbers 25:9 and the 23,000 in [1 Corinthians 10:8](/1_corinthians/10-8 "1 Corinthians 10:8 - Paul's Reference to the Plague") has been a subject of scholarly discussion. Several explanations are commonly offered. One possibility is that Paul, writing from memory or using a different tradition, rounded the number for rhetorical effect, focusing on the approximate scale of the judgment rather than a precise figure. Another common view is that the 23,000 in 1 Corinthians refers specifically to those who died by the plague itself, while the 24,000 in Numbers includes those who were executed by the judges at Moses' command before the plague began, or those who died by both means, making the 24,000 the total death toll from the entire incident. Regardless of the exact numerical reconciliation, both passages convey the same crucial message: a massive and devastating divine judgment occurred due to Israel's sin of idolatry and immorality.

**What was the specific sin that provoked God's wrath at Baal-peor?**

Answer: The sin at Baal-peor was a two-fold transgression: sexual immorality and idolatry. [Numbers 25:1-3](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1-3 - The Sin at Baal-peor") explicitly states that Israelite men "began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab" and then "called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods." This involved participating in the pagan fertility rites of Baal-peor, which likely included cultic prostitution, and then worshipping the Moabite deity. This was a direct violation of the first two commandments and a profound act of spiritual infidelity against Yahweh, their covenant God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 25:9, with its stark depiction of divine judgment against sin, profoundly points to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The plague at Baal-peor vividly illustrates the deadly consequences of humanity's rebellion against a holy God, particularly the gravity of idolatry and spiritual adultery. It underscores that sin demands a righteous response from God, a truth that finds its ultimate fulfillment not in a plague that takes thousands of lives, but in the singular, perfect sacrifice of Christ. Just as Phinehas's zealous act of judgment averted further wrath for Israel ([Numbers 25:7-8](/numbers/25-7 "Numbers 25:7-8 - Phinehas's Zeal")), Christ's perfect obedience and atoning death on the cross fully satisfied God's righteous demands against sin. He became the ultimate propitiation, absorbing the divine wrath that humanity justly deserved ([Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ as Propitiation")). For those who are "in Christ," the judgment for sin has already been borne by Him, granting them forgiveness and eternal life ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "Romans 8:1 - No Condemnation in Christ")). Thus, the terrifying toll of Numbers 25:9 serves as a dark backdrop, highlighting the immeasurable light of God's grace and mercy extended through the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")

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.

Deuteronomy 4:3

Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.

Deuteronomy 4:4

But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God [are] alive every one of you this day.

Numbers 25:4

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

Numbers 25:5

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

Numbers 31:16

Behold, 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.

Numbers 16:49

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.