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Numbers 25:4

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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.

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Moses {H4872}, Take {H3947} all the heads {H7218} of the people {H5971}, and hang them up {H3363} before {H5048} the LORD {H3068} against the sun {H8121}, that the fierce {H2740} anger {H639} of the LORD {H3068} may be turned away {H7725} from Israel {H3478}.

ADONAI said to Moshe, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them facing the sun before ADONAI, so that the raging fury of ADONAI will turn away from Isra'el."

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto Jehovah before the sun, that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel.

Commentary

Numbers 25:4 (KJV) is a stark command from God to Moses in the aftermath of Israel's sin at Peor.

Context

This verse immediately follows the account of Israelite men engaging in sexual immorality with Moabite women and worshipping their god, Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1-3). This blatant act of idolatry and unfaithfulness provoked God's intense anger, leading to a plague upon the people.

Key Themes

  • God's Fierce Anger Against Sin: The phrase "fierce anger of the LORD" highlights the seriousness with which God views idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness. Such sin breaks the covenant relationship and demands a response from a holy God (see Romans 1:18).
  • The Need for Public Justice: The command to take the "heads of the people" (likely referring to executing the guilty under the authority of the leaders, as clarified in Numbers 25:5 where Moses tells the judges to execute the offenders) and "hang them up before the LORD against the sun" signifies a public, visible act of judgment. This served as both punishment for the guilty and a deterrent for others.
  • Atonement and Averting Wrath: The purpose stated is explicit: "that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel." The execution of the offenders was a necessary act of justice to address the sin that had brought God's judgment upon the entire nation, demonstrating that sin has consequences and must be dealt with decisively.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "fierce anger" (חֲרוֹן אַף, charon aph) conveys intense, burning wrath. The instruction "against the sun" (נֶגֶד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ, neged hashshemesh) emphasizes the public nature of the execution, visible to all during the day, underscoring the severity of the sin and judgment.

Reflection and Application

While the specific method of judgment reflects the covenant context and severity of breaking faith with God in ancient Israel, the underlying principles remain relevant. God's holiness means He cannot ignore sin; it must be addressed. This passage reminds us of the gravity of spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry, whether worshipping other gods or prioritizing anything over God. It also highlights the principle that sin has consequences, not just for the individual but potentially for the community. Ultimately, the New Testament reveals God's ultimate solution to sin and wrath through Christ's atoning sacrifice, providing a way for God's anger to be turned away from those who believe (see 1 John 2:2).

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 13:17 (5 votes)

    And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

  • Deuteronomy 4:3 (4 votes)

    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 21:23 (3 votes)

    His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged [is] accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee [for] an inheritance.

  • Numbers 25:11 (3 votes)

    Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

  • 2 Samuel 21:6 (3 votes)

    Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, [whom] the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give [them].

  • Joshua 22:17 (2 votes)

    [Is] the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

  • Deuteronomy 13:13 (2 votes)

    [Certain] men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;