Numbers 31 16

Numbers 31:16 kjv

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 31:16 nkjv

Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Numbers 31:16 niv

"They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.

Numbers 31:16 esv

Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.

Numbers 31:16 nlt

"These are the very ones who followed Balaam's advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD's people.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 16 Meaning

This verse explains to Moses and the leaders of Israel why the Midianite women, despite some initially being spared, must face severe consequences. It explicitly states that these women, at the strategic suggestion of Balaam, were the instrumentalities by which the Israelites were led into a grave act of spiritual treachery against the Lord. This treachery specifically involved the sinful events at Peor, which resulted in a devastating plague falling upon the congregation of Israel as a divine judgment. It underscores that Balaam’s counsel, intended to weaken Israel, directly led to their unfaithfulness and suffering.

Numbers 31 16 Context

Numbers chapter 31 describes God’s command to Israel to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in luring the Israelites into sin at Baal of Peor. This vengeance is distinct from the war against the Moabites, even though Moab was also involved in the Peor incident (Num 25:1). The severity of the command reflects the gravity of the Midianites' spiritual assault on Israel. Verses 13-15 detail Moses’ anger when he sees that the victorious Israelite army spared some Midianite women. This specific verse (31:16) serves as Moses' direct justification and explanation for his fury and for the subsequent instruction to kill every Midianite woman who has known a man, and all male children, sparing only the virgin girls. It explicitly reveals that the Midianite women, acting under the subtle yet powerful influence of Balaam's counsel, were instrumental in orchestrating Israel’s covenant breach with God.

The broader historical context is the period of Israel's wandering in the wilderness, on the verge of entering the Promised Land. The preceding chapters (Numbers 22-24) detail Balaam's inability to curse Israel despite Balak's insistence. Though he prophesied blessings, Numbers 31:16 (and 31:8 implicitly, and later New Testament passages explicitly) reveals Balaam's cunning plan: if direct cursing was impossible, then luring Israel into sin would achieve the same result by provoking divine judgment. Numbers chapter 25 provides the detailed account of the Peor incident itself, where Israelite men engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite and Midianite women and participated in the worship of Baal of Peor, resulting in a devastating plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. This verse ties all these narratives together, exposing the hidden scheme that led to the visible sin and judgment.

Numbers 31 16 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - `hinnēh`): An emphatic interjection drawing immediate attention to what follows. It signifies the gravity and importance of the statement Moses is about to make.
• these (הֵנָּה - `hēnnāh`): Refers to the Midianite women whom the Israelite army had taken captive and brought back (Num 31:9, 15), identifying them as the direct agents of temptation.
• through the counsel (בְּדְבַר בִּלְעָם - `biḏvar bil‘ām`, but in Hebrew Masoretic Text of 31:16 it's בְּעֵצַת בִּלְעָם - `bə‘ēṣaṯ bil‘ām`):
  • בְּעֵצַת (`bə‘ēṣaṯ`): A construct form of `‘ēṣāh` (עֵצָה), meaning "counsel," "advice," or "plan." The preposition `bə` means "in" or "by means of." This signifies that the Midianites' actions were not spontaneous but were a calculated strategy, a pre-meditated design. It highlights the strategic and malevolent nature of Balaam's instigation.
• of Balaam (בִּלְעָם - `Bil‘ām`): The name of the non-Israelite prophet from Pethor of Mesopotamia. His personal name here explicitly connects him as the orchestrator of Israel's fall at Peor, confirming what later biblical tradition understood: that though he could not curse Israel through prophecy, he advised Balak (and the Midianites) on how to cause Israel to sin and thus incur divine wrath.
• caused the people of Israel to act treacherously (לְהָמְסֹר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעַל - `ləhāmōsēr bənê yiśrā’ēl ma‘al` - lit. "to cause the sons of Israel to trespass/act unfaithfully"):
  • לְהָמְסֹר (`ləhāmōsēr`): While often understood as causing to act treacherously, the verb `hit‘iyōtû` from `tā‘āh` (to lead astray, to cause to err) found in some translations is very fitting given its root for 'deceive'. However, the Hebrew word here (`m-s-r`) has meanings of 'to deliver up', 'to hand over' often implying exposure to harm or being given into transgression. The KJV's "caused the children of Israel to commit trespass" is a common interpretive rendering for this complex verb here, which denotes the bringing about of spiritual offense.
  • מַעַל (`ma‘al`): "Treacherously," "unfaithfulness," "transgression," "trespass," or "breach of trust." This word is significant as it describes an offense specifically against God or against consecrated things, implying a breaking of covenant loyalty. It highlights the spiritual nature of Israel’s sin, not merely a social misstep.
• against the Lord (בַּיהוָה - `bYHWH`): Emphasizes that the betrayal was directed against God Himself. The sin was primarily a rupture of the covenant relationship with Yahweh, Israel’s Redeemer and King.
• in the matter of Peor (עַל־דְּבַר פְּעוֹר - `‘al-dəvar Pə‘ôr`):
  • עַל־דְּבַר (`‘al-dəvar`): "Concerning the word of," "on account of," "in the matter of." It points directly to the incident and place.
  • פְּעוֹר (`Pə‘ôr`): "Peor," referring to Baal of Peor, the Canaanite/Moabite/Midianite deity worshipped through fertility cults, which often involved sacred prostitution and orgiastic rituals. This name connects the treacherous act to a specific form of idolatry involving grave sexual immorality.
• and so the plague came (וַתְּהִי הַמַּגֵּפָה - `wattəhî hammaggēphāh`):
  • וַתְּהִי (`wattəhî`): "And it was," indicating a direct consequence.
  • הַמַּגֵּפָה (`hammaggēphāh`): "The plague," specifically referring to the divinely sent epidemic that killed 24,000 Israelites as recorded in Numbers 25:9. This word often denotes a severe visitation of divine judgment.
• among the congregation of the Lord (בַּעֲדַת יְהוָה - `ba‘ădaṯ YHWH`):
  • בַּעֲדַת (`ba‘ădaṯ`): "Among the congregation/assembly of." This phrase highlights that the judgment directly impacted God's own chosen people, emphasizing the purity God expects from His covenant community and the severe consequences of its breach.

• Words-group analysis:
  • "through the counsel of Balaam": This phrase reveals the strategic malevolence behind the Midianite women's actions. Balaam, unable to curse Israel by prophetic declaration, employed a more insidious method – corrupting them from within through temptation to idolatry and immorality. It underscores that spiritual battles often involve cunning schemes to lead God's people astray.
  • "caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord": This highlights the profound spiritual betrayal involved. It was not merely a physical transgression but a breaking of their covenant loyalty to Yahweh, who had redeemed them from Egypt. "Treachery" (`ma‘al`) often signifies unfaithfulness regarding sacred duties or covenant commitments.
  • "in the matter of Peor, and so the plague came": This phrase explicitly links the specific idolatrous and immoral incident at Peor directly to its devastating consequence—the plague. It illustrates the swift and severe divine judgment against covenant infidelity and spiritual pollution, showing God's unyielding holiness and intolerance for sin within His congregation.

Numbers 31 16 Bonus section

The "counsel of Balaam" refers not to a public oracle but to a strategic plan given "behind the scenes." Jewish tradition and later New Testament writings (Rev 2:14, 2 Pet 2:15, Jude 1:11) confirm this hidden counsel. Balaam's motivation was financial gain; he valued profit over faithfulness to God's will. This illustrates how avarice can corrupt even those who seemingly possess spiritual insight.

The sin at Peor highlights the biblical truth that sexual immorality and idolatry are often linked. In many pagan cultures, fertility cults incorporated temple prostitution and ritual sex acts as part of their worship. For Israel, this was not only a moral failure but a deep spiritual betrayal, equating to prostitution with other gods, symbolizing an allegiance divided from the pure devotion required by Yahweh.

This verse underlines the importance of absolute segregation from pagan practices and influences for God's covenant people. The Midianite women were not merely victims but active agents of temptation, following Balaam's malicious counsel. God's command to Moses for their destruction demonstrates the severity with which He views actions that corrupt His people and profane His holy name. It reveals that purity within the community is paramount and compromise can bring collective divine judgment.

Numbers 31 16 Commentary

Numbers 31:16 serves as a critical interpretive key for understanding the events of Numbers 25 and the broader narrative of Balaam. It reveals the unseen hand behind Israel's devastating sin at Peor. Balaam, having been thwarted in his attempts to curse Israel through supernatural means (Numbers 22-24), resorted to a more subtle yet potent strategy: luring Israel into sin. He advised Balak (and by extension the Midianites and Moabites) to tempt the Israelites with sexual immorality and idolatry. This cunning scheme succeeded, causing Israel to "act treacherously against the Lord" by worshipping Baal of Peor and engaging in promiscuous acts, which for the covenant people constituted spiritual adultery.

The term "treacherously" (ma'al) is significant, signifying a breach of covenant. The Israelite men's sin at Peor was not just a moral lapse; it was a profound act of disloyalty to the exclusive covenant with God. The immediate consequence, a divinely sent plague that claimed 24,000 lives, vividly demonstrates God's fierce holiness and His severe intolerance for covenant breaking within His chosen people. This event also highlights the dangerous allure of syncretism and foreign influences, a recurring temptation for Israel throughout its history. It reminds believers that internal compromise through sinful allurements can be more destructive than external opposition, emphasizing the perpetual need for spiritual vigilance and adherence to God's commandments.

Practical Usage: This verse offers a stark warning against compromise with worldly practices, particularly those involving idolatry (spiritual or literal) and sexual immorality, which are often intertwined. It stresses that false teaching (Balaam's counsel) can lead to grievous sin and divine judgment. For believers today, it highlights the importance of discerning the source of counsel, guarding against temptations that exploit carnal desires, and remaining fiercely loyal to the Lord in a world that constantly entices towards unfaithfulness.