1. When the Israelites lived at Shittim, the people made themselves impure by having illicit sex with Moabite women.
2. The Moabite women invited the people to the sacrifices for their god. So the people ate a meal, and they worshipped their god.
3. Israel became attached to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry at the Israelites.
4. The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people and kill them on behalf of the Lord in broad daylight, so that the Lord’s anger turns away from Israel.
5. Then Moses said to Israel’s officials, "Each of you: kill your men who are attached to the Baal of Peor."
6. An Israelite man brought a Midianite woman to his brothers in the sight of Moses and the entire Israelite community, who were weeping at the entrance of the meeting tent.
7. When Phinehas (Eleazar’s son and Aaron the priest’s grandson) saw this, he arose in the middle of the community, took a spear in his hand,