1. While Israel was living at Shittim, the people profaned themselves by prostituting themselves with the Moabite women.
2. These then invited the people to the sacrifices of their god, and the people ate of the sacrifices and bowed down to their god.
3. Israel thereby attached itself to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger flared up against Israel.
4. The Lord said to Moses: Gather all the leaders of the people, and publicly execute them before the Lord, that the blazing wrath of the Lord may turn away from Israel.