The LORDsaidto Moses,"Takeallthe leadersof the peopleand executethem in broaddaylightbefore the LORD,so that the fierceangerof the LORDmay turnawayfrom Israel."
let sevenmenfrom his sonsbe givento us, and we will hangthem before the LORDin Gibeahof Saul,the chosenof the LORD."And the kingsaid,"I will give[them]."
Then he gavethem into the handsof the Gibeonites,and they hangedthem in the mountainbeforethe LORD,so that the sevenof them felltogether;and they were putto deathin the firstdaysof harvestat the beginningof barleyharvest.
Thus they provoked[Him] to angerwith their deeds,And the plaguebrokeout among them.
Moseschoseablemenout of allIsraeland madethem headsoverthe people,leadersof thousands,of hundreds,of fiftiesand of tens.
"Whoknows,Godmay turnand relentand withdrawHis burningangerso that we will not perish."
"Phinehasthe sonof Eleazar,the sonof Aaronthe priest,has turnedawayMy wrathfrom the sonsof Israelin that he was jealouswith My jealousyamongthem, so that I did not destroythe sonsof Israelin My jealousy.
for they have beenhostileto you with their tricks,with whichthey have deceivedyou in the affairof Peorand in the affairof Cozbi,the daughterof the leaderof Midian,their sisterwho was slainon the dayof the plaguebecauseof Peor."
"Then allIsraelwill hearand be afraid,and will neveragaindosucha wickedthingamongyou.
some worthlessmenhave goneout from amongyou and have seducedthe inhabitantsof their city,saying,Let us goand serveothergods(whomyou have not known),
you shall surelystrikethe inhabitantsof that citywith the edgeof the sword,utterlydestroyingit and allthat is in it and its cattlewith the edgeof the sword.
"Nothingfrom that whichis put underthe banshall clingto your hand,in orderthat the LORDmay turnfrom His burningangerand showmercyto you, and havecompassionon you and make you increase,justas He has swornto your fathers,
"Ifa manhas committeda sinworthyof deathand he is putto death,and you hanghim on a tree,
his corpseshall not hangall nighton the tree,but you shall surelyburyhim on the sameday(for he who is hangedis accursedof God),so that you do not defileyour landwhichthe LORDyour Godgivesyou as an inheritance.
"Your eyeshave seenwhatthe LORDhas donein the case of Baal-peor,for allthe menwhofollowedBaal-peor,the LORDyour Godhas destroyedthem from amongyou.
Is not the iniquityof Peorenoughfor us, from whichwe have not cleansedourselves to thisday,although a plaguecameon the congregationof the LORD,
that Joshuacalledfor allIsrael,for their eldersand their headsand their judgesand their officers,and saidto them, "I amold,advancedin years.
