Then King Josiah broke down the houses of the male prostitutes [286] that were in the Lord’s temple. Women also used those houses and made little tent covers to honor the false goddess Asherah.
Numbers 25:1 - Easy To Read Version The people of Israel were camped near Acacia. At that time, the men began doing sexual sins [310] with Moabite women. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition ISRAEL SETTLED down and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, American Standard Version (1901) And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab: Common English Bible When the Israelites lived at Shittim, the people made themselves impure by having illicit sex with Moabite women. Catholic Public Domain Version Now Israel, at that time, dwelt in Shittim, and the people were fornicating with the daughters of Moab, Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And Israel at that time abode in Settim: and the people committed fornication with the daughters of Moab. |
Then King Josiah broke down the houses of the male prostitutes [286] that were in the Lord’s temple. Women also used those houses and made little tent covers to honor the false goddess Asherah.
Then at Baal Peor,\par God’s people joined in worshiping Baal.\par God’s people \{joined in the wild parties\par and\} ate sacrifices to honor dead people. {\cf2\super [561]} \par
“You must not allow any person to have sexual relations with an animal. If this happens, then that person must be killed.
“Be careful not to make any agreements with the people who live in that land. If you do this, then you might join them when they worship their gods. Those people will invite you to join them, and you will eat their sacrifices. [344]
I also found that \{some women are dangerous like traps\}. Their hearts are like nets, and their arms are like chains. It is worse than death to be caught by those women. A person that follows God will run away from those women. But a sinner will be caught by them.
All the people of Judah that were in the countries of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left some people of Judah in the land. And they heard that the king of Babylon had chosen Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to be governor over them.
“‘But those children turned against me. They did not obey my laws. They did not keep my commands. They did not do the things I told them. \{And those are good laws.\} If a person obeys them, then he will live. They treated my special days of rest like they were not important. So I decided to destroy them completely in the desert, to let them feel the full force of my anger.
At the time I found Israel, they were like fresh grapes in the desert. They were like the first figs on a fig tree at the beginning of the season. But then they came to Baal-Peor. {\cf2\super [92]} And they changed—and I had to cut them off \{(destroy them) like rotten fruit. {\cf2\super [93]} They became like the terrible things \{(false gods) that they loved.
My people, remember the \{evil\} plans\par of Balak king of Moab.\par Remember what Balaam son of Beor\par said to Balak.\par Remember the things that happened\par from Acacia to Gilgal {\cf2\super [73]} .\par Remember those things and\par you will know the Lord is right!”\par
“I will help the people of Israel get even with the Midianites. After that, Moses, you will die. [366] ”
They camped by the Jordan River in the Jordan Valley in Moab. Their camp went from Beth Jeshimoth to Acacia Field.
We should not do sexual sins like some of those people did. In one day 23,000 of them died \{because of their sin\}.
Those false gods ate the fat of your sacrifices. And they drank the wine of your offerings. So let those gods get up and help you! Let them protect you!
“You have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor. The Lord your God destroyed all your people who followed the false god Baal [18] at that place.
Joshua son of Nun and all the people were camped at Acacia. [1] Joshua sent out two spies. No one knew that Joshua sent out these men. Joshua said to the men, “Go and look at the land, especially the city of Jericho.”
Remember what happened at Peor? We are still suffering because of that sin. Because of that great sin, God caused many of the people of Israel to become very sick. And we are still suffering because of that sickness today.
Early the next morning, Joshua and all the people of Israel got up and left Acacia. [4] They traveled to the Jordan River and camped there before they went across.
“But I have a few things against you: You have people there \{in your group\} who follow the teaching of Balaam. Balaam taught Balak how to make the people of Israel {\cf2\super [17]} sin. Those people sinned by eating food offered to idols {\cf2\super [18]} and by doing sexual sins.