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easy prey to temptation。
During the time of their encampment beside Jordan； Moses was preparing for
the occupation of Canaan。 In this work the great leader was fully employed；
but to the people this time of suspense and expectation was most trying； and
before many weeks had elapsed their history was marred by the most frightful
departures from virtue and integrity。
At first there was little intercourse between the Israelites and their
heathen neighbors； but after a time Midianitish women began to steal into
the camp。 Their appearance excited no alarm； and so quietly were their plans
conducted that the attention of Moses was not called to the matter。 It was
the object of these women； in their association with the Hebrews； to seduce
them into transgression of the law of God； to draw their attention to
heathen rites and customs； and lead them into idolatry。 These motives were
studiously concealed under the garb of friendship； so that they were not
suspected； even by the guardians of the people。
At Balaam's suggestion； a grand festival in honor of their gods was
appointed by the king of Moab； and it was secretly arranged that Balaam
should induce the Israelites to attend。 He was regarded by them as a prophet
of God； and hence had little difficulty in accomplishing his purpose。 Great
numbers of the people joined him in witnessing the festivities。 They
ventured upon the forbidden ground； and were entangled in the snare of
Satan。 Beguiled with music and dancing； and allured by the beauty of heathen
vestals； they cast off their fealty to Jehovah。 As they united in mirth and
feasting； indulgence in wine beclouded their senses and broke down the
barriers of self…control。 Passion had full sway； and having defiled their
consciences by lewdness； they were persuaded to bow down to idols。 They
offered sacrifice upon heathen altars and participated in the most degrading
rites。
It was not long before the poison had spread； like a deadly infection；
through the camp of Israel。 Those who would have conquered their enemies in
battle were overcome by the wiles of heathen women。 The people seemed to be
infatuated。 The rulers and the leading men were among the first to
transgress； and so many of the people were guilty that the apostasy became
national。 〃Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor。〃 When Moses was
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aroused to perceive the evil； the plots of their enemies had been so
successful that not only were the Israelites participating in the licentious
worship at Mount Peor； but the heathen rites were coming to be observed in
the camp of Israel。 The aged leader was filled with indignation； and the
wrath of God was kindled。
Their iniquitous practices did that for Israel which all the enchantments of
Balaam could not dothey separated them from God。 By swift…coming judgments
the people were awakened to the enormity of their sin。 A terrible pestilence
broke out in the camp； to which tens of thousands speedily fell a prey。 God
commanded that the leaders in this apostasy be put to death by the
magistrates。 This order was promptly obeyed。 The offenders were slain； then
their bodies were hung up in sight of all Israel that the congregation；
seeing the leaders so severely dealt with； might have a deep sense of God's
abhorrence of their sin and the terror of His wrath against them。
All felt that the punishment was just； and the people hastened to the
tabernacle； and with tears and deep humiliation confessed their sin。 While
they were thus weeping before God； at the door of the tabernacle； while the
plague was still doing its work of death； and the magistrates were executing
their terrible commission； Zimri； one of the nobles of Israel； came boldly
into the camp； accompanied by a Midianitish harlot； a princess 〃of a chief
house in Midian；〃 whom he escorted to his tent。 Never was vice bolder or
more stubborn。 Inflamed with wine； Zimri declared his 〃sin as Sodom；〃 and
gloried in his shame。 The priests and leaders had prostrated themselves in
grief and humiliation； weeping 〃between the porch and the altar；〃 and
entreating the Lord to spare His people； and give not His heritage to
reproach； when this prince in Israel flaunted his sin in the sight of the
congregation； as if to defy the vengeance of God and mock the judges of the
nation。 Phinehas； the son of Eleazar the high priest； rose up from among the
congregation； and seizing a javelin； 〃he went after the man of Israel into
the tent；〃 and slew them both。 Thus the plague was stayed； while the priest
who had executed the divine judgment was honored before all Israel； and the
priesthood was confirmed to him and to his house forever。
Phinehas 〃hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel；〃 was the
divine message； 〃wherefore say； Behold； I give unto him My covenant of
peace： and he shall have it； and his
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seed after him； even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood； because he
was zealous for His God； and made an atonement for the children of Israel。〃
The judgments visited upon Israel for their sin at Shittim； destroyed the
survivors of that vast company； who； nearly forty years before； had incurred
the sentence； 〃They shall surely die in the wilderness。〃 The numbering of
the people by divine direction； during their encampment on the plains of
Jordan； showed that 〃of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered； when
they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai； 。 。 。 there
was not left a man of them； save Caleb the son of Jephunneh； and Joshua the
son of Nun。〃 Numbers 26：64；65。
God had sent judgments upon Israel for yielding to the enticements of the
Midianites； but the tempters were not to escape the wrath of divine justice。
The Amalekites； who had attacked Israel at Rephidim； falling upon those who
were faint and weary behind the host； were not punished till long after； but
the Midianites who seduced them into sin were speedily made to feel God's
judgments； as being the more dangerous enemies。 〃Avenge the children of
Israel of the Midianites〃 （Numbers 31：2）； was the command of God to Moses；
〃afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people。〃 This mandate was
immediately obeyed。 One thousand men were chosen from each of the tribes and
sent out under the leadership of Phinehas。 〃And they warred against the
Midianites； as the Lord commanded Moses。 。 。 。 And they slew the kings of
Midian； beside the rest of them that were slain； 。 。 。 five kings of Midian：
Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword。〃 Verses 7； 8。 The
women also； who had been made captives by the attacking army； were put to
death at the command of Moses； as the most guilty and most dangerous of the
foes of Israel。
Such was the end of them that devised mischief against God's people。 Says
the psalmist： 〃The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made： in the
net which they hid is their own foot taken。〃 Psalm 9：15。 〃For the Lord will
not cast off His people； neither will He forsake His inheritance。 But
judgment shall return unto righteousness。〃 When men 〃gather themselves
together against the soul of the righteous；〃