2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods.
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
2 It started when the women invited the men to their sex-and-religion worship. They ate together and then worshiped their gods.
2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
2 These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab.
28 They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
28 They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
28 Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
28 Then they linked up with Baal Peor, attending funeral banquets and eating idol food.
28 They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, And ate sacrifices made to the dead.
28 Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead!
(Read Psalm 106:13-33)
Those that will not wait for God's counsel, shall justly be given up to their own hearts' lusts, to walk in their own counsels. An undue desire, even for lawful things, becomes sinful. God showed his displeasure for this. He filled them with uneasiness of mind, terror of conscience, and self-reproach. Many that fare deliciously every day, and whose bodies are healthful, have leanness in their souls: no love to God, no thankfulness, no appetite for the Bread of life, and then the soul must be lean. Those wretchedly forget themselves, that feast their bodies and starve their souls. Even the true believer will see abundant cause to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not consumed. Often have we set up idols in our hearts, cleaved to some forbidden object; so that if a greater than Moses had not stood to turn away the anger of the Lord, we should have been destroyed. If God dealt severely with Moses for unadvised words, what do those deserve who speak many proud and wicked words? It is just in God to remove those relations that are blessings to us, when we are peevish and provoking to them, and grieve their spirits.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 25:2
Commentary on Numbers 25:1-5
(Read Numbers 25:1-5)
The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity; for none can prevail against God's people if they are not overcome by their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt them, but the enticements of worldly interests and pleasures. Here is the sin of Israel, to which they are enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian. Those are our worst enemies who draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief any man can do us. Israel's sin did that which all Balaam's enchantments could not do; it set God against them. Diseases are the fruits of God's anger, and the just punishments of prevailing sins; one infection follows the other. Ringleaders in sin ought to be made examples of justice.