1 When the Israelites lived at Shittim, the people made themselves impure by having illicit sex with Moabite women.
2 The Moabite women invited the people to the sacrifices for their god. So the people ate a meal, and they worshipped their god.
3 Israel became attached to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry at the Israelites.
4 The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people and kill them on behalf of the Lord in broad daylight, so that the Lord’s anger turns away from Israel.
5 Then Moses said to Israel’s officials, "Each of you: kill your men who are attached to the Baal of Peor."
6 An Israelite man brought a Midianite woman to his brothers in the sight of Moses and the entire Israelite community, who were weeping at the entrance of the meeting tent.
7 When Phinehas (Eleazar’s son and Aaron the priest’s grandson) saw this, he arose in the middle of the community, took a spear in his hand,