1 While the Israelites were camped at Acacia, some of the men had sex with Moabite women.
2 These women then invited the men to ceremonies where sacrifices were offered to their gods. The men ate the meat from the sacrifices and worshipped the Moabite gods.
3 The Lord was angry with Israel because they had worshipped the god Baal-Peor.
4 So he said to Moses, “Take the Israelite leaders who are responsible for this and have them killed in front of my sacred tent where everyone can see. Perhaps then I will stop being angry with the Israelites.”
5 Moses told Israel's officials, “Each of you must put to death any of your men who worshipped Baal.”
6 Later, Moses and the people were at the sacred tent, crying, when one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman to meet his family.
7 Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, saw the couple and left the crowd. He found a spear