8 Neither should we commit zenut as some of them committed zenut and fell in one day twenty-three thousand [BAMIDBAR 25:1,9]. [T.N. if Rav Sha'ul is not giving the number that died in one day, a very famous and devastating twenty-four hour period, (with BAMIDBAR 25:4 mentioning other executions and the subsequent total being 24,000 [Bamidbar 24:9]), then Rav Sha'ul is referring to those who died in Shemot 32:35, quoting as he does Shemot 32:6 in 1C 10:7]
9 Neither let us tempt Moshiach, as some of them put Moshiach to the test, and by nechashim (serpents) were being destroyed [Ex 17:2; Num 21:5-6; Ps 78:18; 95:9; 106:4; ].
10 Neither should we murmur and grumble even as some of them VAYILONU ("and they murmured' SHEMOT 15:24; 16:2; 17:3; BAMIDBAR 14:2,29; 16:41) and they were destroyed by the destroyer (Num 14:2,36; 16:41-49; 17:5,10; Ex 12:23 Ps 106:25-27).
11 Now, these things happened to those ones as moftim (examples), but it was written for our admonition, to whom the Kitzei HaOlamim has come.
12 So then the one that presupposes that he stands, let him take care lest he fall.
13 No nissayon (temptation) has overtaken you, except that which is common to Bnei Adam, but, Hashem is ne'eman (faithful) (DEVARIM 7:9), who will not let you to be brought into nissayon beyond what you are able, but will make with the nissayon also the derech (Tzaddikim TEHILLIM 1:6) as a way out for you to be able to endure.
14 Therefore, my chaverim, flee from avodah zarah.