Balak Summons Balaam

1 Then ⁱthe people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And ^jBalak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And ^kMoab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to ^lthe elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 ^msent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor ⁿat Pethor, which is near the River¹ in the land of the people of Amaw,² to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 ^oCome now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Baal Worship at Peor

1 While Israel lived in ^eShittim, ^fthe people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 ^gThese invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, ^h“Take all the chiefs of the people and ⁱhang¹ them in the sun before the Lord, ^jthat the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to ^kthe judges of Israel, ^l“Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were ^mweeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 ⁿWhen Phinehas ^othe son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, ^pthose who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.