Numbers:25

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* Verse 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 . * Verse 6-15 - Phinehas , in the courage of zeal and faith , executed vengeance on Zimri and Cozbi . This act can never be an example for private revenge , or religious persecution , or for irregular public vengeance . * Verse 16-18 - We read not that any Midianites died of the plague ; God punished them with the sword of an enemy , not with the rod of a father . We must set ourselves against whatever is an occasion of sin to us , Matthew strkjv @5:29 ,30 . Whatever draws us to sin , should be a vexation to us , as a thorn in the flesh . And none will be more surely and severely punished than those who , after Satan 's example , and with his subtlety , tempt others to sin . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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