1 ISRAEL SETTLED down and remained in Shittim, and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab, 2 Who invited the [Israelites] to the sacrifices of their gods, and [they] ate and bowed down to Moab's gods. 3 So Israel joined himself to [the god] Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, Take all the leaders or chiefs of the people, and hang them before the Lord in the sun [after killing them], that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel. 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each one of you slay his men who joined themselves to Baal of Peor.
6 And behold, one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and of all the congregation of Israel while they were weeping at the door of the Tent of Meeting [over the divine judgment and the punishment]. 7 And when Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 And went after the man of Israel into the inner room and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her body. Then the [smiting] plague was stayed from the Israelites. 9 Nevertheless those who died in the [smiting] plague were 24,000.