While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab,
Parallel translations
- WEB Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab;
- KJV And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
- NKJV Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
- NASB While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to commit infidelity with the daughters of Moab.
- NLT While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
While camped at Shittim, Israelite men begin committing sexual immorality with Moabite women. This marks Israel's fall into the very corruption Balaam could not curse them into.
Overview
Having been protected from external cursing, Israel now stumbles through internal compromise and seduction. The sin at Shittim, just before entering Canaan, reveals that the greatest danger to God's people is not enemy attack but their own unfaithfulness. Scripture later identifies Balaam's counsel as the source of this snare, showing how spiritual seduction can accomplish what direct opposition could not.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Cor 10:8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
- Num 33:49And there on the plains of Moab they camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim.
- Josh 2:1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim, saying, “Go, inspect the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
- Mic 6:5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
- Rev 2:14But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
- Josh 3:1Early the next morning Joshua got up and left Shittim with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
- Num 31:15–16“Have you spared all the women?” he asked them.
- Eccl 7:26And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 25:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.