Numbers 25:3

25:3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, ¹  the anger of the Lord flared up against Israel.

Numbers 25:5

25:5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must execute those of his men ²  who were joined to Baal-peor.”

---

¹ tn The verb is “yoked” to Baal-peor. The word is unusual, and may suggest the physical, ritual participation described below. It certainly shows that they acknowledge the reality of the local god.

sn The evidence indicates that Moab was part of the very corrupt Canaanite world, a world that was given over to the fertility ritual of the times.

² tn Heb “slay – a man his men.” The imperative is plural, and so “man” is to be taken collectively as “each of you men.”