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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a
He decided to secure to himself Balak’s reward, and the promotion he
desired, by advising the Moabites what course to pursue to bring the
curse upon Israel. He counseled Balak to proclaim an idolatrous feast
in honor of their idol gods, and he would persuade the Israelites to
attend, that they might be delighted with the music, and then the most
beautiful Midianitish women should entice the Israelites to transgress
the law of God, and corrupt themselves, and also influence them to
offer sacrifice to idols. This Satanic counsel succeeded too well. Many
of the Israelites were persuaded by Balaam, because they regarded him
as a prophet of God, to join him, and mix with that idolatrous people,
and engage with him in idolatry and fornication.
“And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor. And the anger of the
Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, Take
all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord, against
the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from
Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his
men that were joined unto Baal-peor.” Moses commanded the judges
of the people to execute the punishment of God against those who
had transgressed, and hang the heads of the transgressors up before
the Lord, to cause Israel to fear to follow their example. The Lord
commanded Moses to vex the Midianites, and smite them, because
they had vexed Israel with their wiles, wherewith they had beguiled
them to transgress the commandments of God.
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The Lord commanded Moses to avenge the children of Israel of
the Midianites, and then he should be gathered to his people. Moses
commanded the men of war to prepare for battle against the Midianites.
And they warred against them as the Lord commanded, and slew all
the males, but they took the women and children captives. Balaam was
slain with the Midianites. “And Moses, and Eleazar, the priest, and
all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without
the camp. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with
the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came
from the battle. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the
women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the
counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter
of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.”
Moses commanded the men of war to destroy the women and male
children. Balaam had sold the children of Israel for a reward, and he