Day 62-11

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

D. From Kadesh-Barnea to crossing of Jordan ~ cont.

5. Settling down in plains of Moab, east of Jordan ~ cont.

d. Compromise with Moab in marriage and idolatry - Numbers 25:1-9

e. Midianites to be slain - Numbers 25:10-18

f. Second numbering of the people (601,730), a new generation - Numbers 26:1-65

g. Diverse laws given or reviewed 

(1) Inheritance law - Numbers 27:1-11

{pages 275-279}

Balaam's revenge - the Israelites are taking to them Moab women (note women, not men were the snare for the Israelites).

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.  (Numbers 25:4)

Hang up the heads.  That would seem to indicate that they were no longer part of the body.  Sounds gruesome, but obviously necessary to turn away God's wrath.  You would think with heads hanging around no one would be bold or haughty enough to keep a non-Israelite woman.  Pride knoweth no bounds.

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  (Numbers 25:6)

They were sitting before the tabernacle, weeping.  And he brings in his Midianitish woman...that is a lot of gall.          Only someone who is depraved and deceived would (or could) be so in your face attitude.

24,000 people died.  That is a small city population.  Wow...a simple search, hmmm, what is considered a city size?  City --> Town --> Village --> Hamlet.  So 24,000 would be about the size of a small village.  Moving onward...lol.

The number of times a woman's name is mentioned in the Bible (in comparison to men) is small.  I thought it interesting that the name of the offending Israelite man and the Midianitish woman were both mentioned.

Zimri (of the tribe of Simeon) - H2174 - From H2167; musical; Zimri, the name of five Israelites, and of an Arabian tribe.

• H2174 - A primitive root (perhaps identical with H2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers); properly to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, that is, play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music.

Cozbi - H3579 - From H3576; false; Cozbi, a Midianitess.

• H3576 - A primitive root; to lie (that is, deceive), literally or figuratively.

I was going to go through and search 'name' and 'woman' to see if I could detail a list.  However, my initial search was not producing...so google to the rescue.  Lo and behold, Wikipedia gave the most concise list that I have found thus far.  I have not browsed this site, except to view Mary Magdalene, a supposed prostitute...though there is no scriptural warrant for such a designation.  This one was a little out there for me...some provoking thoughts as it regards how Adam and Eve were created/designed.  Really not sure about this one, nor the authors twist on giving credit to women for usurping authority.

This site offers an alphabetical listing, which includes more than just names, but (in my opinion) titles or designations of types of women.  I did appreciate their brief explanation for the name Cozbi, lying, deceiver, deceitful.

She most definitely was a product of her culture and environment.  I wonder would there be much, if any, difference between the seductiveness of the Moabite women of then and how our women act in 2011?  Even within the church?  The Moabite woman's goal was to control the man using her physical allures...so too our culture pounds it into the heads of women (and men) that the outside is what matters.  Sadly, there are many 'churches' which do not look much different.  I was encouraged by some recent video viewings, one by Paul Washer, A Virtuous Woman and then Voddie Baucham, Biblical Womanhood and Manhood.  May those who view be edified and encouraged.