Zimri’s disobedience and the swift judgment he received caution believers against spiritual compromise.
When the text states “Now the name of the slain man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s household among the Simeonites” (v.14), it highlights the identity and status of the Israelite man who brazenly disobeyed God’s commands and brought shame upon his people. This event unfolds toward the close of Israel’s desert wanderings, around 1406 BC, as they camp in the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, east of Jericho. Zimri, belonging to the tribe of Simeon, is not merely a common Israelite but is described as “a leader of a father’s household” (v.14), underscoring his prominent role within his community.
The passage specifies that Zimri was slain alongside the Midianite woman, illustrating the severity with which God’s righteous standard was enforced. Midian, located east of the Red Sea and portions of the Arabian Peninsula, had long been a land inhabited by nomadic clans (Genesis 37:28). The mention of the Midianite woman ties this story to the broader crisis in Numbers 25, when many Israelites engaged in immoral worship practices influenced by the surrounding peoples. Zimri’s actions stand out as a defiant betrayal of the sanctity God desired for Israel.
This verse especially underscores the responsibility that comes with leadership. Zimri was not an obscure figure; he occupied a place of influence among the Simeonites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel and descendants of Simeon, the son of Jacob (around 1900 BC). When he aligned himself with a Midianite woman in direct disobedience to God’s covenant, the consequence was swift. This continues the biblical theme that unrepentant actions of sin bear severe judgment (Galatians 6:7). Although explicit references to Jesus do not appear here, the principle of God’s holiness, which eventually finds its fulfillment in Christ’s righteousness, resonates, calling believers to obedience and reverence (Hebrews 12:14).
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Numbers 25:14 meaning
When the text states “Now the name of the slain man of Israel who was slain with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of a father’s household among the Simeonites” (v.14), it highlights the identity and status of the Israelite man who brazenly disobeyed God’s commands and brought shame upon his people. This event unfolds toward the close of Israel’s desert wanderings, around 1406 BC, as they camp in the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, east of Jericho. Zimri, belonging to the tribe of Simeon, is not merely a common Israelite but is described as “a leader of a father’s household” (v.14), underscoring his prominent role within his community.
The passage specifies that Zimri was slain alongside the Midianite woman, illustrating the severity with which God’s righteous standard was enforced. Midian, located east of the Red Sea and portions of the Arabian Peninsula, had long been a land inhabited by nomadic clans (Genesis 37:28). The mention of the Midianite woman ties this story to the broader crisis in Numbers 25, when many Israelites engaged in immoral worship practices influenced by the surrounding peoples. Zimri’s actions stand out as a defiant betrayal of the sanctity God desired for Israel.
This verse especially underscores the responsibility that comes with leadership. Zimri was not an obscure figure; he occupied a place of influence among the Simeonites, one of the twelve tribes of Israel and descendants of Simeon, the son of Jacob (around 1900 BC). When he aligned himself with a Midianite woman in direct disobedience to God’s covenant, the consequence was swift. This continues the biblical theme that unrepentant actions of sin bear severe judgment (Galatians 6:7). Although explicit references to Jesus do not appear here, the principle of God’s holiness, which eventually finds its fulfillment in Christ’s righteousness, resonates, calling believers to obedience and reverence (Hebrews 12:14).