Yisroel settled in Shittim and the people [of Yisroel] began acting promiscuously with the daughters of Moav.

They [girls of Moav] invited the people [of Yisroel] to their idolatrous sacrifices [abominations]; and the people ate and prostrated themselves before their gods [abominations].

Yisroel became united with Ba’al Pe’or; and the rage of Adony flared against Yisroel.

Adonoy said to Moshe: “Take all the leaders of the people and hang them, [judge and execute those guilty by death] before Adonoy, facing the sun; thereby removing the rage of Adony against Yisroel.”

Moshe said to the judges of Yisroel: “Each of you must execute his men who were united with Ba’al Pe’or.”

And behold, a man came from among Bnei Yisroel, and brought the Midianite woman to his brethren, before the eyes of Moshe and before the eyes of the entire congregation of Yisroel, who were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

When he saw this—Pinchas the son of Elazar [and grand]son of Aharon the Kohein—he rose up from the midst of the community and took a spear in his hand.

He followed the Israelite man into the inner chamber of the tent and pierced both of them through—the Israelite man and the woman through her belly—and the plague stopped from [afflicting] the Bnei Yisroel.

Those that died in the plague, [numbered] twenty-four thousand.

Adonoy spoke to Moshe saying.

“Pinchas, the son of Elozor, [and grand] son of Aharon the kohein, has turned My anger away from Bnei Yisroel by his vengeance for Me among them, so that I did not destroy Bnei Yisroel in My vengeance.

Therefore tell [him], that I give [decree for] him My covenant [of] peace.

It shall be for him and his descendants after him a covenant of eternal kehunah because he was zealous for [before] his God and made atonement for Bnei Yisroel.”

The name of the slain Israelite man, who was killed along with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, son of Salu, leader of a paternal house of Shimon.

The name of the slain Midianite woman was Kozbi, daughter of Tzur, the national leader of a paternal house in Midian.

Adonoy spoke to Moshe saying:

“Antagonize the Midianites and kill them,

for they antagonized you with their guiles in the matter of Pe’or, and in the matter of Kozbi the daughter of a Midianite prince, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague that resulted from Pe’or.”