For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.
For they trouble you with their tricks, which they used to deceive you in the incident at Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite prince, their countrywoman, who was killed on the day of the plague because of what happened at Peor.
God is explaining why the Israelites should treat the Midianites as enemies - because the Midianites had deceived them into sin at Peor, leading to God's judgment.
📚 Historical Context
This verse refers back to the incident at Baal-Peor where Midianite women seduced Israelite men into sexual immorality and idol worship. Cozbi was a Midianite princess who was killed along with an Israelite man by Phinehas during God's plague of judgment. God is now instructing the Israelites to be hostile toward Midian because of their deliberate corruption of Israel.
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