So these two wicked men sent a number of women to invite the Israelites
to hold a great feast with them, in honor of their idol Baal Peor. Many
were so foolish and wicked as to be led away; and they had a great
feasting and revelling, and all kinds of bad pleasures that these
heathen women said were to do praise to this horrible false god. Then,
though Balak might have cursed for ever without hurting them, they had
done themselves the harm. God sent a deadly sickness, and in one day
twenty-four thousand people died.
But Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, did as Moses commanded him. He first
put to death the wickedest of the people who had joined themselves to
Baal Peor; and then he prayed--and all the people prayed and wept too.
So God forgave them, and the plague ceased.
Afterwards Phinehas led the Israelite fighting men to punish the wicked
Balak and his people; and Balaam was killed in fighting with them. All
the wicked women who had tempted the Israelites away from God were put
to death too. So Balaam's evil counsel ended in all sorts of misery.
It is very sad to think of him, for he knew so well what was good,
and yet did what was so very bad. But remember this, nobody could hurt
God's people till they did wrong, and then they hurt themselves, and
God punished them.