Summary: Numbers 25:10–(30:1)* 29:40 This portion tells us the story of Phinehas, the son of Aaron, when he took direct action against an Israelite who had joined with a Midianite woman. As a bit of background, Baalam was unsuccessful in cursing Israel, so he counseled the Midianites to send their sons and daughters to the Israelites to have them join together, leading them astray from Moses’ teaching. Zimri, the Simeonite, was a product of Baalam’s counsel. God had begun to judge Israel with a plague just as Baalam had said. But Phinehas’s action stopped the whole process and brought about deliverance to Israel. The remainder of this portion addresses the final census of Israel, the death of Moses, and the final efforts to enter the promised land. In particular, this portion details the offerings for each day in keeping the Feast of Tabernacles.
