Numbers     בְּמִדְבַּר 
(BaMidbar - in the desert)

Chapter 25 follows what we read of Balaam’s departure from the hilltops overlooking the Israelite camps, and his having issued the third and fourth oracles of blessing on the people of Yahweh. We know these events follow Chapter 24 because Numbers 31:16 later indicates that Balaam prompted the unfaithful acts events chronicled herein. The construction of chapter 25, however, leaves ample room for speculation that it was assembled from at least two separate narratives, with some details missing from each.
From the beginning of the chapter, we are introduced to the fact of Israel’s idolatrous fornication with the daughters of Moab (with retribution later enacted against the Midianites – v17), and God’s command that Moses execute all the leaders of the people. There appear to be two elements that lack context following this introduction. First, there are two notable persons (one of the sons of Israel and a Midianite woman), who should be familiar to the reader by their references. Yet, we do not know their names, nor have they been previously introduced. This is less obvious in the English translations of the original text, but the definite articles for their reference suggest a proper name, rather than a generic pronoun. Then, there is the reference to weeping at the tent of meeting; however, we do not yet know why this weeping is occurring.
Both confusing elements are resolved later in the chapter, but it helps to understand from the beginning that there have been events unfolding in response to God's command. It is the latter half of the chapter that fills in those details. God commanded a response to the idolatry that would have held the leaders accountable for the nation's sins. The nation was comprised of 12 tribes, so it is unlikely that the leaders would have numbered as many as 2,000 for each tribe. Yet this is the exact number of deaths (24,000 – v9) that occurred by the plague God sent as punishment for Israel’s sins of idolatry and harlotry. This plague would have been the cause of weeping in verse 9. The two people introduced in verse 6 are not identified until verses 14-15.
Of note, Zimri was from the tribe of Simeon. In the following chapter, we read of the second census taken of the Israelites, the first taken when they entered the wilderness (Numbers 1:1-46). The tribe of Simeon returns from wandering in the desert with 22,200 members of their tribe, as opposed to the 59,300 fighting men with whom they entered the wilderness. This means Simeon lost 37,100 men, which is the largest decrease among the tribes. The censuses were conducted to count the men eligible for military service, and the significant drop in Simeon's numbers should not be overlooked, in light of the plague following their sin at Peor

Census of the Sons of Israel

The Daughters of Zelophehad

Offerings