Numbers 25:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When the son of the high priest observed that both the ordinary soldiers and the leaders were fleeing and engaging in immorality, realizing that God's assistance was on the verge of abandoning the Hebrews due to this behavior, he was ignited by holy fervor and filled with righteous indignation. Grasping a sword, he executed one of the leaders alongside the woman he had sinned with. In doing so, he not only halted the affliction that threatened to deprive them of life's essential sustenance but also averted the divine wrath that punishes those who transgress.