THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
The cunning sage, despite having received a prophetic warning from the Spirit of God, continued to scheme against the Lord. Upon recognizing that the Israelites were protected by divine power, he sought to lead them into sin through temptation, knowing that their straying from God would render them vulnerable to capture. He incited the Midianites to allure not warriors but their women, employing external beauty and seductive words instead of traditional weapons, so that the Israelites, captivated by their charms, would turn to idol worship. The esteemed Moses later addressed this issue after achieving victory over the Midianites, chastising those who spared the lives of the captive women. He questioned, saying, "Why have you kept alive all the females?
Read more (96 words)
You are the children of Israel, as spoken by Balaam, who turn away and reject the command of the Lord for the sake of Baal of Peor, and there is a plague among the Lord's people.” Baal of Peor is the name of an idol. The righteous David also referenced this sin, stating, “And they joined themselves to Baal of Peor and ate the sacrifices of the dead” (Psalm 105:28). Consequently, God commanded enmity towards the Midianites, declaring, “Therefore these will be adversaries to you because of their deceptive tactics... enticing... Baal of Peor” (Numbers 25:18).