Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

Numbers 25:14-15

What happens when we “let our guard down” and “step away” from the security of being near YHWH? This passage from the Book of Numbers recalls one such instance in the early days of the nation of Israel.

THE VERSE
Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.

THE STUDY
Midianitish [Hebrew term: miḏyānî]. A Midianite descendent. The absolute roots comprise a combination of two words: MADON, meaning “a contest or quarreling” and DIN, a verb, meaning “to judge; to be at strife, to contend.” The Midianites are descendents of Abraham and his second wife, Keturah.

Zimri [Hebrew term: zimrî]. This word is a proper noun (i.e., a name), meaning “my music.” The root is ZAMAR, meaning “to trim, to be plucked [as in a musical instrument] or to be pruned.”

Salu [Hebrew term: sallû]. Another proper noun/name, meaning “weighed.” Its root word, a verb, is SALA, ” to make light of, to be weighed against/estimated in.”

Simeonites [Hebrew term: šimʿōnî]. A proper noun/name, indicating a descendent of Simeon. Simeon was the second oldest son of Jacob. The root of this name is SAMA, which can be either a noun or a verb, meaning “sound; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience).”

Cozbi [Hebrew term: kāzbî]: A proper noun/name, meaning “my lie.” Its root is a verb, KAZAB, “to lie, tell a lie, be a liar, be found a liar, be in vain, fail, to deceive.”

Zur [Hebrew term: ṣaûār]: A proper noun/name, meaning “rock.” The root is a verb, SUR, meaning “to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile).”

TAKEAWAY THOUGHT
This passage is an interesting study on the importance of names. The significance of a name means more than “name” in the English language sense. It is not only a mark of individuality, but it signifies honor, authority, character or renown. But more importantly, this account from the Book of Numbers is a warning to the people of YHWH as they approach the heavenly Canaan. It was when the Israelites were in a condition of outward ease and security that they were led into sin. They failed to keep YHWH ever before them. Satan uses every means to make crime and debasing vice popular. Those who won’t fall prey to Satan’s devices must guard the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing those things which suggest impure thoughts. The mind shouldn’t be left to wander at random upon every subject. Israel’s sin as recounted here brought YHWH’s judgment upon the nation; although the same sins may not now be punished as speedily, they will as surely meet retribution.