Numbers 25:9

9 But 24,000 had already died.

Numbers 25:9 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 25:9

And those that died in the plague were twenty and four
thousand.
] The apostle says 23,000 ( 1 Corinthians 10:8 ) . Moses includes those that were hanged against the sun, in the time of the plague, as well as those that were taken off by it, even all that died on this account; the apostle only those that "fell", which cannot with propriety be said of those that were hanged, who might be 1000 and so their numbers agree; but of this and other ways of removing this difficulty (See Gill on 1 Corinthians 10:8).

Numbers 25:9 In-Context

7 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw what he was doing, grabbed his spear,

8 and followed them into the tent. With one thrust he drove the spear through the two of them, the man of Israel and the woman, right through their private parts. That stopped the plague from continuing among the People of Israel.

9 But 24,000 had already died.

10 God spoke to Moses:

11 "Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has stopped my anger against the People of Israel. Because he was as zealous for my honor as I myself am, I didn't kill all the People of Israel in my zeal.