Numbers 25:15

15 The woman’s name was Cozbi; she was the daughter of Zur, the leader of a Midianite clan.

Numbers 25:15 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 25:15

And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was
Cozbi, the daughter of Zur
One of the five kings of Midian, ( Numbers 31:8 ) and so the Samaritan Chronicle says ^F11, it was the daughter of a king that came to a prince of the tribe of Simeon, and enticed him to eat of her food, and worship her idols. The Targum of Jonathan says she was called Selonae, the daughter of Balak, chief of the nation of Moab, whose habitation was in Midian:

he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian;
that is, Zur, the father of Cozbi, was; there were five sons of Midian, whose names are given, ( Genesis 25:4 ) from whence Jarchi concludes, that there were five principal families in Midian, and that this man was the head or chief of one of them, which is not improbable; and that also makes for the honour of Phinehas, that he spared not any for their rank and quality, of whatsoever nation they were.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Apud Hottinger, ut supra. (Smergma Oriental, l. 1. c. 8. p. 448.)

Numbers 25:15 In-Context

13 In this covenant, I give him and his descendants a permanent right to the priesthood, for in his zeal for me, his God, he purified the people of Israel, making them right with me. ”

14 The Israelite man killed with the Midianite woman was named Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a family from the tribe of Simeon.

15 The woman’s name was Cozbi; she was the daughter of Zur, the leader of a Midianite clan.

16 Then the LORD said to Moses,

17 “Attack the Midianites and destroy them,