DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links and a discussion forum 2014 March 2
Circe (or Melissa) - (c. 1520)
Dosso Dossi (Giovanni di Niccolo de Luteri) - (c. 1490 - 1542)
Italian Renaissance Style; Ferrara School
Galleria Borghese, Rome, Italy
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: I've chosen the painting above to represent the seductive and idolatrous allure of the Moabite women over the Israelite men because of the beauty of the woman depicted and because of the elements of pagan worship which surround her. The painting may represent the enchantress Circe, the nymph Melissa, or someone else. Whatever the case, the picture is particularly appropriate to represent the allure of the Midianite women, and most particularly as a representation of the woman mentioned in today's text -- Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a chief in Midian. Details are given below.
In Numbers 25 the Moabite women seduced many of the Israelite men. This happened in Shittim where the Israelites were encamped. Instead of attacking Israel, the Midianites called Israel to participate in the sacrifices to their gods, particularly Baalpeor, the god of reproduction, whose worship included openly obscene and impure rites. The LORD's wrath was kindled against Israel for doing this; and he ordered that the heads of the participants be hung openly before the LORD. This was a sign of a curse from the LORD (Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Galatians 3:10) -- a curse which Balaam could not bring upon Israel (as a whole) by his enchantments. But here his counsel to Balak (mentioned in Numbers 31:16 and Revelation 2:14) brought this partial curse. (1-5). As the LORD was in the midst of implementing these measures, the Israelite prince Zimri brought the Midianite princess Cozbi into his tent. While the plague was going on, they walked past Moses and the congregation who were gathered at the door of the Tabernacle. When Phinehas saw this he took a javelin and ran both of them through as they were lying in the tent. For this act the LORD stopped the plague. The number of deaths was twenty-four thousand (6-9). When the LORD saw the zeal of Phinehas, he said that the priesthood would always come from his line (10-13). The Israelite man who died at the hand of Phinehas was from the tribe of Simeon. The woman was the daughter of Zur, one of the chiefs of Midian (14-15). The LORD then sent Israel to war with the Midianites for beguiling them, thereby returning the curse on their own head (16-18).
Numbers 25
1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.
5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.
6 And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
7 And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
10 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.
12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.
14 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.
15 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.
16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
18 For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.
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copyright 2014, Scott Souza
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