Psalm 106:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;

NIV: They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;

NASB: They also followed Baal-peor, And ate sacrifices offered to the dead.

CSB: They aligned themselves with Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.

NLT: Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead!

KJV: They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

NKJV: They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor, And ate sacrifices made to the dead.

Psalm 106:28–33 records Israel's sin in mingling with the pagan Moabites, worshipping the idol Baal (Numbers 25:1–3). This resulted in another plague (Numbers 25:9) and an act of spectacular violence (Numbers 25:7–8). Also mentioned is the nation's faithlessness and complaining at Meribah (Numbers 20:2–5). Even Moses fell into sin there, resulting in His own exclusion from entering Canaan (Numbers 20:12–13). Still, the Lord kept the nation alive and intact.

The psalmist calls on the people to worship God because of His loyal, merciful love for the nation of Israel. Evidence of this love is given in the form of Israel's many national sins. These included many acts of faithlessness during the exodus from Egypt, and cycles of idolatry during the conquest of Canaan. Even so, the Lord preserved the nation rather than destroying it. The song closes with another prayer for rescue and a blessing directed at God.

This is the last entry in what is often called "Book Four" of the psalms (Psalms 90—106). The psalm focuses on confession and humility; many reminders are given about Israel's failures compared to God's faithfulness. Notable mentions are the idol at Horeb (Exodus 32), the first arrival at Canaan (Numbers 14), and the era of Israel's judges (Judges 2:16–19). Despite these sins, the Lord maintained Israel's existence, even as He brought them punishment. Similar confessions appear in Isaiah 63, Ezekiel 20, and Nehemiah 9.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/23/2024 8:02:46 AM