Their iniquitous practices did that for Israel which all the enchantments of Balaam could not do--they separated them from God. By swift-coming judgments the people were awakened to the enormity of their sin. A terrible pestilence broke out in the camp, to which tens of thousands speedily fell a prey. God commanded that the leaders in this apostasy be put to death by the magistrates. This order was promptly obeyed. The offenders were slain, then their bodies were hung up in sight of all Israel that the congregation, seeing the leaders so severely dealt with, might have a deep sense of God's abhorrence of their sin and the terror of His wrath against them.

Bileam kunne ikke skille Israel fra Gud ved hjælp af al sin trolddomskunst, men nu fremkaldte folkets synd denne adskillelse. Straffen faldt omgående og fik folket til at indse. hvor alvorlig deres synd var. Der udbrød en frygtelig pest i lejren, og titusinder døde straks. Gud befalede, at dommerne skulle dræbe lederne i dette frafald. Denne ordre blev øjeblikkelig efterkommet. Disse syndere blev dræbt og deres legeme hængt op under åben himmel for hele Israels øjne. Den hårde straf, der blev tildelt folkets ledere, skulle give Israel et uudsletteligt indtryk af Guds afsky for deres synd og af hans frygtelige vrede.