Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 25:1

1 AND Israel abode in Shittim , and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab .

A place called more largely, Abel-Shittim, Numb. 33. 49. it being usual with the Hebrews to abbreviate long proper names, as Hermon is put for Baal-hermon, Iudg. 3. 3. [illegible: 1 word] for [illegible: 1+ letters] lad, Ios. 19. 4. Nimrim, Isa. 15. 6. for B[illegible: 1+ letters]-nimrim, Numb. 32. 36. And this was their last station, from whence they passed immediately into Canaan. So this is here noted as a great aggravation of their sin, that they committed it, when God wa[illegible: 1+ letters] going to put them into the possession of their long-expected and much-desired land.

Not all, but many, of them, as appears from Deut. 4. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 10. 8.

Both corporally and spiritually, either because they prostituted themselves to them upon condition of worshipping their God: or because their [illegible: 1+ letters] thy God was worshipped by such filthy acts, as Priapus and [illegible: 1+ letters] nus were.

And of Midian t[illegible: 1+ letters]o, as is evident from ver. 6, 1[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ 18. and Numb. 31. 16. for both these people being confederated in this wicked design, the one is put for the other, and the daughters of Moab may be named, either because they began the transgression, or because they were the chief persons, possibly, the relations or courtier[illegible: 1+ letters] of Balak king of Moab.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 33. [illegible: 1 word].