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Psalm 106:28
They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
26Therefore he swore to them that he would overthrow them in the wilderness,
27that he would overthrow their offspring among the nations, and scatter them in the lands.
28They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
29Thus they provoked him to anger with their deeds. The plague broke in on them.
30Then Phinehas stood up and executed judgment, so the plague was stopped.
Notice
Joining themselves to Baal Peor took the form of a meal, exposing how eating could become an act of allegiance to another god.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What does the phrase “joined themselves” reveal about the seriousness of Israel’s meal?
Write on thisWhat helps you distinguish friendship with others from taking part in worship of their gods?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Isaiah 8:19When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? …Both passages mention the dead in connection with religious practices that turn people away from their God.
Exodus 34:15“Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they play the prostitute after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and one call you and you …Exodus warns against eating sacrifices offered to other gods, and the psalm records Israel doing just that at Baal Peor.
Numbers 25:5Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor.”Both name joining Baal Peor; Numbers records Moses’ command to execute the men who had done so.
Hosea 9:10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and …Both recall Israel’s attachment to Baal Peor, with Hosea describing their consecration to what brought them shame.
Numbers 25:1–3Israel stayed in Shittim; and the people began to play the prostitute with the daughters of Moab;Both recount Israel’s unfaithfulness: the psalm names Baal Peor, while Numbers describes sexual wrongdoing with Moabite women.
Numbers 25:2for they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down to their gods.Both describe Israel eating sacrifices, and Numbers makes the worship involved explicit by recording their bowing to other gods.
1 Corinthians 10:19–20What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?Both mention food sacrificed in idol worship; Paul questions what such sacrifices imply about idols.
Jeremiah 10:8–10But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood.Both concern idolatry: the psalm records allegiance to Baal Peor, while Jeremiah exposes idols as mere wood.
Deuteronomy 4:3Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baal Peor; for the LORD your God has destroyed all the men who followed Baal Peor from among you.Both name Baal Peor, and Deuteronomy recalls God’s destruction of the men who followed him.
Isaiah 26:14The dead shall not live. The departed spirits shall not rise. Therefore you have visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish.The link is limited to the dead: the psalm mentions sacrifices, while Isaiah describes destruction and the loss of remembrance.
Deuteronomy 26:14I have not eaten of it in my mourning, neither have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor given of it for the dead. I have listened to the LORD my God’s …Both connect the dead with religious offerings: the psalm recounts participation, while Deuteronomy records a declaration of abstaining in obedience.
Revelation 2:14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the …Both describe Israelites eating sacrifices connected with false worship; Revelation names Balaam’s teaching as a stumbling block behind such acts.
Where this verse fits
Temptation. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
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Encouragement
The warning deserves sober attention: Israel’s participation in Baal Peor’s worship mattered to God. Your worship matters too; the Lord deserves your undivided allegiance.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).