{"id":47275,"date":"2023-06-03T19:51:15","date_gmt":"2023-06-03T16:51:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=47275"},"modified":"2025-05-25T00:15:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T21:15:44","slug":"were-23000-or-24000-israelites-killed-by-the-plague-at-shittim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2023\/06\/03\/were-23000-or-24000-israelites-killed-by-the-plague-at-shittim\/","title":{"rendered":"Were 23,000 or 24,000 Israelites Killed by the Plague at Shittim?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Were 23,000 or 24,000 Israelites Killed by the Plague at Shittim?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Question:<\/strong>
\nDid 23,000 or 24,000 Israelites die in the plague at Shittim? Numbers 25:9<\/em> records 24,000 deaths, but 1 Corinthians 10:8<\/em> says 23,000. Does this mean the Bible contradicts itself?<\/p>\n

The Answer:<\/strong>
\nNo, the Bible is consistent and trustworthy. Both numbers are accurate when understood in their context.<\/p>\n

\n

The Biblical Account<\/h3>\n

In Numbers 25:1-9<\/em><\/p>\n

“While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women… Then the Lord\u2019s anger burned against them… Those who died in the plague numbered 24,000<\/strong>.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The passage describes Israel\u2019s sin of idolatry combined with sexual immorality, provoking God\u2019s judgment through a deadly plague. Phinehas\u2019s zealous act stopped the plague (Numbers 25:7-8).<\/p>\n

\n

Paul\u2019s Reference<\/h3>\n

In 1 Corinthians 10:8<\/em>, Paul says:<\/p>\n

“We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did\u2014and in one day twenty-three thousand<\/strong> of them died.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Paul highlights how quickly sin can bring devastating consequences\u201423,000 died in one day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Explanation<\/h3>\n

The difference between 23,000 and 24,000 can be understood as follows:<\/p>\n