Why Israel Fell at Shittim - Pride, Sitting, and Baal Peor

"And Israel dwelt in Shittim" (Numbers 25:1). This is what Scripture says: "Pride goes before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18). Because Israel saw all those benefits that they had, they grew proud. And what were the benefits? The manna came down for them, the well rose up for them, the clouds of glory surrounded them, all their enemies fell before them, and Balaam came to curse them and the curse was turned for them into a blessing. Since they saw themselves, they grew proud, and immediately they began to be suspected concerning sexual immorality, as it is said, "And Israel dwelt in Shittim." And what happened? "Those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand," to fulfill what is said, "And Israel dwelt in Shittim." Another interpretation: "And Israel dwelt in Shittim." There is no "dwelling" that does not have trouble in it. Come and learn from the beginning of the world. What is written? "And Cain went out from before the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, east of Eden" (Genesis 4:16); what is written there? "A fugitive and a wanderer shall you be in the earth" (Genesis 4:12). And so it is written concerning Jacob, "And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings" (Genesis 37:1) — the trouble of Joseph came upon him, as it is said, "These are the generations of Jacob: Joseph" (Genesis 37:2). And so you find that Joseph was not sold except by means of "dwelling," as it is said, "And they sat down to eat bread" (Genesis 37:25). And so in the matter of the calf, what is written? "And the people sat down to eat and to drink" (Exodus 32:6). And here too, by means of "dwelling" the plague came upon them, as it is said, "And Israel dwelt in Shittim." Another interpretation: "And Israel dwelt" etc. Balak and the men of his palace stationed their daughters in the market of harlots, as Balaam the wicked had advised them, and they made tents there. They would adorn the young women and station them inside, and the old women stood outside. And when a man of Israel went to take from them some article, the old women would say to them, "Enter inside, and I will show you a fair countenance." And when he entered, he would see her sitting and adorned. And at first the wine of the gentiles was permitted to Israel, but from that day it was forbidden. And the young woman would pour for him from the Ammonite wine, which is good and seduces toward the heart and the body to fornication, and he would take it from her hand and drink from that wine which brings him to fornication, as it is said, "Fornication, wine, and new wine" (Hosea 4:11). Immediately the evil inclination would enter into his heart, and he would say to her, "Listen to me." And she would bring out an idol from her bosom and say to him, "Bow down to this, and I will listen to you." He would say to her, "I do not bow down to an idol." And she would say to him, "You do not need to uncover yourself to me — what difference is there between uncovering yourself to me and uncovering yourself to the idol?" For this Peor — this is its worship, that a man should uncover his lower part before it. And so our Rabbis of blessed memory said: One who uncovers himself to Peor — this is its worship; and likewise Mercury, that one throws a stone before it — this is its worship.