Why Zimri and Cozbi Are Named in the Torah

"And the name of the slain man of Israel who was struck, who was struck together with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu" (Numbers 25:14). And why was it necessary to mention his name, his family, and his greatness? To make known the praise and the lineage of Phinehas, for this one was greater than all of them and from his own tribe, and yet Phinehas gave himself over to death for the sanctification of the Name. Another interpretation: to make known that all those who died in the plague were only from the tribe of Simeon, and they died by means of the princes who sought to help him, to fulfill what is said: "And I will set My face against that man and against his family" (Leviticus 20:5). And why was he called Zimri? Because through him his tribe was cut down (nizmar), as it says, "the song of the tyrants" (zemir aritzim, Isaiah 25:5). "Son of Salu" — because through him his family was cast aside (silah), and he was a prince only over five fathers' houses that belonged to the tribe of Simeon. "And the name of the Midianite woman who was struck." And why did it mention her name, her family, and her father's house? To make known to you the hatred of the Midianites toward Israel, that they made a king's daughter ownerless in order to destroy a king in Israel. And why was she called Cozbi? Because she dealt falsely (kizzevah) with her father, for he had told her, "Listen only to Moses," yet she listened to Zimri. "Daughter of Zur" — he was one of the five kings of Midian, and the choicest of them all. "Head of the peoples of a father's house." This teaches you that, because he caused his daughter to rebel, Scripture diminished him and counted him third. For every other nation that comes to join with them, they accept it, and they take wives from them and give wives to them; but Israel is not so, for they unite only with the tribes. Therefore it says "head of the peoples of a father's house," for there was only one, and there were two other nations mingled among them. And concerning this it is said, "Harass the Midianites and smite them" (Numbers 25:17). He let Moab be and took up Midian, for two reasons: one, that they died in the plague only by means of the Midianite woman; and further, that Israel was not coming against them, and they could not harm Moab; and further, that Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, had already joined with Jethro, who was a Midianite, and they ought to have drawn love toward Israel. It was not enough for them that they did nothing, but they even plotted against them, so that they would worship Peor, and many and many of them were killed; and they also made a king's daughter ownerless, through whom the plague came upon Israel.