He said to destroy them. Rabbi Barachia in the name of Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Simon, gave a parable about a prosecutor who accused the king's son. The guard pushed him away and stood in his place, and the prosecutor saw him and left. Thus, but for Moses, his chosen one, this could have happened.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman gave a parable about a king who was angry with his son. He came to sign a document to give him power, and the guard snatched the document from his hand. This was to prevent his anger from causing harm. "And he lifted up his hand against them," said Rav Huna in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman, in the incident of Baal Peor, they were liable to be ruled by the kingdoms, as it says, "And he lifted up his hand against them."
Why did they attach themselves to Baal Peor? Because they rebelled against Him and spoke against Him. Rabbi Yudan swore in the name of Moses, as it says, "And Moses lifted up his hand," as it says, "And he lifted up his right and left hand to heaven" (Daniel 12:7). Rabbi Yudan, the son of Rabbi Yudan, said: "When one rebels against Him and speaks against Him, as it says, 'If a person swears to express with his lips.'" (Leviticus 5:4)....