Numbers - Chapter 25

The Israelites are camped in an area where they start to establish a relationship with the local Canaanites.  The men have relationships with the Canaanite women.  The people join in the worship of the foreign idols.  And God is angry that his people are not keeping themselves separate - set apart for him.

"And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel."  He took her into his tent and lay down with her.  Then Phineas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and picked up a spear; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body.  And with this act God's anger was turned away and he gave Phineas a "covenant of peace".

This story is prophetic of Jesus who took on himself all the sinful acts of God's people - and when he was pierced with a spear on the cross God's punishment was turned away and the world could claim a "covenant of peace" through Jesus.