The Torah opens the scene quietly: 

 וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל
בַּשִּׁטִּים, 

וַיָּחֶל הָעָם לִזְנוֹת אֶל־בְּנוֹת מוֹאָב. 

— “And Yisrael dwelled in Shittim, and the people began to
stray after the daughters of Moav.” (בַּמִּדְבָּר כ״ה:א׳) 

One verse. 

No battle cries. 

Just the gentle pull of desire. Of loneliness. Of spiritual
disarmament.  

 Bilam, the wicked prophet, fails to curse Am Yisrael. But
before leaving, he whispers to Balak: 

 “אֱלֹקֵיהֶם
שֶׁל אֵלּוּ שׂוֹנֵא זִמָּה הוּא” 

— “Their G-d despises immorality.” (סנהדרין ק״ו) 

And with that advice, the Moabite plan begins. Royal
daughters of Midyan and Moav are sent to seduce the Israelites—not just with
beauty, but with hospitality, charm, and warmth. 

At first, they are selling textiles , and clothing - an old
woman at front.  

You want to see the better things - come to the back where there is a beautiful
young girl waiting she’s hospitable  

She offers wine. 

Then, herself . 

Then, a request: 

 “הִשְׁתַּחֲוֵה
לְפְעוֹר” 

— Bow to Pe’or. Just once. Just a formality. 

It wasn’t just זְנוּת. 

It was ideology cloaked in love. 

A theological ambush.