AUV(i)
5 However, God was not pleased with the vast majority of them, for their bodies were scattered over the desert [See Num. 14:29ff].
6 Now these events were examples for us, so that we should not have strong desires for evil things like they did.
7 [So], do not worship idols as some of them did, as it is written [Ex. 32:6], “The people sat down to feast and drink, then got up and played.” [Note: This refers to the Israelites engaging in an orgy of dancing and sex. See Ex. 32:17-19].
8 Neither should we commit sexual immorality as some of them did, [with] 23,000 people falling dead in one day. [Note: Num. 25:9 mentions 24,000 people slain, but that number could have included the additional people slain by the judges. See Num. 25:5].
9 Neither should we put the Lord to a test as some of them did, and were killed by snake bites [See Num. 21:5ff].
10 Neither should you people complain as some of them did and were killed by the destroying angel [See Ex. 12:23?].
11 Now these events happened to those people as examples [to us], and they were written as warnings to us, to whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. [Note: This refers to past ages concluding with the coming of Christ in that day].
12 So, the person who thinks he is standing firm [in the faith] should pay attention [to his life], so that he does not fall [away from God].