Numbers 25:1,4-5 NASB
[1]While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. [4]The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel." [5]So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor."
Zimri an Israeli leader who probably had carried out the execution of the offenders brings in a Midiate woman in the sight of Moses in the aftermath of this incident.We are told he brought this woman "in the sight of Moses" which seemed somewhat confrontational not withstanding the execution that had just taken place.
Numbers 25:6 NASB
[6]Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
It seems strange for Zimri to have done this immediately after the execution of the offenders other than that to challenge Moses who happened to have married a Midianite (Exodus 2:16-21)
Could this incident be more deeper than a casual sexual encounter with a princess of the Midianites?
Could Zimri have been challenging Moses's leadership?