Balaam's counsel seems to have been first given to Balak, king
   of Moab; but probably the Midianitish women, especially of the
   higher ranks, as Cozbi was, were the principal tempters; and
   the nation of Midian seems to have come into the execrable
   measure more generally and heartily than that of Moab:  they
   were therefore first selected to be made examples of, for a
   warning to the Moabites, who were spared at this time.

  31:2  Re 18:6