The first aliyah in this week's parsha begins by continuing that story, with G-d praising Pinchas. The Torah identifies the slain man as Zimri a prince of the Jews, and the slain woman as Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite king. Rashi points out the hatred of the Midianites toward the Jews: that they even offered their king's daughter for prostitution for the sake of causing the Jews to sin. G-d then commands the Jews to harass and smite the Midianites.
