Sodomites, i.e. males, who prostituted their bodies to the filthy lusts of others; of whom See Poole "Deu_23:17"; who also did this in the worship and to the honour of their idols as also the women did, Num_25:1,2. And this might be one occasion of so great a spreading of idolatry among the lustful Israelites. And, on the other side, God doth frequently punish idolatry with corporeal uncleanness, Rom_1:21,28. See 1Ki_15:12 22:46 2Ki_23:7.