In Bamidbar 25:8, Pinchas follows the Israelite אֶל־הַקֻּבָּ֗ה. According to Rashi, a Kubah is a tent ( and the Rashbam sort of agrees, saying "inyan ohel" which Sefaria translates as "A kind of tent.")

As far as I can tell (from the Even Shoshan), this is the only instance where the word is used to refer to a tent of any sort. **Why would the text choose this word?**

Is there any real difference between an ohel and a kubah which would be vital to the story and what we learn?

The Hertz/Soncino has as an explanation that a kubah is "an inner chamber of a large vaulted tent" but provides no source, nor significance.

The Ibn Ezra seems to hint at a difference but I don't see any real explanation as to the nature of the difference and its importance here

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> כמו אל האהל וכן קרוב בלשון קדר ואם יש מעט הפרש בין צורת האהל והקבה
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Or is this simply a piece of word play, connecting קבה (tent) to קֳבָתָ֑הּ, belly/womb? The Ba'eir Heitev seems to say that when he writes "v'kubah melashon kavatah".

[The Ibn Ezra's first explanation, בקובה שהיתה שם עם אחי זמרי is that the second word, kavatah does NOT refer to the woman's organs but, again, to the tent.]

Is this word play an extension of the words used in 23:8, "מָ֣ה אֶקֹּ֔ב לֹ֥א קַבֹּ֖ה" with the similar root meaning to curse or damn?

Do the words indicate any significant interpretive distinction or is this simply a literary choice to echo other words?