Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Numbers » Chapter 31

Numbers 31:1-54 King James Version (KJV)

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.

4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.

5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.

8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.

10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.

11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.

12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.

13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.

14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.

15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.

20 And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood.

21 And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;

22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.

24 And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.

25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:

27 And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:

28 And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:

29 Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD.

30 And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.

31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.

32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,

33 And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,

34 And threescore and one thousand asses,

35 And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.

36 And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:

37 And the LORD's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.

38 And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and twelve.

39 And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and one.

40 And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was thirty and two persons.

41 And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD's heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,

43 (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

44 And thirty and six thousand beeves,

45 And thirty thousand asses and five hundred,

46 And sixteen thousand persons;)

47 Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

48 And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:

49 And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.

50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.

51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.

52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.

53 (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.


Numbers 31:1-54 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

2 Avenge H5358 H5360 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 of the Midianites: H4084 afterward H310 shalt thou be gathered H622 unto thy people. H5971

3 And Moses H4872 spake H1696 unto the people, H5971 saying, H559 Arm H2502 some H582 of yourselves unto the war, H6635 and let them go against the Midianites, H4080 and avenge H5414 H5360 the LORD H3068 of Midian. H4080

4 Of every tribe H4294 H4294 a thousand, H505 H505 throughout all the tribes H4294 of Israel, H3478 shall ye send H7971 to the war. H6635

5 So there were delivered H4560 out of the thousands H505 of Israel, H3478 a thousand H505 of every tribe, H4294 twelve H8147 H6240 thousand H505 armed H2502 for war. H6635

6 And Moses H4872 sent H7971 them to the war, H6635 a thousand H505 of every tribe, H4294 them and Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 to the war, H6635 with the holy H6944 instruments, H3627 and the trumpets H2689 to blow H8643 in his hand. H3027

7 And they warred H6633 against the Midianites, H4080 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses; H4872 and they slew H2026 all the males. H2145

8 And they slew H2026 the kings H4428 of Midian, H4080 beside H5921 the rest of them that were slain; H2491 namely, Evi, H189 and Rekem, H7552 and Zur, H6698 and Hur, H2354 and Reba, H7254 five H2568 kings H4428 of Midian: H4080 Balaam H1109 also the son H1121 of Beor H1160 they slew H2026 with the sword. H2719

9 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 took all the women H802 of Midian H4080 captives, H7617 and their little ones, H2945 and took the spoil H962 of all their cattle, H929 and all their flocks, H4735 and all their goods. H2428

10 And they burnt H8313 all their cities H5892 wherein they dwelt, H4186 and all their goodly castles, H2918 with fire. H784

11 And they took H3947 all the spoil, H7998 and all the prey, H4455 both of men H120 and of beasts. H929

12 And they brought H935 the captives, H7628 and the prey, H4455 and the spoil, H7998 unto Moses, H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and unto the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto the camp H4264 at the plains H6160 of Moab, H4124 which are by Jordan H3383 near Jericho. H3405

13 And Moses, H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and all the princes H5387 of the congregation, H5712 went forth H3318 to meet H7125 them without H2351 the camp. H4264

14 And Moses H4872 was wroth H7107 with the officers H6485 of the host, H2428 with the captains H8269 over thousands, H505 and captains H8269 over hundreds, H3967 which came H935 from H6635 the battle. H4421

15 And Moses H4872 said H559 unto them, Have ye saved H2421 all the women H5347 alive? H2421

16 Behold, these H2007 caused H1961 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 through the counsel H1697 of Balaam, H1109 to commit H4560 trespass H4604 against the LORD H3068 in the matter H1697 of Peor, H6465 and there was a plague H4046 among the congregation H5712 of the LORD. H3068

17 Now therefore kill H2026 every male H2145 among the little ones, H2945 and kill H2026 every woman H802 that hath known H3045 man H376 by lying H4904 with him. H2145

18 But all the women H802 children, H2945 that have not known H3045 a man H2145 by lying H4904 with him, keep alive H2421 for yourselves.

19 And do ye abide H2583 without H2351 the camp H4264 seven H7651 days: H3117 whosoever hath killed H2026 any person, H5315 and whosoever hath touched H5060 any slain, H2491 purify H2398 both yourselves and your captives H7628 on the third H7992 day, H3117 and on the seventh H7637 day. H3117

20 And purify H2398 all your raiment, H899 and all that is made H3627 of skins, H5785 and all work H4639 of goats' H5795 hair, and all things made H3627 of wood. H6086

21 And Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 said H559 unto the men H582 of war H6635 which went H935 to the battle, H4421 This is the ordinance H2708 of the law H8451 which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses; H4872

22 Only the gold, H2091 and the silver, H3701 the brass, H5178 the iron, H1270 the tin, H913 and the lead, H5777

23 Every thing H1697 that may abide H935 the fire, H784 ye shall make it go through H5674 the fire, H784 and it shall be clean: H2891 nevertheless it shall be purified H2398 with the water H4325 of separation: H5079 and all that abideth H935 not the fire H784 ye shall make go through H5674 the water. H4325

24 And ye shall wash H3526 your clothes H899 on the seventh H7637 day, H3117 and ye shall be clean, H2891 and afterward H310 ye shall come H935 into the camp. H4264

25 And the LORD H3068 spake H559 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

26 Take H5375 the sum H7218 of the prey H4455 that was taken, H7628 both of man H120 and of beast, H929 thou, and Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and the chief H7218 fathers H1 of the congregation: H5712

27 And divide H2673 the prey H4455 into two parts; H2673 between them that took H8610 the war H4421 upon them, who went out H3318 to battle, H6635 and between all the congregation: H5712

28 And levy H7311 a tribute H4371 unto the LORD H3068 of the men H582 of war H4421 which went out H3318 to battle: H6635 one H259 soul H5315 of five H2568 hundred, H3967 both of the persons, H120 and of the beeves, H1241 and of the asses, H2543 and of the sheep: H6629

29 Take H3947 it of their half, H4276 and give H5414 it unto Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 for an heave offering H8641 of the LORD. H3068

30 And of the children H1121 of Israel's H3478 half, H4276 thou shalt take H3947 one H259 portion H270 of fifty, H2572 of the persons, H120 of the beeves, H1241 of the asses, H2543 and of the flocks, H6629 of all manner of beasts, H929 and give H5414 them unto the Levites, H3881 which keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD. H3068

31 And Moses H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 did H6213 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

32 And the booty, H4455 being the rest H3499 of the prey H957 which the men of H5971 war H6635 had caught, H962 was six H8337 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and seventy H7657 thousand H505 and five H2568 thousand H505 sheep, H6629

33 And threescore and twelve H7657 H8147 thousand H505 beeves, H1241

34 And threescore H8346 and one H259 thousand H505 asses, H2543

35 And thirty H7970 and two H8147 thousand H505 persons H5315 H120 in all, H3605 of women H802 that had not known H3045 man H2145 by lying H4904 with him.

36 And the half, H4275 which was the portion H2506 of them that went out H3318 to war, H6635 was in number H4557 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and seven H7651 and thirty H7970 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 sheep: H6629

37 And the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 of the sheep H6629 was six H8337 hundred H3967 and threescore and fifteen. H7657 H2568

38 And the beeves H1241 were thirty H7970 and six H8337 thousand; H505 of which the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 was threescore and twelve. H7657 H8147

39 And the asses H2543 were thirty H7970 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred; H3967 of which the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 was threescore H8346 and one. H259

40 And the persons H120 H5315 were sixteen H8337 H6240 thousand; H505 of which the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 was thirty H7970 and two H8147 persons. H5315

41 And Moses H4872 gave H5414 the tribute, H4371 which was the LORD'S H3068 heave offering, H8641 unto Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

42 And of the children H1121 of Israel's H3478 half, H4276 which Moses H4872 divided H2673 from the men H582 that warred, H6633

43 (Now the half H4275 that pertained unto the congregation H5712 was three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and thirty H7970 thousand H505 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 sheep, H4480 H6629

44 And thirty H7970 and six H8337 thousand H505 beeves, H1241

45 And thirty H7970 thousand H505 asses H2543 and five H2568 hundred, H3967

46 And sixteen H8337 H6240 thousand H505 persons;) H5315 H120

47 Even of the children H1121 of Israel's H3478 half, H4276 Moses H4872 took H3947 one H259 portion H270 of fifty, H2572 both of man H120 and of beast, H929 and gave H5414 them unto the Levites, H3881 which kept H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD; H3068 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872

48 And the officers H6485 which were over thousands H505 of the host, H6635 the captains H8269 of thousands, H505 and captains H8269 of hundreds, H3967 came near H7126 unto Moses: H4872

49 And they said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Thy servants H5650 have taken H5375 the sum H7218 of the men H582 of war H4421 which are under our charge, H3027 and there lacketh H6485 not one man H376 of us.

50 We have therefore brought H7126 an oblation H7133 for the LORD, H3068 what every man H376 hath gotten, H4672 of jewels H3627 of gold, H2091 chains, H685 and bracelets, H6781 rings, H2885 earrings, H5694 and tablets, H3558 to make an atonement H3722 for our souls H5315 before H6440 the LORD. H3068

51 And Moses H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 took H3947 the gold H2091 of them, even all wrought H4639 jewels. H3627

52 And all the gold H2091 of the offering H8641 that they offered up H7311 to the LORD, H3068 of the captains H8269 of thousands, H505 and of the captains H8269 of hundreds, H3967 was sixteen H8337 H6240 thousand H505 seven H7651 hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 shekels. H8255

53 (For the men H582 of war H6635 had taken spoil, H962 every man H376 for himself.)

54 And Moses H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 took H3947 the gold H2091 of the captains H8269 of thousands H505 and of hundreds, H3967 and brought H935 it into the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 for a memorial H2146 for the children H1121 of Israel H3478 before H6440 the LORD. H3068


Numbers 31:1-54 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Jehovah's vengeance on Midian.

4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.

5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 And Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

7 And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male.

8 And they slew the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

9 And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.

10 And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.

11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast.

12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.

13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.

14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.

15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Jehovah.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

18 But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 And encamp ye without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, ye and your captives.

20 And as to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats' `hair', and all things made of wood, ye shall purify yourselves.

21 And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war that went to the battle, This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses:

22 howbeit the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make to go through the water.

24 And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean; and afterward ye shall come into the camp.

25 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers' `houses' of the congregation;

27 and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation.

28 And levy a tribute unto Jehovah of the men of war that went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, `both' of the persons, and of the oxen, and of the asses, and of the flocks:

29 take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for Jehovah's heave-offering.

30 And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, `even' of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.

31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Jehovah commanded Moses.

32 Now the prey, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,

33 and threescore and twelve thousand oxen,

34 and threescore and one thousand asses,

35 and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of the women that had not known man by lying with him.

36 And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep:

37 and Jehovah's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.

38 And the oxen were thirty and six thousand; of which Jehovah's tribute was threescore and twelve.

39 And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which Jehovah's tribute was threescore and one.

40 And the persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Jehovah's tribute was thirty and two persons.

41 And Moses gave the tribute, which was Jehovah's heave-offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as Jehovah commanded Moses.

42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided off from the men that warred,

43 (now the congregation's half was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand, seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

44 and thirty and six thousand oxen,

45 and thirty thousand and five hundred asses,

46 and sixteen thousand persons),

47 even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, that kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

48 And the officers that were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses;

49 and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war that are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.

50 And we have brought Jehovah's oblation, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Jehovah.

51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.

52 And all the gold of the heave-offering that they offered up to Jehovah, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.

53 (`For' the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before Jehovah.


Numbers 31:1-54 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

2 `Execute the vengeance of the sons of Israel against the Midianites -- afterwards thou art gathered unto thy people.'

3 And Moses speaketh unto the people, saying, `Be ye armed some of you for the host, and they are against Midian, to put the vengeance of Jehovah on Midian;

4 a thousand for a tribe -- a thousand for a tribe, to all the tribes of Israel -- ye do send to the host.'

5 And there are given out of the thousands of Israel a thousand for a tribe, twelve thousand armed ones of the host;

6 and Moses sendeth them, a thousand for a tribe, to the host, them and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, to the host; and the holy vessels, and the trumpets of the shouting, in his hand.

7 And they war against Midian, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses, and slay every male;

8 and the kings of Midian they have slain, besides their pierced ones, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian; and Balaam son of Beor, they have slain with the sword.

9 And the sons of Israel take captive the women of Midian, and their infants; and all their cattle, and all their substance, and all their wealth they have plundered;

10 and all their cities, with their habitations, and all their towers, they have burnt with fire.

11 And they take all the spoil, and all the prey, among man and among beast;

12 and they bring in, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the priest, and unto the company of the sons of Israel, the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto the camp, unto the plains of Moab, which `are' by Jordan, `near' Jericho.

13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the company, go out to meet them, unto the outside of the camp,

14 and Moses is wroth against the inspectors of the force, chiefs of the thousands, and chiefs of the hundreds, who are coming in from the host of the battle.

15 And Moses saith unto them, `Have ye kept alive every female?

16 lo, they -- they have been to the sons of Israel, through the word of Balaam, to cause a trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and the plague is in the company of Jehovah.

17 `And now, slay ye every male among the infants, yea, every woman known of man by the lying of a male ye have slain;

18 and all the infants among the women, who have not known the lying of a male, ye have kept alive for yourselves.

19 `And ye, encamp ye at the outside of the camp seven days -- any who hath slain a person, and any who hath come against a pierced one, ye cleanse yourselves on the third day, and on the seventh day -- ye and your captives;

20 and every garment, and every skin vessel, and every work of goats' `hair', and every wooden vessel, ye yourselves cleanse.'

21 And Eleazar the priest saith unto the men of the host who go in to battle, `This `is' the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses:

22 only, the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 every thing which may go into fire, ye cause to pass over through fire, and it hath been clean; only, with the water of separation it is cleansed, and all that may not go into fire, ye cause to pass over through water;

24 and ye have washed your garments on the seventh day, and have been clean, and afterwards ye come in unto the camp.'

25 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

26 `Take up the sum of the prey of the captives, among man and among beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers of the company;

27 and thou hast halved the prey between those handling the battle who go out to the host and all the company;

28 and thou hast raised a tribute to Jehovah from the men of war, who go out to the host, one body out of five hundred, of man, and of the herd, and of the asses, and of the flock;

29 from their half ye do take, and thou hast given to Eleazar the priest -- the heave-offering of Jehovah.

30 `And from the sons of Israel's half thou dost take one possession out of fifty, of man, of the herd, of the asses, and of the flock, of all the cattle, and thou hast given them to the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.'

31 And Moses doth -- Eleazar the priest also -- as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

32 And the prey, the residue of the spoil which the people of the host have spoiled, is of the flock six hundred thousand, and seventy thousand, and five thousand;

33 and of the herd two and seventy thousand;

34 and of asses one and sixty thousand;

35 and of human beings -- of the women who have not known the lying of a male -- all the persons `are' two and thirty thousand.

36 And the half -- the portion of those who go out into the host -- the number of the flock is three hundred thousand, and thirty thousand, and seven thousand and five hundred.

37 And the tribute to Jehovah of the sheep is six hundred five and seventy;

38 and the herd `is' six and thirty thousand, and their tribute to Jehovah `is' two and seventy;

39 and the asses `are' thirty thousand and five hundred, and their tribute to Jehovah `is' one and sixty;

40 and the human beings `are' sixteen thousand, and their tribute to Jehovah `is' two and thirty persons.

41 And Moses giveth the tribute -- Jehovah's heave-offering -- to Eleazar the priest, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

42 And of the sons of Israel's half, which Moses halved from the men who war --

43 and the company's half is, of the flock three hundred thousand, and thirty thousand, seven thousand and five hundred;

44 and of the herd six and thirty thousand;

45 and of asses thirty thousand and five hundred;

46 and of human beings sixteen thousand --

47 Moses taketh from the sons of Israel's half the one possession from the fifty, of man and of beast, and giveth them to the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

48 And the inspectors whom the thousands of the host hath, (heads of the thousands and heads of the hundreds), draw near unto Moses,

49 and they say unto Moses, `Thy servants have taken up the sum of the men of war who `are' with us, and not a man of us hath been missed;

50 and we bring near Jehovah's offering, each that which he hath found, vessels of gold -- chain, and bracelet, seal-ring, `ear'-ring, and bead -- to make atonement for ourselves before Jehovah.'

51 And Moses receiveth -- Eleazar the priest also -- the gold from them, every made vessel,

52 and all the gold of the heave-offering which they have lifted up to Jehovah is sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels, from heads of the thousands, and from heads of the hundreds;

53 (the men of the host have spoiled each for himself);

54 and Moses taketh -- Eleazar the priest also -- the gold from the heads of the thousands and of the hundreds, and they bring it in unto the tent of meeting -- a memorial for the sons of Israel before Jehovah.


Numbers 31:1-54 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Avenge the children of Israel upon the Midianites; afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy peoples.

3 And Moses spoke to the people, saying, Arm from amongst you men for military service, that they go against Midian to execute Jehovah's vengeance upon Midian.

4 Of every tribe a thousand, of all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.

5 And there were levied out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand by tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand by the tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, and the holy instruments, even the alarm-trumpets in his hand.

7 And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah had commanded Moses, and slew all the males.

8 And they slew the kings of Midian, besides the others slain, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian; and Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

9 And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took for a spoil all their cattle and all their flocks and all their goods;

10 and all their cities in their settlements and all their encampments they burned with fire.

11 And they took all the booty, and all the prey, of man and of cattle;

12 and they brought to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the assembly of the children of Israel, the captives and the prey and the booty, to the camp in the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan of Jericho.

13 And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the princes of the assembly went forth to meet them outside the camp.

14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the army, with the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war;

15 and Moses said to them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

16 Lo, these, through the counsel of Balaam, caused the children of Israel to commit sin against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague on the assembly of Jehovah.

17 And now slay every male among the little ones, and slay every woman that hath known man by lying with him,

18 but all the children among the women that have not known lying with a man, keep alive for yourselves.

19 And encamp outside the camp seven days; whoever hath killed a person, and whoever hath touched any slain; ye shall purify yourselves on the third day, and on the seventh day, you and your captives.

20 And every garment, and every vessel of skin, and all work of goat's hair, and every utensil of wood shall ye purify.

21 And Eleazar the priest said to the men of war that had gone to the battle, This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses.

22 Only the gold, and the silver, the copper, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 everything that passeth through the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean; only it shall be purified with the water of separation; and everything that cannot pass through the fire ye shall make go through the water.

24 And ye shall wash your garments on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean; and afterwards ye may come into the camp.

25 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, of man and of cattle, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the assembly;

27 and divide the prey into halves, between them that conducted the war, who went out to the battle, and the whole assembly.

28 And thou shalt levy a tribute for Jehovah of the men of war who went out to the army, one soul of five hundred of the persons, and of the oxen, and of the asses, and of the small cattle.

29 Of their half shall ye take it, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for a heave-offering of Jehovah.

30 And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the small cattle, of every [kind of] beasts, and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, who keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.

31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

32 And the prey, the rest of the spoil, which the men of war had taken, was six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep,

33 and seventy-two thousand oxen,

34 and sixty-one thousand asses,

35 and of human persons, of the women that had not known lying with a man, all the persons were thirty-two thousand.

36 And the half, the portion of them that had gone out to the war, was in number three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,

37 and the tribute for Jehovah of the sheep was six hundred and seventy-five;

38 and the oxen were thirty-six thousand, and the tribute thereof for Jehovah, seventy-two;

39 and the asses were thirty thousand five hundred, and the tribute thereof for Jehovah, sixty-one;

40 and the human persons were sixteen thousand, of whom the tribute for Jehovah was thirty-two persons.

41 And Moses gave the tribute of Jehovah's heave-offering to Eleazar the priest, as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses had divided, [taking it] from the men that served in the war,

43 (now the half belonging to the assembly was of the sheep, three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred,

44 and thirty-six thousand oxen,

45 and thirty thousand five hundred asses,

46 and sixteen thousand human persons,)

47 ... of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, of man and of cattle, and gave them to the Levites who kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.

48 And the officers who were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses,

49 and they said to Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war who were under our hand, and there is not one man of us lacking.

50 So we present the offering of Jehovah, that which each one hath found, jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Jehovah.

51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, all manner of wrought jewels.

52 And all the gold of the heave-offering that they offered to Jehovah was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels, from the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds.

53 (The men of war had taken spoil each one for himself.)

54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, as a memorial for the children of Israel before Jehovah.


Numbers 31:1-54 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward you shall be gathered to your people.

3 Moses spoke to the people, saying, Arm you men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Yahweh's vengeance on Midian.

4 Of every tribe one thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall you send to the war.

5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

7 They warred against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses; and they killed every male.

8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they killed with the sword.

9 The children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.

10 All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.

11 They took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of animal.

12 They brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.

13 Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them outside of the camp.

14 Moses was angry with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.

15 Moses said to them, Have you saved all the women alive?

16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

18 But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 Encamp you outside of the camp seven days: whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives.

20 As to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats' [hair], and all things made of wood, you shall purify yourselves.

21 Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded Moses:

22 however the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 everything that may abide the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that doesn't withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water.

24 You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean; and afterward you shall come into the camp.

25 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers' [houses] of the congregation;

27 and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

28 Levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, [both] of the persons, and of the oxen, and of the donkeys, and of the flocks:

29 take it of their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh's heave-offering.

30 Of the children of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, [even] of all the cattle, and give them to the Levites, who keep the charge of the tent of Yahweh.

31 Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses.

32 Now the prey, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,

33 and seventy-two thousand oxen,

34 and seventy-one thousand donkeys,

35 and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him.

36 The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep:

37 and Yahweh's tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five.

38 The oxen were thirty-six thousand; of which Yahweh's tribute was seventy-two.

39 The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred; of which Yahweh's tribute was sixty-one.

40 The persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Yahweh's tribute was thirty-two persons.

41 Moses gave the tribute, which was Yahweh's heave-offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

42 Of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided off from the men who warred

43 (now the congregation's half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,

44 and thirty-six thousand oxen,

45 and thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,

46 and sixteen thousand persons),

47 even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who kept the charge of the tent of Yahweh; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

48 The officers who were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;

49 and they said to Moses, Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our charge, and there lacks not one man of us.

50 We have brought Yahweh's offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh.

51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all worked jewels.

52 All the gold of the heave-offering that they offered up to Yahweh, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.

53 ([For] the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

54 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh.


Numbers 31:1-54 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Then the Lord said to Moses,

2 Give the Midianites punishment for the wrong they did to the children of Israel: and after that you will go to rest with your people.

3 So Moses said to the people, Let men from among you be armed for war to put into effect against Midian the Lord's punishment on them.

4 From every tribe of Israel send a thousand to the war.

5 So from the thousands of Israel a thousand were taken from every tribe, twelve thousand men armed for war.

6 And Moses sent them out to war, a thousand from every tribe, and with them Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, taking in his hands the vessels of the holy place and the horns for sounding the note of war.

7 And they made war on Midian, as the Lord gave orders to Moses; and they put to death every male.

8 They put the kings of Midian to death with the rest, Evi and Reken and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian: and Balaam, the son of Beor, they put to death with the sword.

9 The women of Midian with their little ones the children of Israel took prisoner; and all their cattle and flocks and all their goods they took for themselves;

10 And after burning all their towns and all their tent-circles,

11 They went away with the goods they had taken, man and beast.

12 And the prisoners and the goods and everything they had taken, they took to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the people of Israel, to the tent-circle in the lowlands of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

13 Then Moses and Eleazar the priest and the chiefs of the people went out to them before they had come into the tent-circle.

14 And Moses was angry with the chiefs of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds who had come back from the war.

15 And Moses said to them, Why have you kept all the women safe?

16 It was these who, moved by Balaam, were the cause of Israel's sin against the Lord in the question of Peor, because of which disease came on the people of the Lord.

17 So now put every male child to death, and every woman who has had sex relations with a man.

18 But all the female children who have had no sex relations with men, you may keep for yourselves.

19 You yourselves will have to keep outside the tent-circle for seven days, anyone of you who has put any person to death or come near a dead body; and on the third day and on the seventh day make yourselves and your prisoners clean.

20 And every bit of clothing, and anything made of leather or goats' hair or wood, you are to make clean.

21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had been to the fight, This is the rule of the law which the Lord has given to Moses:

22 But gold and silver and brass and iron and tin and lead,

23 And anything which may be heated, is to go through the fire and be made clean; but in addition it is to be put in the water of cleaning: and anything which may not go through the fire is to be put in the water.

24 And on the seventh day, after washing your clothing, you will be clean, and then you may come into the tent-circle.

25 And the Lord said to Moses,

26 Get an account of everything which was taken in the war, of man and of beast, you and Eleazar the priest and the heads of families of the people:

27 And let division be made of it into two parts, one for the men of war who went out to the fight, and one for all the people:

28 And from the men of war who went out let there be offered to the Lord one out of every five hundred, from the persons, and from the oxen and asses and sheep:

29 Take this from their part and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to be lifted up to the Lord.

30 And from the part given to the children of Israel, take one out of every fifty, from the persons, and from the oxen and asses and sheep, and give it to the Levites who have the care of the House of the Lord.

31 So Eleazar and Moses did as the Lord had given orders to Moses.

32 Now the beasts taken, in addition to what the fighting-men took for themselves, were six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep,

33 And seventy-two thousand oxen,

34 And sixty-one thousand asses;

35 And thirty-two thousand persons, that is, women who had never had sex relations with a man.

36 And the half given as their part to the men who went to the war, was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand, five hundred sheep,

37 Of which the Lord's part was six hundred and seventy-five.

38 The number of oxen was thirty-six thousand, of which the Lord's part was seventy-two;

39 The number of asses was thirty thousand, five hundred, of which the Lord's part was sixty-one.

40 And the number of persons was sixteen thousand, of which the Lord's part was thirty-two persons.

41 And Moses gave the Lord's part, lifted up as an offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord had given orders to Moses.

42 And from the half given to the children of Israel, which Moses had kept separate from that given to the fighting-men,

43 (Now the people's half was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand, five hundred sheep,

44 And thirty-six thousand oxen,

45 And thirty thousand, five hundred asses,

46 And sixteen thousand persons;)

47 Even from the children of Israel's half, Moses took one out of every fifty, men and beasts, and gave them to the Levites who had the care of the House of the Lord; as the Lord gave orders to Moses.

48 Then the men in authority over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came to Moses,

49 And said to him, Your servants have taken note of the number of all the fighting-men under our orders, and every one is present;

50 And we have here an offering for the Lord from what every man took in the war, ornaments of gold, leg-chains and arm-rings, finger-rings, ear-rings, and neck-ornaments, to make our souls free from sin before the Lord.

51 So Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, even all the worked ornaments.

52 And the gold which the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds gave, as an offering to be lifted up before the Lord, came to sixteen thousand, seven hundred and fifty shekels.

53 (For every man of the army had taken goods for himself in the war.)

54 Then Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold given by the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, and took it into the Tent of meeting, to be a sign in memory of the children of Israel before the Lord.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 31

Commentary on Numbers 31 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 31

This chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of the Lord,' in which it is probable it was inserted. It is the history of a holy war, a war with Midian. Here is,

  • I. A divine command for the war (v. 1, 2).
  • II. The undertaking of the war (v. 3-6).
  • III. The glorious success of it (v. 7-12).
  • IV. Their triumphant return from the war.
    • 1. The respect Moses paid to the soldiers (v. 13).
    • 2. The rebuke he gave them for sparing the women (v. 14-18).
    • 3. The directions he gave them for the purifying of themselves and their effects (v. 19-24).
    • 4. The distribution of the spoil they had taken, one half to the soldiers, the other to the congregation, and a tribute to the Lord out of each (v. 25-47).
    • 5. The free-will offering of the officers (v. 48, etc.).

Num 31:1-6

Here,

  • I. The Lord of hosts gives orders to Moses to make war upon the Midianites, and his commission no doubt justified this war, though it will not serve to justify the like without such commission. The Midianites were the posterity of Abraham by Ketuarah, Gen. 25:2. Some of them settled south of Canaan, among whom Jethro lived, and they retained the worship of the true God; but these were settled east of Canaan, and had fallen into idolatry, neighbours to, and in confederacy with, the Moabites. Their land was not designed to be given to Israel, nor would Israel have meddled with them if they had not made themselves obnoxious to their resentment by sending their bad women among them to draw them to whoredom and idolatry. This was the provocation, this was the quarrel. For this (says God) avenge Israel of the Midianites, v. 2.
    • 1. God would have the Midianites chastised, an inroad made upon that part of their country which lay next to the camp of Israel, and which was probably more concerned in that mischief than the Moabites, who therefore were let alone. God will have us to reckon those our worst enemies that draw us to sin, and to avoid them; and since every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lusts, and these are the Midianites which ensnare us with their wiles, on them we should avenge ourselves, not only make no league with them, but make war upon them by living a life of mortification. God had taken vengeance on his own people for yielding to the Midianites' temptations; now the Midianites, that gave the temptation, must be reckoned with, for the deceived and the deceiver are his (Job 12:16), both accountable to his tribunal; and, though judgment begin at the house of God, it shall not end there, 1 Pt. 4:17. There is a day coming when vengeance will be taken on those that have introduced errors and corruptions into the church, and the devil that deceived men will be cast into the lake of fire. Israel's quarrel with Amalek, that fought against them, was not avenged till long after: but their quarrel with Midian, that debauched them, was speedily avenged, for they were looked upon as much more the dangerous and malicious enemies.
    • 2. God would have it done by Moses, in his life-time, that he who had so deeply resented that injury might have the satisfaction of seeing it avenged. "See this execution done upon the enemies of God and Israel, and afterwards thou shalt be gathered to thy people.' This was the only piece of service of this kind that Moses must further do, and then he has accomplished, as a hireling, his day, and shall have his quietus-enter into rest: hitherto his usefulness must come, and no further; the wars of Canaan must be carried on by another hand. Note, God sometimes removes useful men when we think they can be ill spared; but this ought to satisfy us, that they are never removed till they have done the work which was appointed them.
  • II. Moses gives orders to the people to prepare for this expedition, v. 3. He would not have the whole body of the camp to stir, but they must arm some of themselves to the war, such as were either most fit or most forward, and avenge the Lord of Midian. God said, Avenge Israel; Moses says, Avenge the Lord; for the interests of God and Israel are united, and the cause of both is one and the same. And if God, in what he does, shows himself jealous for the honour of Israel, surely Israel, in what they do, ought to show themselves jealous for the glory of God. Then only we can justify the avenging of ourselves when it is the vengeance of the Lord that we engage in. Nay, for this reason we are forbidden to avenge ourselves, because God has said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay.
  • III. A detachment is drawn out accordingly for this service, 1000 out of every tribe, 12,000 in all, a small number in comparison with what they could have sent, and it is probable small in comparison with the number of the enemies they were sent against. But God would teach them that it is all one to him to save by many or by few, 1 Sa. 14:6.
  • IV. Phinehas the son of Eleazar is sent along with them. It is strange that no mention is made of Joshua in this great action. If he was general of these forces, why do we not find him leading them out? If he tarried at home, why do we not find him meeting them with Moses at their return? It is probable, each tribe having a captain of its own thousand, there was no general, but they proceeded in the order of their march through the wilderness, Judah first, and the rest in their posts, under the command of their respective captains, spoken of v. 48. But, the war being a holy war, Phinehas was their common head, not to supply the place of a general, but, by the oracle of God, to determine the resolves of their counsels of war, in which the captains of thousands would all acquiesce, and according to which they would act in conjunction. He therefore took with him the holy instruments or vessels, probably the breast-plate of judgment, by which God might he consulted in any emergency. Though he was not yet the high priest, yet he might be delegated pro hac vice-for this particular occasion, to bear the urim and thummim, as 1 Sa. 23:6. And there was a particular reason for sending Phinehas to preside in this expedition; he has already signalized himself for his zeal against the Midianites and their cursed arts to ensnare Israel when he slew Cozbi, a daughter of a chief house in Midian, for her impudence in the matter of Peor, ch. 25:15. He that had so well used the sword of justice against a particular criminal was best qualified to guide the sword of war against the whole nation. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.

Num 31:7-12

Here is,

  • 1. The descent which this little army of Israelites made, under the divine commission, conduct, and command, upon the country of Midian. They warred against the Midianites. It is very probable that they first published their manifesto, showing the reasons of the war, and requiring them to give up the ringleaders of the mischief to justice; for such afterwards was the law (Deu. 20:10), and such the practice, Jdg. 20:12, 13. But the Midianites justifying what they had done, and standing by those that had done it, the Israelites attacked them with fire and sword, and all the pious fury with which their zeal for God and their people inspired them.
  • 2. The execution (the military execution) they did in this descent.
    • (1.) They slew all the males (v. 7), that is, all they met with as far as they went; they put them all to the sword, and gave no quarter. But that they did not slay all the males of the nation is certain, for we find the Midianites a powerful and formidable enemy to Israel in the days of Gideon; and they were the Midianites of this country, for they are reckoned with the children of the east, Jdg. 6:3.
    • (2.) They slew the kings of Midian the same that are called elders of Midian (ch. 22:4), and the dukes of Sihon, Jos. 13:21. Five of these princes are here named, one of whom is Zur, probably the same Zur whose daughter Cosbi was, ch. 25:15.
    • (3.) They slew Balaam. Many conjectures there are as to what brought Balaam among the Midianites at this time; it is probable that the Midianites, having intelligence of the march of this army of Israelites against them, hired Balaam to come and assist them with his enchantments, that if he could not prevail to act offensively in their favour, by cursing the armies of Israel, yet he might act defensively, by blessing the country of Midian. Whatever was the occasion of his being there, God's overruling providence brought him thither, and there his just vengeance found him. Had he himself believed what he said of the happy state of Israel, he would not have herded thus with the enemies of Israel; but justly does he die the death of the wicked (though he pretended to desire that of the righteous), and go down slain to the pit with the uncircumcised, who rebelled thus against the convictions of his own conscience. The Midianites' wiles were Balaam's projects, it was therefore just that he should perish with them, Hos. 4:5. Now was his folly made manifest to all men, who foretold the fate of others, but foresaw not his own.
    • (4.) They took all the women and children captives, v. 9.
    • (5.) They burnt their cities and goodly castles (v. 10), not designing to inhabit them themselves (that country was out of their line), but they thus prevented those who had made their escape from sheltering themselves in their own country and settling there again. Some understand it of their idol-temples; it was fit that they should share in this vengeance.
    • (6.) They plundered the country, and carried off all the cattle and valuable goods, and so returned to the camp of Israel laden with a very rich booty, v. 9, 11, 12. Thus (as when they came out of Egypt) they were enriched with the spoils of their enemies, and furnished with stock for the good land into which God was bringing them.

Num 31:13-24

We have here the triumphant return of the army of Israel from the war with Midian, and here,

  • I. They were met with great respect, v. 13. Moses himself, notwithstanding his age and gravity, walked out of the camp to congratulate them on their victory, and to grace the solemnity of their triumphs. Public successes should be publicly acknowledged, to the glory of God, and the encouragement of those that have jeoparded their lives in their country's cause.
  • II. They were severely reproved for saving the women alive. It is very probable that Moses had commanded them to kill the women, at least this was implied in the general order to avenge Israel of the Midianites; the execution having reference to that crime, their drawing them in to the worship of Peor, it was easy to conclude that the women, who were the principal criminals, must not be spared. What! says Moses, have you saved the women alive? v. 15. He was moved with a holy indignation at the sight of them. These were those that caused the children of Israel to commit this trespass; and therefore,
    • 1. It is just that they should die. The law in case of whoredom was, The adulterer and adulteress should surely be put to death. God had put to death the adulterers of Israel by the plague, and now it was fit that the adulteresses of Midian, especially since they had been the tempters, should be put to death by the sword.
    • 2. "It is dangerous to let them live; they will be still tempting the Israelites to uncleanness, and so your captives will be your conquerors and a second time your destroyers.' Severe orders are therefore given that all the grown women should be slain in cold blood, and only the female children spared.
  • III. They were obliged to purify themselves, according to the ceremony of the law, and to abide without the camp seven days, till their purification was accomplished. For,
    • 1. They had imbrued their hands in blood, by which though they had not contracted any moral guilt, the war being just and lawful, yet they were brought under a ceremonial uncleanness, which rendered them unfit to come near the tabernacle till they were purified. Thus God would preserve in their minds a dread and detestation of murder. David must not build the temple because he had been a man of war, and had shed blood, 1 Chr. 28:3.
    • 2. They could not but have touched dead bodies, by which they were polluted, and that required they should be purified with the water of separation, v. 19, 20, 24.
  • IV. They must likewise purify the spoil they had taken, the captives (v. 19) and all the goods, v. 21-23. What would bear the fire must pass through the fire, and what would not must be washed with water. These things had been use by Midianites, and, having now come into the possession of Israelites, it was fit that they should be sanctified to the service of that holy nation and the honour of their holy God. To us now every thing is sanctified by the word and prayer, if we are sanctified by the Spirit, who is compared both to fire and water. To the pure all things are pure.

Num 31:25-47

We have here the distribution of the spoil which was taken in this expedition against Midian. God himself directed how it should be distributed, and Moses and Eleazar did according to the directions, and thus unhappy contests among themselves were prevented and the victory was made to turn to the common benefit. It was fit that he who gave them the prey should order the disposal of it. All we have is from God, and therefore must be subject to his will.

  • I. The prey is ordered to be divided into two parts, one for the 12,000 men that undertook the war, and the other for the congregation. The prey that was divided seems to have been only the captives and the cattle; as for the plate, and jewels, and other goods, every man kept what he took, as is intimated, v. 50-53. That only was distributed which would be of use for the stocking of that good land into which they were going. Now observe,
    • 1. That the one half of the prey was given to the whole congregation, Moses allotting to each tribe its share, and then leaving it to the heads of the tribes to divide their respective shares among themselves, according to their families. The war was undertaken on the behalf of the whole congregation; they would all have been ready to go to the help of the Lord against the mighty, if they had been so ordered, and they did help, it is likely, by their prayers; and therefore God appoints that those that tarried at home should divide the spoil, Ps. 68:12. David, in his time, made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel, that, as his part is that goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff, 1 Sa. 30:24, 25. Those that are employed in public trusts must not think to benefit themselves only by their toils and hazards, but must aim at the advantage of the community.
    • 2. That yet the 12,000 that went to the battle had as much for their share as the whole congregation (which were fifty times as many) had for theirs; so that the particular persons of the soldiery had a much better share than any of their brethren that tarried at home: and good reason they should. The greater pains we take, and the greater hazards we run, in the service of God and our generation, the greater will our recompence be at last; for God is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love.
  • II. God was to have a tribute out of it, as an acknowledgment of his sovereignty over them in general, and that he was their king to whom tribute was due, and particularly of his interest in this war and the gains of it, he having given them their success; and that the priests, the Lord's receivers, might have something added to the provision made for their maintenance. Note, Whatever we have, God must have his dues out of it. And here (as before) the soldiers are favoured above the rest of the congregation, for out of the people's share God required one in fifty, but out of the soldier's share only one in 500, because the people got theirs easily, without any peril or fatigue. The less opportunity we have of honouring God with our personal services the more it is expected we should honour him with our substance. The tribute out of the soldiers' half was given to the priests (v. 29), that out of the people's half was given to the Levites, v. 30. For the priests were taken from among the Levites, as these soldiers from among the people, for special and hazardous service, and their pay was proportioned accordingly.

Num 31:48-54

Here is a great example of piety and devotion in the officers of the army, the colonels, that are called captains of thousands, and the inferior officers that were captains of hundreds; they came to Moses as their general and commander-in-chief, and, though he was now going off the stage they very humbly and respectfully addressed themselves to him, calling themselves his servants; the honours they had won did not puff them up, so as to make them forget their duty to him. Observe in their address to them,

  • 1. The pious notice they take of God's wonderful goodness to them in this late expedition, in preserving not only their own lives, but the lives of all the men of war that they had under their charge; so that, upon the review of their muster-roll, it appeared there was not one missing, v. 49. This was very extraordinary, and perhaps cannot be paralleled in any history. So many thousands of lives jeoparded in the high places of the field, and not one lost, either by the sword of the enemy or by any disease or disaster. This was the Lord's doing, and cannot but be marvellous in the eyes of those that consider how the lives of all men, especially soldiers, are continually in their hands. It is an evidence of the tender feeling which these commanders had for their soldiers, and that their lives were very precious to them, that they looked upon it as a mercy to themselves that none of those under their charge miscarried. Of all that were given them they had lost none; so precious also is the blood of Christ's subjects and soldiers to him, Ps. 72:14.
  • 2. The pious acknowledgment they make for this favour: Therefore we have brought an oblation to the Lord, v. 50. The oblation they brought was out of that which every man had gotten, and it was gotten honestly by a divine warrant. Thus every man should lay by according as God has prospered him, 1 Co. 16:2. For where God sows plentifully in the gifts of his bounty he expects to reap accordingly in the fruits of our piety and charity. The tabernacle first, and the temple afterwards, were beautified and enriched with the spoils taken from the enemies of Israel; as by David (2 Sa. 8:11, 12), and his captains, 1 Chr. 26:26, 27. We should never take any thing to ourselves, in war or trade, which we cannot in faith consecrate a part of to God, who hates robbery for burnt-offerings; but, when God has remarkably preserved and prospered us, he expects that we should make some particular return of gratitude to him. As to this oblation,
    • (1.) The captains offered it to make an atonement for their souls, v. 50. Instead of coming to Moses to demand a recompence for the good service they had done in avenging the Lord of Midian, or to set up trophies of their victory for the immortalizing of their own names, they bring an oblation to make atonement for their souls, being conscious to themselves, as the best men must be even in their best services, that they had been defective in their duty, not only in that instance for which they were reproved (v. 14), but in many others; for there is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.
    • (2.) Moses accepted it, and laid it up in the tabernacle as a memorial for the children of Israel (v. 54), that is, a monument of God's goodness to them, that they might be encouraged to trust in him in their further wars, and a monument of their gratitude to God (sacrifices are said to be memorials), that he, being well pleased with this thankful acknowledgment of favours bestowed, might continue and repeat his mercies to them.