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
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 31
Commentary on Numbers 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 31
Nu 31:1-54. The Midianites Spoiled and Balaam Slain.
1, 2. the Lord spake unto Moses, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites—a semi-nomad people, descended from Abraham and Keturah, occupying a tract of country east and southeast of Moab, which lay on the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. They seem to have been the principal instigators of the infamous scheme of seduction, planned to entrap the Israelites into the double crime of idolatry and licentiousness [Nu 25:1-3, 17, 18] by which, it was hoped, the Lord would withdraw from that people the benefit of His protection and favor. Moreover, the Midianites had rendered themselves particularly obnoxious by entering into a hostile league with the Amorites (Jos 13:21). The Moabites were at this time spared in consideration of Lot (De 2:9) and because the measure of their iniquities was not yet full. God spoke of avenging "the children of Israel" [Nu 31:2]; Moses spoke of avenging the Lord [Nu 31:3], as dishonor had been done to God and an injury inflicted on His people. The interests were identical. God and His people have the same cause, the same friends, and the same assailants. This, in fact, was a religious war, undertaken by the express command of God against idolaters, who had seduced the Israelites to practise their abominations.
3. Arm some of yourselves—This order was issued but a short time before the death of Moses. The announcement to him of that approaching event [Nu 31:2] seems to have accelerated, rather than retarded, his warlike preparations.
5. there were delivered—that is, drafted, chosen, an equal amount from each tribe, to prevent the outbreak of mutual jealousy or strife. Considering the numerical force of the enemy, this was a small quota to furnish. But the design was to exercise their faith and animate them to the approaching invasion of Canaan.
6. Moses sent … Eleazar the priest, to the war—Although it is not expressly mentioned, it is highly probable that Joshua was the general who conducted this war. The presence of the priest, who was always with the army (De 20:2), was necessary to preside over the Levites, who accompanied the expedition, and to inflame the courage of the combatants by his sacred services and counsels.
holy instruments—As neither the ark nor the Urim and Thummim were carried to the battlefield till a later period in the history of Israel, the "holy instruments" must mean the "trumpets" (Nu 10:9). And this view is agreeable to the text, by simply changing "and" into "even," as the Hebrew particle is frequently rendered.
7. they slew all the males—This was in accordance with a divine order in all such cases (De 20:13). But the destruction appears to have been only partial—limited to those who were in the neighborhood of the Hebrew camp and who had been accomplices in the villainous plot of Baal-peor (Nu 25:1-3), while a large portion of the Midianites were absent on their pastoral wanderings or had saved themselves by flight. (Compare Jud 6:1).
8. the kings of Midian—so called, because each was possessed of absolute power within his own city or district; called also dukes or princes of Sihon (Jos 13:21), having been probably subject to that Amorite ruler, as it is not uncommon in the East to find a number of governors or pachas tributary to one great king.
Zur—father of Cozbi (Nu 25:15).
Balaam also … they slew with the sword—This unprincipled man, on his dismissal from Balak, set out for his home in Mesopotamia (Nu 24:25). But, either diverging from his way to tamper with the Midianites, he remained among them without proceeding farther, to incite them against Israel and to watch the effects of his wicked counsel; or, learning in his own country that the Israelites had fallen into the snare which he had laid and which he doubted not would lead to their ruin, he had, under the impulse of insatiable greed, returned to demand his reward from the Midianites. He was an object of merited vengeance. In the immense slaughter of the Midianitish people—in the capture of their women, children, and property and in the destruction of all their places of refuge—the severity of a righteous God fell heavily on that base and corrupt race. But, more than all others, Balaam deserved and got the just reward of his deeds. His conduct had been atrociously sinful, considering the knowledge he possessed, and the revelations he had received, of the will of God. For any one in his circumstances to attempt defeating the prophecies he had himself been the organ of uttering, and plotting to deprive the chosen people of the divine favor and protection, was an act of desperate wickedness, which no language can adequately characterize.
13. Moses, and Eleazar the priest, … went forth to meet them without the camp—partly as a token of respect and congratulation on their victory, partly to see how they had executed the Lord's commands, and partly to prevent the defilement of the camp by the entrance of warriors stained with blood.
14-18. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host—The displeasure of the great leader, though it appears the ebullition of a fierce and sanguinary temper, arose in reality from a pious and enlightened regard to the best interests of Israel. No order had been given for the slaughter of the women, and in ancient war they were commonly reserved for slaves. By their antecedent conduct, however, the Midianitish women had forfeited all claims to mild or merciful treatment; and the sacred character, the avowed object of the war (Nu 31:2, 3), made their slaughter necessary without any special order. But why "kill every male among the little ones"? It was designed to be a war of extermination, such as God Himself had ordered against the people of Canaan, whom the Midianites equalled in the enormity of their wickedness.
19-24. abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person … purify both yourselves and your captives—Though the Israelites had taken the field in obedience to the command of God, they had become defiled by contact with the dead. A process of purification was to be undergone, as the law required (Le 15:13; Nu 19:9-12), and this purifying ceremony was extended to dress, houses, tents, to everything on which a dead body had lain, which had been touched by the blood-stained hands of the Israelitish warriors, or which had been the property of idolaters. This became a standing ordinance in all time coming (Le 6:28; 11:33; 15:12).
25-39. Take the sum of the prey that was taken—that is, of the captives and cattle, which, having been first lumped together according to ancient usage (Ex 15:9; Jud 5:30), were divided into two equal parts: the one to the people at large, who had sustained a common injury from the Midianites and who were all liable to serve: and the other portion to the combatants, who, having encountered the labors and perils of war, justly received the largest share. From both parts, however, a certain deduction was taken for the sanctuary, as a thank offering to God for preservation and for victory. The soldiers had greatly the advantage in the distribution; for a five-hundredth part only of their half went to the priest, while a fiftieth part of the congregation's half was given to the Levites.
32-47. the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught—Some of the captives having been killed (Nu 31:17) and part of the cattle taken for the support of the army, the total amount of the booty remaining was in the following proportions:
Amount Half to
Soldiers Deducted
to God Half to
Congregation Deducted
to Levites Sheep 675,000 337,500 675 337,500 6,750 Beeves 72,000 36,000 72 36,000 720 Asses 61,000 30,500 61 30,500 610 Persons 32,000 16,000 32 16,000 320
48-54. officers … said … there lacketh not one man of us—A victory so signal, and the glory of which was untarnished by the loss of a single Israelitish soldier, was an astonishing miracle. So clearly betokening the direct interposition of Heaven, it might well awaken the liveliest feelings of grateful acknowledgment to God (Ps 44:2, 3). The oblation they brought for the Lord "was partly an atonement" or reparation for their error (Nu 31:14-16), for it could not possess any expiatory virtue, and partly a tribute of gratitude for the stupendous service rendered them. It consisted of the "spoil," which, being the acquisition of individual valor, was not divided like the "prey," or livestock, each soldier retaining it in lieu of pay; it was offered by the "captains" alone, whose pious feelings were evinced by the dedication of the spoil which fell to their share. There were jewels to the amount of 16,750 shekels, equal to £87,869 16s. 5d. sterling.