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
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,
Num 31:1-6
Here,
Num 31:7-12
Here is,
Num 31:13-24
We have here the triumphant return of the army of Israel from the war with Midian, and here,
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.
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,