Numbers 31:1

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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Introduction

The command of the Lord to make war on the Midianites, Num 31:1, Num 31:2. One thousand men are chosen out of each of the twelve tribes, and sent with Phinehas against the Midianites, Num 31:3-6. They slay all the males, Num 31:7; their five kings and Balaam, Num 31:8. They take all the women captives, with the flocks and goods, Num 31:9; burn their cities, and bring away the spoil, Num 31:10, Num 31:11. They bring the captives, etc., to Moses, who is wroth with the officers for sparing the women, who had formerly been the cause of their transgression and punishment, Num 31:12-16. He commands all the male children and all the grown up females to be slain, Num 31:17, Num 31:18. How the soldiers were to purify themselves, Num 31:19, Num 31:20; and the different articles taken in war, Num 31:21-24. They are commanded to take the sum of the prey, to divide it into two parts; one for the 12,000 warriors, and the other for the rest of the congregation, Num 31:25-27. One of 500, both of persons and cattle, of the share of the warriors, to be given to the Lord, Num 31:28, Num 31:29; and one part of fifty, of the people's share, to be given to the Levites, Num 31:30. The sum of the prey remaining after the above division; sheep 675,000, beeves 72,000, asses 61,000, young women 32,000, Num 31:31-35. How the soldiers' part was divided, Num 31:36-40. How the part belonging to the congregation was divided, Num 31:41-47. The officers report that they had not lost a man in this war, Num 31:48, Num 31:49. They bring a voluntary oblation to God, of gold and ornaments, Num 31:50, Num 31:51; the amount of which was 16,750 shekels, Num 31:52, Num 31:53. Moses and Eleazar bring the gold into the tabernacle for a memorial, Num 31:54.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

All who, without commission from God, dare to execute private revenge, and who, from ambition, covetousness, or resentment, wage war and desolate kingdoms, must one day answer for it. But if God, instead of sending an earthquake, a pestilence, or a famine, be pleased to authorize and command any people to avenge his cause, such a commission surely is just and right. The Israelites could show such a commission, though no persons now can do so. Their wars were begun and carried on expressly by Divine direction, and they were enabled to conquer by miracles. Unless it can be proved that the wicked Canaanites did not deserve their doom, objectors only prove their dislike to God, and their love to his enemies. Man makes light of the evil of sin, but God abhors it. This explains the terrible executions of the nations which had filled the measure of their sins.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain