Numbers 31 · Verse 8

Numbers 31:8

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.
Numbers 31:8, King James Version

Numbers 31:8 in other translations

BSBAmong the slain were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
WEBThey killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTand 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.
DARBYAnd 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.
BBEThey 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.
WebsterAnd they slew the kings of Midian, besides 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.

What does Numbers 31:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Balaam - they slew with the sword - This man had probably committed what St. John calls the sin unto death - a sin which God punishes with temporal death, while at the same time he extends mercy to the soul. See the remarks at Num 24:25 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 31:7-12

The Israelites slew the Kings of Midian. They slew Balaam. God's overruling providence brought him thither, and their just vengeance found him. Had he himself rightly believed what he had said of the happy state of Israel, he would not have thus herded with the enemies of Israel. The Midianites' wicked wiles were Balaam's projects: it was just that he should perish with them, Ho 4:5. They took the women and children…

Read the full comment on Numbers 31:7-12 →

Numbers 31:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
מַלְכֵ֨יmal.Khei[the] kings ofH4428
מִדְיָ֜ןmid.YanMidianH4080
הָרְג֣וּha.re.Guthey killedH2026
עַל\־'al-withH5921
חַלְלֵיהֶ֗םcha.lei.Hemslain [ones] theirH2491
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֱוִ֤י'e.ViEviH189
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
רֶ֙קֶם֙re.kemRekemH7552
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
צ֤וּרtzurZurH6698
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
חוּר֙churHurH2354
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
רֶ֔בַעRe.va'RebaH7254
חֲמֵ֖שֶׁתcha.Me.shet[the] fiveH2568
מַלְכֵ֣יmal.Khei[the] kings ofH4428
מִדְיָ֑ןmid.YanMidianH4080
וְאֵת֙ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
בִּלְעָ֣םbil.'AmBalaamH1109
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
בְּע֔וֹרbe.'orBeorH1160
הָרְג֖וּha.re.Guthey killedH2026
בֶּחָֽרֶב\׃be.Cha.revwith the swordH2719

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 31:8

  • Joshua 13:21-22

    And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

  • Numbers 25:15

    And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.

  • Revelation 2:14

    But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

  • Jude 1:11

    Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

  • Numbers 25:18

    For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Numbers 22:10

    And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,

  • Numbers 24:25

    And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

  • Numbers 22:4

    And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.

  • Psalms 9:16

    The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

  • 1 Timothy 6:9-10

    But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • 2 Peter 2:15

    Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the kings.
22:4; Jos 13:21,22
Zur.
25:15,18
Balaam.
22:10; 24:25; Jos 13:22; Ps 9:16; 10:2; 1Ti 6:9,10; 2Pe 2:15
Jude 1:11; Re 2:14; 19:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 31:7

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

  • Numbers 31:8

    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.

  • Numbers 31:9

    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.

Read all of Numbers 31

Numbers 31:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mataron también, entre los muertos de ellos, á los reyes de Madián: Evi, y Recem, y Zur, y Hur, y Reba, cinco reyes de Madián: á Balaam también, hijo de Beor, mataron á cuchillo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ils tuèrent les rois de Madian, outre ceux qui leur furent tués, Évi, et Rékem, et Tsur, et Hur, et Réba, cinq rois de Madian; et ils tuèrent par l’épée Balaam, fils de Béor.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und sie töteten die Könige von Midian, samt ihren Erschlagenen: Ewi und Rekem und Zur und Hur und Reba, fünf Könige von Midian; und auch Bileam, den Sohn Beors, töteten sie mit dem Schwerte.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et reges eorum, Evi, et Recem, et Sur, et Hur, et Rebe, quinque principes gentis: Balaam quoque filium Beor interfecerunt gladio.