‏ Numbers 31

Numbers 31:1 – The Slaughter of the Midianites.

This passage tells how God commanded Moses to lead Israel in a war against the Midianites. The Midianites had tempted Israel into sin, so God ordered this attack as punishment. The war was not for land, but to judge the Midianites for leading Israel into idolatry and immorality. God’s command made this war just, but it does not mean people can start wars for similar reasons without God’s clear direction. This was also the last major task God gave Moses before his death, showing that God’s servants finish their work before He calls them home.

v. 1-2: God told Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for what they had done to Israel (Numbers 31:2 ^a). The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:2 ^b). Some Midianites worshipped the true God, but these had become idolaters and had joined with the Moabites. They had sent their women to tempt Israel into sin, which was the main reason for God’s judgment. God wanted Israel to see that those who lead others into sin will be punished (Job 12:16; 1 Peter 4:17 ^c).

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v. 3: Moses told the people to prepare for battle, but only a group of chosen men were to go. He said they must “avenge the Lord of Midian,” showing that the fight was for God’s honor as well as Israel’s . We should only seek justice when it is truly God’s cause, not just our own.

v. 4-6: Moses chose 1,000 men from each tribe, making 12,000 in all, to fight the Midianites. This was a small number compared to the whole army, but God wanted to show that He can save by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6 ^d).

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v. 6: Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, went with the army. He brought the holy instruments, probably including the breastplate for seeking God’s guidance. Phinehas had already shown his zeal for God when he punished the sin with the Midianite woman (Numbers 25:15 ^e). He was chosen to lead spiritually, not as a military general, but to make sure the war was done according to God’s will (Numbers 31:48; 1 Samuel 23:6 ^f).

Other lessons: God sometimes removes leaders when their work is finished, even if people think they are still needed. God’s timing is always right, and His servants are called home when their task is done.

Numbers 31:7 – The Defeat of the Midianites.

This passage describes how the Israelite army, following God’s command, attacked the Midianites. The Israelites did not attack for their own gain, but acted under God’s orders as punishment for the Midianites’ sins. The battle was fierce, and the Israelites carried out God’s judgment with full effort and obedience. The victory was complete, and the Israelites gained much from this campaign, just as they had when they left Egypt.

v. 7: The Israelites fought against the Midianites and killed all the males they encountered . However, not all males in the whole nation were killed, since Midianites appear later in Israel’s history (Judges 6:3 ^g). The attack was likely focused on those most responsible for leading Israel into sin.

v. 8: They killed the five kings of Midian, who were also called elders or dukes. One of them, Zur, was probably the father of Cosbi, the woman who tempted Israel (Numbers 22:4; Joshua 13:21 ^h; Numbers 25:15 ⁱ). They also killed Balaam, who had advised the Midianites on how to cause Israel to sin. Balaam died among the enemies of God, punished for ignoring what he knew was right (Hosea 4:5 ^j).

v. 9: The Israelites took the women and children as captives, and seized all their cattle and possessions as plunder .

v. 10: They burned all the cities and strongholds of the Midianites . This made sure that the Midianites could not return and rebuild. It also may have included the burning of their idol temples, to show God’s judgment on their false worship.

vv. 11-12: The Israelites collected all the goods, animals, and captives as spoils of war and brought everything back to their camp (Numbers 31:11,12 ^k). Like when they left Egypt, God allowed them to be enriched by the defeat of their enemies, preparing them for their life in the Promised Land.

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Numbers 31:13: The Triumphant Return from the War with Midian

This passage describes how the army of Israel returned victoriously from their battle against Midian. The return was marked by both celebration and correction. The soldiers were met with honor, but also faced serious rebuke and were reminded of their need for purification after battle. These events highlight the importance of giving God public praise for victory, following His commands exactly, and keeping the camp holy after warfare.

v. 13: Moses, though old and highly respected, personally went out to greet the returning army (v. 13 ^l). By doing this, he honored the soldiers and publicly acknowledged their victory. This act teaches that public successes should be celebrated openly, giving glory to God and encouraging those who have risked their lives for their people.

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v. 15: Moses was very upset when he saw that the soldiers had allowed the Midianite women to live (v. 15 ^m). He reminded them that these women were the ones who had led Israel into sin at Peor (see Numbers 25:1-3 ⁿ). According to the law, both adulterers and adulteresses were to be put to death (see Leviticus 20:10 ^o). God had already judged Israel's men for their sin by sending a plague, so now the Midianite women—who tempted Israel—were also to be punished. Moses also warned that letting these women live was dangerous; they could tempt Israel again and cause more trouble. Therefore, he ordered that all grown women be killed, but the female children could be spared.

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v. 19, 20, 24: The soldiers were required to stay outside the camp for seven days and purify themselves according to the law (v. 19, 20, 24 ^p). Even though the war was just, killing in battle made them ceremonially unclean and unfit to go near the tabernacle until they were purified. This rule helped them remember that shedding blood is serious. Like David, who could not build the temple because he was a man of war (1 Chron. 28:3 ^q), they had to respect the holiness of God's presence. They also had touched dead bodies during the fighting, so they needed to be cleansed with the water of purification.

v. 19, 21-23: Not only the people, but also the captives and all goods taken from Midian had to be purified (v. 19; v. 21-23 ^r). Objects that could survive fire had to be passed through fire, while others were washed with water. This purification was necessary because these things had belonged to the Midianites. Now that they were in Israel's hands, they had to be made holy for God's people. For Christians today, everything we use should be dedicated to God through the word and prayer (see 1 Timothy 4:5 ^s), and those who are pure in heart see all things as pure (see Titus 1:15 ^t).

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Numbers 31:25: Distribution of the Spoil

This section explains how the spoils from the victory over Midian were divided among the Israelites. God gave specific instructions for this process, and Moses and Eleazar followed them exactly. By doing so, they avoided arguments and made sure everyone benefited from the victory. This shows that everything we have comes from God, so we should use it as He commands.

v. 26-27: God told Moses to divide the spoils into two equal parts. One half was for the 12,000 soldiers who fought in the battle, and the other half was for the rest of the congregation. The things divided were mainly the captives and the cattle. Other items, like jewelry and valuables, were kept by the men who took them (v. 50-53 ^u). The congregation received their share because the war was fought for everyone, and even those who stayed home helped, probably by praying (Psalm 68:12 ^v). This is like what David later made a law in Israel: those who stay with the supplies get the same share as those who fight (1 Samuel 30:24-25 ^w). This teaches that people who serve the community should not only think of themselves, but also help others.

v. 27: The soldiers who fought received as much as the whole congregation, even though there were many more people in the congregation. This means each soldier got a much larger share than those who stayed home. This is fair because the soldiers took more risks and worked harder. In the same way, God rewards those who serve Him faithfully and work hard for others (Hebrews 6:10 ^x).

v. 28-30: God also commanded that a tribute be taken from the spoils as a way to honor Him. This tribute showed that God was their king and had given them victory. From the soldiers’ share, one out of every 500 was given to the priests (v. 29 ^y). From the congregation’s share, one out of every 50 was given to the Levites (v. 30 ^z). The soldiers gave less because they had worked harder and faced danger, while the people at home gave more since they received their share without risk. This teaches us that whatever we have, we should always give God His portion.

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Numbers 31:48: The Offering of the Army Officers

This section shows the strong faith and humility of the Israelite army officers after their victory over Midian. The leaders—both the captains of thousands and of hundreds—came respectfully to Moses. They recognized God's protection over their soldiers and wanted to express their thankfulness with an offering. Their actions remind us to honor God when we experience His blessings, and to remain humble even after great success.

v. 49: The officers reported to Moses that not a single soldier was missing after the battle (v. 49 ^aa). This was very unusual and showed God's special care for them. Usually, some lives are lost in war, but here everyone returned safely. The officers saw this as a miracle from God and were grateful that all their men were protected. This also shows how much they cared about their soldiers, and it points to how precious God’s people are to Him (Psalm 72:14 ^ab).

v. 50: Because God had kept them safe, the officers brought an offering from the spoils of war to the Lord (v. 50 ^ac). They gave from what each man had gained, and it was given honestly. This teaches us to give back to God from what He has blessed us with (1 Corinthians 16:2 ^ad). The offering was meant to make atonement for their souls, showing they knew they were not perfect, even if they had served God well. They did not come to Moses asking for rewards or praise, but instead wanted to thank God and seek forgiveness for any shortcomings or sins, including those for which Moses had corrected them earlier (v. 14 ^ae).

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v. 54: Moses accepted the offering and put it in the tabernacle as a memorial for Israel (v. 54 ^af). This memorial was meant to help the people remember God’s kindness and encourage them to trust Him in the future. It was also a reminder of their gratitude, and a way to ask God to continue blessing them. Offerings like this show that God wants us to remember His goodness and respond with thanks.