Num 31:19 | MHM | STEP | 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 ). 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 ), 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 ). 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 ), and those who are pure in heart see all things as pure (see Titus 1:15 ).

‏ Numbers 31:19

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 ^a). 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 ^b), 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 ^c). 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 ^d), and those who are pure in heart see all things as pure (see Titus 1:15 ^e).