Numbers 31
Summary for Num 31:1-2: 31:1-2 a The Lord ordered Moses to lead Israel in a war of retaliation against the Midianites, who had joined the Moabites in leading the Hebrews into idolatry (ch 25 b). The Midianites were a tribal people who inhabited the arid and semiarid regions south and east of Palestine and east of the Jordan River; they were counted among the “people of the east” (Judg 6:3 c, 33 d; 7:12 e). They lived in camps or settlements and were famous for their knowledge of desert transportation (cp. Gen 37:28 f, 36 g; Isa 60:6 h). While they were descended from Abraham (Gen 25:1-2 i) and had been friendly toward Moses (Exod 2:15–3:1 j; cp. Num 10:29 k), the elders of Midian had joined Balak in hiring Balaam to curse Israel (22:4 l, 7 m), whose presence threatened the peoples of Transjordan (the region east of the Jordan).Summary for Num 31:3-5: 31:3-5 n Each tribe contributed 1,000 men for the battle, which enabled all of them to gain experience in combat and share in the victory.
31:6 o Phinehas son of Eleazar (the high priest) led this force of 12,000 into battle. His leadership helped to define this engagement as “holy war,” an act of revenge for the spiritual harm that Midian had inflicted on Israel (cp. 25:6-18 p; 31:15-16 q). His zeal in this situation (Num 25:11 r, 13 s) was equal to what he demonstrated in the case of Zimri and Cozbi (25:7-8 t).
• Many believe that holy objects of the sanctuary meant the Ark, which the Hebrews sometimes carried into battle (e.g., 10:35-36 u; Josh 6:6 v; 1 Sam 4:3-11 w; cp. Num 14:44 x). Others suggest that they were a variety of sacred vessels associated with the Tabernacle rituals (3:31 y; 4:15 z; 18:3 aa; cp. 1 Kgs 8:4 ab; 1 Chr 9:29 ac; 2 Chr 5:5 ad). The Israelites probably took some or all of these holy objects as symbols of God’s participation in their holy war.
31:7 ae The Israelites killed all of the Midianite men in the particular groups they attacked from their camp in the plains of Moab (31:12 af), not all of the people who were part of the larger Midianite confederation (cp. Judg 6–8 ag). The number of animals and virgins mentioned in Num 31:32-35 ah indicates that the 12,000 Hebrews fought a sizable enemy force.
31:8 ai Balaam son of Beor deserved to die because his counsel “caused the people of Israel to rebel against the Lord at Mount Peor” (31:16 aj). Balaam was punished for his villainous deeds (cp. 2 Pet 2:15 ak; Jude 1:11 al).
Summary for Num 31:9-13: 31:9-13 am After the battle, the Hebrews began the practice that they sometimes followed throughout the period of conquest and beyond (e.g., Josh 6 an; 8 ao; 10–11 ap). They destroyed their enemies (sometimes the total population), burned towns, and set aside spoils for their own use or as dedicated to the Lord.
31:10 aq towns and villages: These were larger settlements and smaller unfortified encampments.
31:13 ar outside the camp: Probably to keep from contaminating the Tabernacle and all of the people, the returning troops were subjected to purification rituals because of their contact with corpses (31:19-24 as).
Summary for Num 31:14-16: 31:14-16 at Moses was furious: God had commanded total destruction, but the Midianite women who had followed Balaam’s advice and were largely responsible for the apostasy of Baal-peor had wrongly been given clemency.
Summary for Num 31:17-18: 31:17-18 au Only young virgin women were to be spared, since they had not participated in the incident at Baal-peor.
Summary for Num 31:19-24: 31:19-24 av Israelite warriors who had contact with corpses subjected themselves and their equipment to routine, but important, purification rituals (see 5:1-4 aw; 19:1-22 ax).
Summary for Num 31:25-31: 31:25-31 ay The plunder was divided into two equal parts, with half going to those who fought against the Midianites and half going to the Israelites who stayed behind (cp. 1 Sam 30:21-25 az). In this sense, everyone participated in the armed conflict, but the relatively small number of warriors each received a larger portion than the much larger number of those who stayed behind.
Summary for Num 31:32-35: 31:32-35 ba The total number of animals and young girls who were not killed was quite large, which indicates that Israel fought against many Midianites.
Summary for Num 31:36-47: 31:36-47 bb The plunder was distributed according to the principles established in 31:25-30 bc.
Summary for Num 31:48-49: 31:48-49 bd Though it is unusual for no soldiers from an army to be killed in battle, it is not impossible. Classical authors also reported battles in which few or no Roman soldiers were killed. If the Israelites had the advantages of preparation, surprise, and overwhelming force, they could have defeated the Midianites and lost no troops, especially in light of God’s blessing.
Summary for Num 31:50-54: 31:50-54 be The commanders gladly offered gold objects in gratitude for a great victory that resulted in no loss of life (cp. Exod 30:12 bf). Ancient art and literature indicate that the Midianites and other desert peoples, both males and females, wore gold jewelry as adornment and as a form of portable wealth (e.g., Judg 8:24-26 bg). Moses and Eleazar brought this large collection to the Tabernacle as a memorial of this special event (cp. Num 16:39-40 bh; Zech 6:14 bi).
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