Num 31:6 | TNotes | STEP | 31:6 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 ; 31:15-16 ). His zeal in this situation (Num 25:11 , 13 ) was equal to what he demonstrated in the case of Zimri and Cozbi (25:7-8 ). • Many believe that holy objects of the sanctuary meant the Ark, which the Hebrews sometimes carried into battle (e.g., 10:35-36 ; Josh 6:6 ; 1 Sam 4:3-11 ; cp. Num 14:44 ). Others suggest that they were a variety of sacred vessels associated with the Tabernacle rituals (3:31 ; 4:15 ; 18:3 ; cp. 1 Kgs 8:4 ; 1 Chr 9:29 ; 2 Chr 5:5 ). The Israelites probably took some or all of these holy objects as symbols of God’s participation in their holy war.

a31:6►

b25:6-18►

c31:15-16►

dNum 25:11►

e13►

f25:7-8►

g10:35-36►

hJosh 6:6►

i1 Sam 4:3-11►

jNum 14:44►

k3:31►

l4:15►

m18:3►

n1 Kgs 8:4►

o1 Chr 9:29►

p2 Chr 5:5►

‏ Numbers 31:6

31:6 ^a 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 ^b; 31:15-16 ^c). His zeal in this situation (Num 25:11 ^d, 13 ^e) was equal to what he demonstrated in the case of Zimri and Cozbi (25:7-8 ^f).

• Many believe that holy objects of the sanctuary meant the Ark, which the Hebrews sometimes carried into battle (e.g., 10:35-36 ^g; Josh 6:6 ^h; 1 Sam 4:3-11 ⁱ; cp. Num 14:44 ^j). Others suggest that they were a variety of sacred vessels associated with the Tabernacle rituals (3:31 ^k; 4:15 ^l; 18:3 ^m; cp. 1 Kgs 8:4 ⁿ; 1 Chr 9:29 ^o; 2 Chr 5:5 ^p). The Israelites probably took some or all of these holy objects as symbols of God’s participation in their holy war.