Num 31:1-2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 31:1-2: 31:1-2 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 ). 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 , 33 ; 7:12 ). They lived in camps or settlements and were famous for their knowledge of desert transportation (cp. Gen 37:28 , 36 ; Isa 60:6 ). While they were descended from Abraham (Gen 25:1-2 ) and had been friendly toward Moses (Exod 2:15–3:1 ; cp. Num 10:29 ), the elders of Midian had joined Balak in hiring Balaam to curse Israel (22:4 , 7 ), whose presence threatened the peoples of Transjordan (the region east of the Jordan).

a31:1-2►

b25►

cJudg 6:3►

d33►

e7:12►

fGen 37:28►

g36►

hIsa 60:6►

iGen 25:1-2►

jExod 2:15–3:1►

kNum 10:29►

l22:4►

m7►

‏ Numbers 31:1-2

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).