Numbers 31

Numbers 31:1

F. Destruction of the Midianites (Chap. 31)31:1-11 God commanded Moses to destroy the Midianites for corrupting His people through fornication and idolatry at Baal of Peor. Twelve thousand Israelites marched against the enemy and they killed all the males. Phinehas went to war (v. 6) rather than his father the high priest, possibly because Phinehas had been the one to turn away the wrath of Jehovah by killing Zimri and the Midianite woman (chap. 25). Now he was to lead the armies of the living God to complete the judgment of the Lord on Midian. “All the males” (v. 7) refers to all the Midianite soldiers, and not to all the Midianites in existence, because in the days of Gideon they again become a menace to Israel (Judges 6). Zur (v. 8) was probably the father of Cozbi, the Midianite woman slain in the camp of Israel (Num_25:15). (Either Balaam never made it all the way back to his home or else he had returned to Midian for some reason, for he too was killed.) 31:12-18 Though they had killed all the Midianite soldiers, the children of Israel spared the women and children and proudly brought them back to the camp with a great quantity of spoil. Moses was angry that they would have spared the very ones who caused Israel to sin and commanded that the male children and every woman who had lain with a man should be slain. The young girls were spared, probably for domestic service. This punishment was righteous and necessary to preserve Israel from further corruption. 31:19-54 The warriors and captives were required to undergo the customary seven days of purification (v. 19). Also, the spoil had to be cleansed, either by fire or by washing with water (vv. 21-24). The spoil was divided among the warriors and the whole congregation (vv. 25-47). The men of war were so thankful that not one of their number had perished that they brought a large gift to the LORD (vv. 48-54).