Numbers 31
PATown power, by his death, or by a divorce, she was not bound to make them good; because, when she made them, her husband, under whose power she then was, had utterly made thera void. indeed, that Phincas was a man of great courage, and had lately performed a singular piece of service, which had won him great reputation. This hath made some think, lie was the fitter to go and to avenge the Lord of Midian, as he had begun to do, (chap. xxv. 8.) In aftertimes also, in the days of the Maccabees, who were of the family, of, the priests, the armies of Israel were led by them against their enemies.- But then it must be considered, that they were also the supreme governors of the people, and there were no other.. With the holy instruments.] By which Jonathan under-, stands the tirim and thummim; which some think Phineas carried along with him, wheTewith to consult the Divine Majesty, in case of any difficulty that might arise about the management of the war. And to make out this, they suppose Eleazar to be qld and crazy, or labouring under some infirmity; which was the reason that Phineas his son was substituted in his room to perform this office. (See our very learned Dr. Spencer, Dissert, de Urim et Thummim, cap. G. sect. 2.) But this may be justly doubted, whether Phineas, being only the son of the high-priest, and not yet capable of that office, could be substituted to perform this great charge, which belonged to the high-priest alone. Nor do we find any warrant for consulting the Lord by’tirim and thummim, but only before the most holy place, (see chap, xxvii. 21.) And therefore it seems to mo far more likely, that he means the ark, which was wont to be carried, in following times, into the field, when they went to fight Mith their enemies, (1 Sam. iv. 4, 5. xiv. 18. 2 Sam. xi. 1.) Yea, Joshua himself, not long after this time, ordered the ark to be carried, with priests blowing the trumpets before it, when he surrounded Jericho, (Josh. vi. 4. 6, 7, &e.) And therefore the holy instruments being here joined with the trumpets to blow in his hand, it makes it the more probablo, that the ark may be here meant; there being also something in this very book to countenance this opinion: (see chap. xiv. 44. but especially chap, xxxii. 20. 22.) But it must be confessed, that it is never thus expressed in any other place of Holy Scripture, but always called the ark of God, or of the covenant, or the testimony, or the like. And therefore, perhaps, they give the truest sense of these words, who take the following words to be an explication l of them; that is, the trumpets were the.holy instruments, which he carried in his hand. And the trumpets to blow in his hand.] Which he delivered to the priests who followed him, to sound an alarm, when they went to fight, according to the direction, chap. x. 8, 9. and as the practice was in future ages, (2 Chron. xiii. 12.)
Numbers 31:1
^cxND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Not long before his death, as appears from the next verse.
Numbers 31:2
Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites. This had been commanded before, but no time set for it; which now is determined. The Moabites are not mentioned; because the Midianites seem to have been the first or chief contrivers of that mischief which befel the Israelites, by the enticements of their women: (see chap. xxv. Afterward shall thou be gathered unto thy people.] When he had given a few other directions, concerning their possessing the countries already conquered, and the land of Canaan, (chap, xxxii. xxxiv. xxxv.) and providing for the Levites there, (chap, xxxvi.) God had warned him to prepare for his death before this, (chap, xxvii. 12.) but he first let him have the satisfaction of seeing the Midianites punished; and gave him some time to settle the public affairs, and to make also along exhortation to the Israelites, to observe all that he had commanded them.
Numbers 31:3
And Moses spake unto the people, saying. He speedily put this command’ in execution; which might possibly be in the ninth month of the fortieth year. Arm some of yourselves itnto the war.~] He doth not at first determine the number; but as many as pleased might offer themselves voluntarily, to be ready to obey him. And let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LordofMidian.] The Lord bade him avenge the children of Israel, (ver. 2.) but Moses bids them avenge the Lord: iot they had the same interest, and were both injured at the same time, and by the same means. And as God was so gracious as to resent the evil done to Israel, so Moses, in duty and gratitude to God, thought himself bound rather to consider the dishonour that was done to him, whose war this was; not only because undertaken by his command, but in his quarrel (with those who had drawn the Israelites to idolatry), and for the sake of his people.
Numbers 31:4
Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. AVhen a great many, perhaps all the people; appeared ready to go to war, he ordered, that only a select number should be sent, of a thousand out of each of the twelve tribes.
Numbers 31:5
So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thoxtsand of every tribe. Their officers picked out this number from among the rest; or they were chosen by lot for this service; or they stepped out and offered themselves volunteers (as we speak), which the twenty-seventh verse may seem to countenance, where they are called, those that took the war upon them. Twelve thousand armed for war I] This was but a small number, compared with the whole nation of the Midianites, (who had five kings, ver. 8.) But God would, have them rely more upon him, than upon the multitude of a host; and let them see, by their success against this people, that they needed not fear the conquest of Canaan.
Numbers 31:6
And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe. He gave them their commission to fight the Midianites. Them and Phineas the son of Eleazar the priest.] Who was not their commander-in-chief (or their general, as we now speak), for it did not belong to the priestly office to conduct armies: and it is said expressly in the words follo wing, he went with the holy instruments, &c. to be ready to perform all such sacred offices, as should be required by the general, who, it is most likely, was Joshua. It is true,
Numbers 31:7
And they ivarred against the Midianites. It is • not certain whether the Midianites came out of their country to’ give them battle; or they first broke into their country, and then fought their army. As the Lord commanded Moses.] One would think this meant no more, but that they obeyed the commandment of God beforementioned, (ver. 2.) But the Jews think he hath respect to another particular commandment, which they say t was given by Moses, when they went out to this war: that they should not, when they besieged any city, begirt it quite round, but only on three sides; leaving one naked, that the besieged might flee away, if they pleased; by which meaus effusion of human blood was prevented. So Gnil. Schickard observes out of Siphri in his Mischpat Ilammelech, cap. 5. Theor. 18. and Mr. Selden since him, lib. vi. de Jure Nat. et Gent. cap. 15. where he shews they understand this of all wars but those against the seven’ nations in Canaan and Amalek; towards whom this kindness was not shewn, as appears by the siege of Jericho. But the laws about managing wars, which are mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy, do not seem to have been yet given; though the Jews fancy this law was now given about Midian, and observed ever after. » And sleiv all the males.] Who were in this fight, and did not save themselves by flight. •Ver. 8. And iliey slew the kings of Midian.] Little kings, called princes, Josh. xiii. 21. where they are said to be dukes of Sihon, i. e. great men tributary to Sihon, while he continued king of the Amorites. But after the Israelites had conquered him, they took, perhaps, the title of kings. Besides the rest of them that were slain.] They made not only a great slaughter of the people, but killed their chief commanders, who led them on. Namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, &c.] They are particularly named, that all their neighbours might be satisfied of the truth of this history. And he that is called Zur, is thought to have been the father of Cozbi, whom Phineas slew. * Balaam also, the son of Beor, they slew toith the sword.] He had seen such good success of his wicked counsel, (which he gave either as he went home, or returning again to them: see chap, xxiv.wft.) that, presuming the Israelites were forsaken of their God, he adventured to go along with the Midianites unto this battle; hoping he might curse the Israelites, now that iniquity (£. e. idolatry) was found among them; which he could not do while they were free from it. Thus he perished by his own wicked devices; and was so far from having his wish, that he might " die the death of the righteous" (that is, live long), that (as the Jews say) he was slain in the thirty-fourth year of his age. The doctors in the GemaTa of the Sanhedrin, (cap. 11. sect 11.) ask, “What did he here?” To which R. Johanan makes answer, " He went to receive his reward for the death of the twenty-four thousand Israelites, which he had procured," (chap. xxv. 9.) And thus, saith another, " it happened unto him, according to the proverb, The camel went to desire horns, and they cut off his ears"
Numbers 31:9
And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captive, and their little ones. After they were masters of the field (as wc speak) by tho overthrow of their armies, they fell upon their cities; and, according to the ancient custom in the - most bloody wars,’they killed only the men, but no women nor children, (Gen. xxxiv. 25. 1 Kings xi. 1G.) And so the law of God afterward required they should do, when they took any city that did not belong to the CanaSnites, (Deut. xx. 13, 14.) who were utterly to be destroyed, ver. 16, 17. where ho saith, " Thou shalt save nothing alive that breatheth." And they took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.] As belonging to them, by the right of conquest, in a just war.
Numbers 31:10
And they burnt all their cities wherein tl\ey dwelt, and their goodly castles, with y?n?. jVIade the country dcsolate,*that they who fled might have no encouragement to return again; nor be able, without great hazard, to Digitize^ by Microsoft ® CHAP. XXXI?] UPON NUMBERS. settle themselves there, whero they had not a fortress left to defend them. This was but a necessary care; notwithstanding which they had peopled the country again so well, in the space of about two hundred years, that they were able to oppress th’e Israelites; as we read Judges iv. 1. -"
Numbers 31:11
And they took all the spoil, and all theprey, both of men and of beasts. They had possessed themselves of them before, (ver. 9.) but now they carried them away..
Numbers 31:12
And they brought the captives, and the prey, <md the spoil. Here are three different words to express their booty, which they brought to. the camp of Israel: the first of which signifies the women and children that were taken; the second, the cattle and the flocks (though sometimes it includes in it men and women); and the third, their money and goods. Unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel.] Unto the seventy elders, and princes of the tribes, who were assembled with them, (see chap. xxix. 1.) as it seems to be expounded in the ttext verse. Unto the camp at the plains ofMoab, &c] From whence they marched against Midian; and had been fencamped “there a great while, (chap. xxii. 1. xxvi. 3. 63.) *
Numbers 31:13
Every vow, and every binding oath, to afflict the soitl. This shews what the matter of these vows frequently was; to abstain from such or such meats, though in themselves lawful; or to fast, and eat nothing at all on other days, as well as on the great day of expiation; which was the only fast ordained by the law of Moses. Her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.] There is an excellent discourse of Maimonides’, in his More Nevochim, (par. iii. cap. 48.)’ to shew that this is most reasonable; where he observes, that, as the law prohibited some meats, so pious people sometimes vowed to forbear such as were not prohibited; that by this means they might learn contentment with a little, or continence, and give a check to an immoderate appetite* From whence the saying among the doctors, that Vows are the hedge ofsepa* ration; i. e. a great guard to a holy life. But since, through the vehemence of their affections and passions, many women are prone to act unadvisedly, if vows were wholly in their power, great inconveniences, dissensions, and confusions, might arise in families, whilst this sort of meat is lawful to the husband, but not to the wife; this permitted to the daughter, but prohibited to the mother. Forw T hich reason (saith he) this authority was given to the governors of families; in all things to order them, as they saw would be for their profit, or detriment. And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, tvent forth to meet them itiithout the camp.’], Hearing they were returned victorious, they went to congratulate them, before they came at the camp: for which there was also another reason, mentioned ver. 19. This shews that Eleazar was not so infirm as some suppose’; and affords an argument to strengthen their opinion, who think Joshua was now general of the host; otherwise hfe. would have been mentioned, together with Moses and Eleazar, as going to meet them; being chosen his coadjutor, and therefore superior to all the princes that are here joined with them. v •
Numbers 31:14
But if her husband,) Or, for if her husband. Altogether held his peace at herefrom day to day. When lie knew what she had vowed; as it follows in the end of the vorse. He establisheth all her vows, &c] His silence was to be * interpreted a consent to allow what she vowed. There was no need to add the contrary; which is here to be understood: that if he said he did not allow them, then they should not bind her. And Moses was wroth with the officers of thp -host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.] Who were more to •blame than the soldiers, whose duty it was to obey, not to “give drders; which they received, no doubt, from the offi-‘cers, to kill only the men. Here now is an argument to th6 “contrary, that Joshua did not command in chief: but this being only a detachment (as they now speak) from the host •of Israel, was led by some inferior officer, the first captain -of thousands, perhaps; for if Joshua had been there, Moses would have expostulated with him, or rather, there Vould have been no cause for this rebuke; he being a man’in whom was the spirit, (chap, xxvii. 18.)
Numbers 31:15
But if he shall any ways make them void, after he hath heard them. Hinder her from performing her vow, after he had given his consent, by saying nothing against it, when he heard her make the vow. Then he shall bear her iniquity. 1 God will punish him, not her, for not performing the vow. Paulus Fagius thinks the meaning is, that if the first day he heard of her vow he did not disannul it, but attempted to do it the next day, or the third day after, he should bear the blame, if the vow was not made good.. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?] Unless he had commanded them to be killed, one cannot see that they deserved to be chidden; because they proceeded according to the rules of all worthy warriors, who killed only those who could bear arms against them. But either he had given some directions who should J be killed, or he expected they should have considered, that the women had killed more by their blandishments, than their husbands could do by their arms, (for they had not killed one man, ver. 49.) and therefore should have been destroyed, as the most mischievous: for so it follows in the next verse. • • - <* - - Digitized by Microso;
Numbers 31:16
These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth, in her fathers house. It is likely some differences arose in some families about these matters; and therefore these laws were made for the settling the power of husbands over their wives, and parents over their children, while they were young, and continued a part of their family. Behold*] Reflect upon what islately past, and consider. \ These caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord, in the matter of Peor; and there was a plague among the congrer gation of the Lord.] By these they had been inveigled int<? a heinous sin, and made obnoxious to a very heavy pu>- nishment, which God inflicted upon them on that account. For though the Moabitish women had a great hand in it> (chap. xxv. 1.) yet those of Midian seem to have been the chief seducers; (ver. 6. 17> 18.) and, perhaps, he feared might be so again..Ver. 17* Now therefore hill every male among the little ones.] That the nation might be extirpated, as far as lay in their power. And kill every woman that hath knoivn man, by lying with him.] For these, it is to be supposed, had been the most instrumental in the crime beforementioned; either by prostituting themselves, or their daughters, to the lust of the Israelites; and thereby drawing them to idolatry: in.which sin they were so settled, that there was no hope of reclaiming them; but they mightrather (if they had been saved alive) have enticed the Israelites to commit the same again. Ver. IS. But all the women-children that have not known a man, by lying with him, keep alive J] Being young, there was some hope they might be brought off from idolatry, and become proselytes to the true religion..:;,. *( For yourselves.] To be. sold as slaves to any other nation, or to be kept as servants, or. taken to’be their wives, after such preparation as the law required, (Deut. -xxi. 16, 17, &c.) This was a peculiar case, w T herein & middle courso was held between those that were of the seven nations of Canaan, and those that were not. If they were not of those seven nations, the Israelites might take the women and little ones unto themselves: (Deut xx. 14,15.) if they were, every thing that breathed was to be destroyed, (ver. 16, 17.) But here the Midianites, being guilty of a very great crime against the Lord, and against his people, are punished more heavily than other nations; though not’So heavily, as those of Canaan were to be: for they killed all the women that were not virgins, as well afc all the males, both little and great; but spared the rest, together with the cattle, &c. Such an execution was made, in aflcrtimes, upon one of the cities of Israel, upon a high contempt of public authority, in a very great exigency, (Judges xxi. 11.) There is a rule in Deut. xx. 10. that when they came to fight against any city, they should proclaim peace to it; and if they should accept it, they should only m&ke the inhabitants tributaries to them. From whence, a question arising, whether this, extended to thfc seven nations of Canaan? it is resolved by Maimonides, that it did; which he proves from Josh. xi. 19, 20. But so great was the sin of this people, that they neither sent Offers of peace to them now, nor were they to make any peace with them hereafter, (Deut, xxiii. 6.) And the reason is there given; because they hired Balaam to curse them: which is as true of the Midianites as of the Moabites. Notwithstanding which, Maimonides determines, that though the Israelites did not send messengers of peace to them; yet if they, of their own accord, sent to desire peace of the Israelites, they were not to reject them: (see Cunams de Hebr. Repub. lib. ii. cap. 20.)- — * - - ■— 4M VB> [chap. XXXI.
Numbers 31:19
And do ye abide xoithout the camp seven days. As unclean persons. For though it was lawful to kill men, in a just war against them, yet dia rtiv avwrarr^v kcu koiv>)v avyjlvEiav (as Philo speaks), because of the most ancient end common kindred between all mankind, it was fit men should use some purification to cleanse themselves from that which looked like a crime, though it was none. Whosoever hath killed any person, and ivhosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves.’] The whole army tliat went to the war, wero to stay without the camp seven days; and such of them as had had their hands in blood, or had touched a dead body, though killed by another,‘were to use a special purification; which was made by the Vater of separation, mentioned chap. xix. 9, &c. And your captives.] Or the prey that they had taken; of •garments, and other things, mentioned in the next verse: and so the word is translated ver. 2G. For we cannot think that the persons they had taken, being gentiles, were to be purified with that water* which was peculiar to the Jews. On the third day, and on the seventh day.] So the law was, chap. xix. 11, 12; And such purifications were f common among the gentiles, especially the Greeks, upon tlie like occasions, as Mr. Selden observes, (lib. iv. de Jure Nat. et Gent. cap. zdt. Grotius, lib. ii. do Jure Belli et Pacis, cap. 24. n. 10.) To whom add our late learned Dr..Spencer, lib. iii. dissert. 3. sect. 1. where he takes this to have been a custom, derived from ancient time, before the Jaw of Moses (which may be.questioned): and Bonfrerius, upon this place, hath alleged the very same proofs, and several more; particularly,this out of the scholiast upon Sophocles; in his Ajax Mastigoph. <&oc fiv roXg iraXatotg ore?) $6vqv avSpwirov, &c. it was the custom among the ancients, when: they either killed a man, or made any other slaughter, to wash their hands in water, tic xaSapmv fiiav- /uaroc, for the purification of the defilement. - i
Numbers 31:20
And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, &c. AVith the.same water of separation, (or else by washing them in running water, as the manner was •in other cases, Lev. xi. 32, 33.) for they might all be supposed to be defiled by dead bodies, and so come under tho Jaw, (chap. xix. 14.):,
Numbers 31:21
And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war that went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law.which the Lord commanded Moses. This law was to be observed hereafter by those who went to war; for though the law before was, as I observed, that he who touched a dead body should be purified with tho water of. separation; yet nothing is there said of him that killed a man in war, but did not, perhaps, touch his body; which now is brought under the same rule..
Numbers 31:22
Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, &c. every thing that fi may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, &c. All sorts 6f metals, were to have this •peculiar sort of purification,; which thcother things (mentioned ver. 20.) would not endure. And the same Bonfrerius observes, this was a, way of purification among the gentiles as -old as Homer’s time; but they. used sulphur •with it. For so he makes Ulysses c^ill to the old women to bring hiin sulphur, and then fire, that he might fume the house wherein the w T oers had bcenjkilled/ Which is observed by Fort. Seacchus also, Myrothee. 2. cap. 30. where he also notes, that Ovid gives ajong account why these two, fire and water, “were choSen for the instruments of purification, lib. iv. Fastorum; where he s^ith particularly of fire,. - u Omnia purgat cdax ignis, vitiumque mctalli Excoquit.” - Nevertheless it shall be purified with the water, of separation.] On the third day, I suppose, before it went through the firo. And all thalabideth not tlie fire, ye shall make go throttgh the water.] All things that could abide the fire, were to be purified both by that and by the water of separation. And such things as could not abide it, were to be purified, not merely by sprinkling them with the water of separation, but by making them go through the water.
Numbers 31:24
And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, &c. Thus he that sprinkled an unclean person with the w r atcr of separation, vxxs bound to purify himself, (chap. xix. 19.)
Numbers 31:25
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. After they were purified, and come into the camp.
Numbers 31:26
Take the sum of the prey that was taken. In the Hebrew the words are, take the sum of the prey oftlw captivity: which, it is plain by what follows, signifies the sum of the prey, and of the captives. For all that they took was of three kinds, (ver. 12.) the persons called cap* tives; the beasts, which aro called the prey; and money and goods, (such as are mentioned ver. 20, 21.) which arq.called the spoil.;.. Both of man and beast.] Here an account is ordered tp be given of two parts of what had been taken; but no-^ thing said of the third (which was the spoil), out of which they who had it made a voluntary oblation,. (ver. 50.53.) Thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief of thefatliers.] Tuq same, perhaps, with the heads of the tribes, chap. XXX. 1.
Numbers 31:27
And divide the prey into two parts, between them that took the war upon them, who went out to the battle, and between all the congregation. By this partition, a far larger share was given to every one of the warriors, jvho were but twelve thousand, than to any of their brethren, who were near six hundred thousand: for they had hazarded themselves, which the others had not; who, notwithstanding that, enjoyed some fruit of their labours; because it was a common cause in which they engaged, and,the rest seem to have been ready to fight, as well as they, (ver. 3.) This division was made by a special direction of God, but was not the rule in after-ages; as appears,from ISam. xxx. 24, 25. nor had been in ancient times, as the Jews interpret Gen. xiv.24. (See Selden, lib. vi. de Jure Nat. et Gent. cap. IG.p. 747.)
Numbers 31:28
And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war, &c. The Lord was their sovereign, and therefore had a tribute due to him, out of that which they had taken in war; as a grateful acknowledgment that they owed their success to him. One soul of five hundred, both of the persons.]?. e. Of the women and the children. And of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep.] The Hebrew word tzon signifies goats as well as sheep; and both being here intended, the LXX. express them both. Here is no mention of camels, which it seems their country Digitized oy Microsoft ® CHAP. XXXI.] UPON LUMBERS. was not stocked withal at this time: see ver. 34 and what I-bave noted upon Gen. xxxvii. 25. This tribute to God was but a very small proportion, in comparison with what their kings challenged in following times, if we may believe the Talmudists; who say, they had all the gold and silver, and such rich things that.were taken, and half of the rest of the prey, which was divided between them and the people: (see Sclden in the place abovenamed.) But anciently they had only the tenth part: (see Gen. xiv. 20.)
Numbers 31:29
Take itjqf their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for a heave-offering unto the Lord. For the maintenance of the priests, among whom this part, of the tribute was divided. And it was just a tenth part of what the Lcvitcs had, as they had a tenth part of their tithes, which was paid. them for their constant support. So the law was, chap, xviii. 21* 2A. 26, &c. which was observed in this levy; which is called triimah, as the offering for the making of the sanctuary is called Exod. xxv, 2. where we translate it, as here, a heave-offering.
Numbers 31:30
And of the children of Israel’s half thmt shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, &c. A far larger share is demanded of the people (ten times as much as was paid by the soldiers), because they came more easily by it, without any pains or danger. And they pay it in a very just proportion to the number of those who went to the war, and of those who stayed at home, but were able to go to war, who were above six hundred thousand; (chap. xxvi. 2. 51.) of which twelye thousand, who were employed in this expedition, were the fiftieth part And give them to the Levites.] Who were far more nu-. merous than the priests, and therefore had a greater proportion of the tribute. s Which keep the t charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.] See chap. i. 50. iii. 6 — 8.,Yer. 31. And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.] This command is peculiarly to Moses, (ver. 25.) but Eleazar was to assist him in the execution of it, (ver. 20.) and accordingly they took the sum of the prey both of man and beast, and divided it between the soldiers and people; and levied a tribute upon each for the Lord, who ordered it to his ministers.
Numbers 31:32
And the booty, being the rest of the prey, which the men of Israel had caught. i. e. Besides what was necessarily Spent for their subsistence, during the war, and while they, lay out of the camp, (ver. 19.) Was six hundred thousand, and seventy thousand, and five thousand sheep.] A vast stock; far exceeding the number of men of war which were in Israel..
Numbers 31:33
And threescore and twelve thousand beeves. It seems their country had good pasture in it, as well as sheepwalks: for, as Arabia Felix, it is certain, had " agros latissimos et fcrtilissimos,” (as Pliny speaks, lib. vi. cap. 28.) most spacious and fertile fields; so Arabia Petraea (in which Midian was) did not wholly want them. • »
Numbers 31:34
And threescore and one thousand asses. The countries about Judea abounding with camels also, particularly Arabia, in which Job had a great number, it may seem strange that we read of none here; especially since they had vast numbers in following times, (Judges vi. 5.. vii. 12.) and the Ishmaelites (with whom they were associates in trade) had them long before this time, (Gen. xxxvii, 27, 3G.) But it is likely they did notycj; find it for their profit to feed camels (of which they learnt to make a traffic afterward), no more* than mules, of which we read, nothing, here, nor indeed in Judea, till the times of David. It may t be supposed, that, if they had camels, they were’of that kind called dromedaries, which were famous in this country^ in after-ages, (Isa. lx. 6.) and that the people, who espaped the slaughter, fled away upon them: and that there were other beasts in this country, besides beeves, and asses, and sheep, and goats, seems to be plain from ver. 30. where, after the mention of these, he adds, of all manner of beasts, he should take a portion for the Levites; but of camels or dromedaries, I suppose, none were found.
Numbers 31:35
And thirty-two thousand persons in all, of wo? t men that had not known man, &c. It appears by this to. have been a very populous country, in which were so many virgins. /; Ver. 3G. And the Jialf which ivas the portion of them that, went out to war, tvas in number three hundred and sevenand-thirty thousand and five hundred sheep.] There is no difficulty in this, or in the following verses; this being exactly the half of the whole number of sheep mentioned^, ver. 32.
Numbers 31:37
And the Lord’s tribute of the sheep was six hun dred and threescore and fifteen.* Which is exactly one ii\ five hundred, out of this half of the booty $ as God ordered,, ver. 28.
Numbers 31:38
And the beeves tvere thirty and six thousand, whereof the tribute was threescore and twelve. The very same proportions are observed here, as in the sheep, whiclv appears by comparing this verse with ver. 33. And the two ne^t verses (39, 40.) give the same account of the asses and the persons, which were as exactly divided; and the Lord had the same portion of them, as ver. 34; 35. compared with these, demonstrate..
Numbers 31:41
And Moses gave the tribute which was the £ord f $ heave-offering unto Eleazar the priest, &c. This is recorded to shew how faithful Moses was in performing obedience to God’s commands, (ver. 29.) and far from desiring the smallest portion for himself out of so great a booty; which, if he had acted by his own private spirit, he would scarce have avoided.
Numbers 31:42
And the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided from the men that warred. There is nothing here,, nor in the following verses, to ver. 48. but a repetition, of what was said concerning the other half beforementioned; to shew that the same exactness’was observed both in tho division of the prey among the people, and in taking out of it such a portion as God assigned to the Levites; which, was one out of fifty; as out of the men of war’s part, ono out of five hundred, (ver. 28. 30.),
Numbers 31:48
And the officers ivhich were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto 3foses. The first wbrds of this verse sjecia to suppose, that there were other great officers, as well as tho general”, who were above the captailis oyer thousands^ and the captains over hundreds: which is very probable.
Numbers 31:49
And they said unto Moses, Thy servants, &c. The greatest men speak with the greatest reverence to Moses; who.was in the place* of God.. Have taken the sum of the men of war which am finder our charge.] Made a muster of them (as we now speak) at our return frQm the war* 4M2 G3G [chap. XXXII. * And there lacketh not one man of us.’] A wonderful victory; which shews the war was the Lord’s, (ver. 3.) who struck such a terror into them, that one would think they turned their backs, and did not strike a stroko against the Israelites.
Numbers 31:50
We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord. For the uses of the sanctuary; either in purchasing sacrifices, or maintaining God’s ministers, &c. For korban signifies every thing that is given to God, though not sacrificed upon the altar. v mat every man hath gotten.] All of them offered something to the Lord out of the spoil he had gotten, according to” the £iety of ancient times, (Gen. xiv. 20.) For wo find lib precept in the law for this; and yet it was constantly practised by David in aftertimos, (2 Sam. viii. 11, 12.) and by the officers of his army, (1 Chron. xxvi. 26, 27.) and by’ other men, Samuel, Saul, Abner, &c. (ver. 28, &e.) ■. * Jewels of gold.] Vessels, as the Hebrew word signifies, or all manner of ornaments made of gold; the particulars of which follow, viz. cliains, bracelets, &c. but the Jerusalem Targuin lakes these jewels (as we translate it) to have t>een the golden attire about the heads of their women. ■ ^Chains.] These are commonly thought to have been the Ornaments of their arms. But they may as well be thought to have been used about their legs, or their necks* Bracelets.] These, it is apparent, were ornaments about their wrists’or hands, (Gen. xxiv. 47. Ezck^ xvi. 11.) Rings.] They were ornaments of the fingers, (Gen. xli.’ 42. Esther iii. 10.) * Ear-rings.] Nothing more common in those countries, especially among the Midianites and Ishmaelites; as we find Judges viii. 24 — 26. where there is a different word used to express this ornament; yet the word hagil, here used, certainly signifying something round, and the ornaments encompassing the arms and other parts being before mentioned, it cannot well be thought to denote any thirig but rings in the ears. And so we translate it, Ezek. xvi. 12. And tablets.’] Some ornaments about the breasts. (See Exod. xxxv. 22.) To make an atonement of our souls before the Lord.] For the guilt of which Moses accused them, ver. 14. or any other, which they had contracted in the war.
Numbers 31:52
And all the gold of the offering which they offered tip to the Lord, Sec. was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. It hath been observed before, that three thousand shekels made a talent: and therefore their offering amounted to above five talents and a half.
Numbers 31:53
For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself. Or rather, had taken the spoil, mentioned ver. 12. of which part of the booty no division was made between the men of war and the people, (ver. 26.) but they kept it entirely to themselves, and now very gratefully riiade a present of a very considerable part of it to the Lord: see ver; 12. where the word spoil is used strictly for a part of the booty, distinct from the other two, the Captives and thc.prey: and so it signifies here. ^
Numbers 31:54
And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold. This was said before, (ver. 51.) and therefore the senso here is, that, having received it as an offering to the Lord, they brought it into tho tabernacle of the congregation; as it here follows in the conclusion of this versfe- Of the captains of thousands and 6f hundreds.] It was not their oblation only, but the oblation of every one of the men of war, (ver. 50, 51.) But the commanders received it from the common soldiers, and presented it unto Moses and Eleazar, from the whole host And brought it into the tabernacle, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.] That God might be.mindful of them, i. e. propitious to them, who were so grateful to him for his benefits. j.. The Jerusalem Targum upon ver. 50. fancies these officers to have represented to Moses their great chastity, when they made this offering; saying, * We broke into the chambers and closets of the kings of Midian; and there •we saw their beautiful and charming daughters, from whom we took the golden ornaments upon their heads, and in their ears, and on their arms, their fingers, and breasts; but did not cast a wanton look upon one of them:" and therefore they hoped this oblation they made would rise* up for them, in the day of the great judgment, as a reconciliation for their souls before the Lord.