Numbers 31

Numbers 31:2

Of the Midianites, for their malicious designs and practices against Israel, both by hiring Balaam to curse them, and by sending their women to enslave them. The Moabites also were guilty, but God out of his own good pleasure, and in kindness to Lot, was pleased to spare them, the rather, because the measure of their iniquity was not yet full.

Numbers 31:3

For the affront and injury which they offered to God, partly by their own idolatry and lewdness, and partly by seducing God’ s people into rebellion against him. God’ s great care was to

avenge the Israelites, , and Moses’ s chief desire was to avenge God rather than himself or the people. Withal he doth hereby insinuate, that God and his people have the same cause, the same friends and enemies.

Numbers 31:5

A thousand of every tribe, to prevent emulations or divisions. God would send no more, though it is apparent that the Midianites were numerous and strong, because he would try and exercise their trust in him, and because he would hereby give them an earnest of their Canaanitish conquests.

Numbers 31:6

Phinehas had the charge not of the army, as general, (an office never committed to any priest in all the Old Testament,) but of

the holy instruments, & c. as is here expressed, and was also sent to encourage, and quicken, and confirm them in their good enterprise. It is not here mentioned who was the general, whether Joshua, as some think, because he is not named amongst those who went out to meet the returning host, though that might be for other reasons, or some other prince, nor is it worth while to determine. The holy instruments; either,

1. The ark, with the things belonging to it, which before the building of the temple they did sometimes carry into the war for the encouragement of their army. See 14:18. But why then is it thus ambiguously expressed, seeing in all the other places it is called by its proper name? Nor is the ark ever so called in Scripture. Or,

2. The trumpets, as it here follows, the words being thus to be read, the holy instruments that is, the trumpets; for and is ofttimes put exegetically for that is, or to wit, as , compared with 9:9, &c. Or rather,

3. The holy breastplate, wherein was the Urim and Thummim, which was easily carried and used, and very useful in war upon many emergent occasions. See 30:7.

And the trumpets, which were to be used in war as well as in the service of the tabernacle. See .

Numbers 31:7

Namely, all whom they took in that war, or all who lived in those parts; for it is probable (and was then very usual) some colonies of them were sent forth to remoter places, which therefore had no hand either in their former sin, or ill this present ruin, of whom we read after this, Jude 6. And herein they did according to God’ s own order concerning such people, ; only their fault was, that they did not consider the special reason and great obligation which they had to involve the women in the destruction, for which reason Moses blames them afterward, ,16.

Numbers 31:8

The kings, called dukes or princes of Sihon, , because they were subject to him while he lived, but upon his death they resumed their kingly power.

Zur, the father of Cozbi, .

Balaam also.

Object. He was gone and returned to his own place, , which was Aram or Mesopotamia, .

Answ. Either he did go thitherward, but in his journey made some stay in Midian, where he was overtaken by Divine vengeance; or understanding the success of his wicked counsel left with Balaam, in the sin and slaughter of the Israelites, he returned, partly to enjoy the reputation and reward of his counsel which he had lost before, and partly to employ his hellish arts against Israel, now they were, as he thought, forsaken by their God, and exposed to his malice. Here Balaam dies the death of the wicked, and not of the righteous, as he desired, .

Numbers 31:10

Partly, to blot out the name and memory of so lewd and vile a people; partly, lest any of the Israelites should be tempted to settle there, and so be discouraged in their progress to Canaan; and partly, lest they should be possessed by other people who might prove as bad neighbours to them as these would have been.

Numbers 31:13

Partly to put respect upon them, and congratulate with them for their happy success; and partly to prevent the pollution of the camp by the untimely entrance of the warriors into it.

Numbers 31:14

Because they had spared those who were most criminal, and who by the law of God and of nature were worthy of death.

Numbers 31:17

Among the little ones, which they were forbidden to do to other people, , except the Canaanites, to whom this people had equalled themselves by their horrid crimes; and therefore it is not strange, nor unjust, that God, the supreme Lord of all men’ s lives, who as he gives them, so may take them away when he pleaseth, did equal them in the punishment.

Every woman that hath known man; partly for punishment, because the guilt was general, and though some of them only did prostitute themselves to the Israelites, yet the rest made themselves accessory by their consent, or concurrence, or approbation; and partly for prevention of the like mischief from such an adulterous generation.

Numbers 31:18

Not known a man, to wit, carnally: See Poole “Genesis 4:1 19:8 .

Keep alive for yourselves; either to sell them as slaves to others, or to use them as servants to yourselves, or to marry them, when you have prepared and instructed them.

Numbers 31:19

Seven days; according to the law, ,12.

Purify with the water of sprinkling, .

Numbers 31:20

All your raiment, to wit, your spoil and prey. See 14:49. All these things had contracted some ceremonial uncleanness, either from the dead bodies which wore them, or the tents or houses where they were, in which such dead bodies lay, or from the touch of the Israelitish soldiers, who were legally defiled by the slaughters they made.

Numbers 31:27

The congregation hath some share, because the warriors went in the name of all, and because all having been injured by the Midianites, all were to have some share in the reparations; but the warriors, who were but 12,000, have a far greater share than others of their brethren, because they underwent greater pains and dangers.

Numbers 31:28

One soul, i.e. one person, as it follows here and .

Numbers 31:30

One portion of fifty; whereas the former part was one of five hundred: the reason of the difference is, partly because this was taken out of the people’ s portion, whose hazards being less than the others, their gains also in all reason were to be less; partly because this was to be distributed into more hands, the Levites being now numerous, when the priests were but few.

Numbers 31:32

The rest of the prey; all which was now left of the prey. It is so expressed because they took more, but some of the persons were since killed, , and some of the cattle was spent for the necessary provisions of the army.

Numbers 31:41

Either now upon his consulting of God in the case, or formerly in general rules and laws for such occasions, such as .

Numbers 31:50

For their error, noted, , and withal

for a memorial, as it is said , or by way of gratitude for such a stupendous assistance and deliverance, as appears from the word therefore in the beginning of this verse, and from .