2 Avenge H5358 H5360 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 of the Midianites: H4084 afterward H310 shalt thou be gathered H622 unto thy people. H5971
3 And Moses H4872 spake H1696 unto the people, H5971 saying, H559 Arm H2502 some H582 of yourselves unto the war, H6635 and let them go against the Midianites, H4080 and avenge H5414 H5360 the LORD H3068 of Midian. H4080
4 Of every tribe H4294 H4294 a thousand, H505 H505 throughout all the tribes H4294 of Israel, H3478 shall ye send H7971 to the war. H6635
5 So there were delivered H4560 out of the thousands H505 of Israel, H3478 a thousand H505 of every tribe, H4294 twelve H8147 H6240 thousand H505 armed H2502 for war. H6635
6 And Moses H4872 sent H7971 them to the war, H6635 a thousand H505 of every tribe, H4294 them and Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 to the war, H6635 with the holy H6944 instruments, H3627 and the trumpets H2689 to blow H8643 in his hand. H3027
7 And they warred H6633 against the Midianites, H4080 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses; H4872 and they slew H2026 all the males. H2145
8 And they slew H2026 the kings H4428 of Midian, H4080 beside H5921 the rest of them that were slain; H2491 namely, Evi, H189 and Rekem, H7552 and Zur, H6698 and Hur, H2354 and Reba, H7254 five H2568 kings H4428 of Midian: H4080 Balaam H1109 also the son H1121 of Beor H1160 they slew H2026 with the sword. H2719
9 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 took all the women H802 of Midian H4080 captives, H7617 and their little ones, H2945 and took the spoil H962 of all their cattle, H929 and all their flocks, H4735 and all their goods. H2428
10 And they burnt H8313 all their cities H5892 wherein they dwelt, H4186 and all their goodly castles, H2918 with fire. H784
11 And they took H3947 all the spoil, H7998 and all the prey, H4455 both of men H120 and of beasts. H929
12 And they brought H935 the captives, H7628 and the prey, H4455 and the spoil, H7998 unto Moses, H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and unto the congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto the camp H4264 at the plains H6160 of Moab, H4124 which are by Jordan H3383 near Jericho. H3405
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 31
Commentary on Numbers 31 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 31
This chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of the Lord,' in which it is probable it was inserted. It is the history of a holy war, a war with Midian. Here is,
Num 31:1-6
Here,
Num 31:7-12
Here is,
Num 31:13-24
We have here the triumphant return of the army of Israel from the war with Midian, and here,
Num 31:25-47
We have here the distribution of the spoil which was taken in this expedition against Midian. God himself directed how it should be distributed, and Moses and Eleazar did according to the directions, and thus unhappy contests among themselves were prevented and the victory was made to turn to the common benefit. It was fit that he who gave them the prey should order the disposal of it. All we have is from God, and therefore must be subject to his will.
Num 31:48-54
Here is a great example of piety and devotion in the officers of the army, the colonels, that are called captains of thousands, and the inferior officers that were captains of hundreds; they came to Moses as their general and commander-in-chief, and, though he was now going off the stage they very humbly and respectfully addressed themselves to him, calling themselves his servants; the honours they had won did not puff them up, so as to make them forget their duty to him. Observe in their address to them,