Numbers 31

Numbers 31:1-54 . THE MIDIANITES SPOILED AND BALAAM SLAIN.

1, 2. the Lord spake unto Moses, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites--a semi-nomad people, descended from Abraham and Keturah, occupying a tract of country east and southeast of Moab, which lay on the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. They seem to have been the principal instigators of the infamous scheme of seduction, planned to entrap the Israelites into the double crime of idolatry and licentiousness [ Numbers 25:1-3 Numbers 25:17 Numbers 25:18 ] by which, it was hoped, the Lord would withdraw from that people the benefit of His protection and favor. Moreover, the Midianites had rendered themselves particularly obnoxious by entering into a hostile league with the Amorites ( Joshua 13:21 ). The Moabites were at this time spared in consideration of Lot ( Deuteronomy 2:9 ) and because the measure of their iniquities was not yet full. God spoke of avenging "the children of Israel" ( Numbers 31:2 ); Moses spoke of avenging the Lord ( Numbers 31:3 ), as dishonor had been done to God and an injury inflicted on His people. The interests were identical. God and His people have the same cause, the same friends, and the same assailants. This, in fact, was a religious war, undertaken by the express command of God against idolaters, who had seduced the Israelites to practise their abominations.

3. Arm some of yourselves--This order was issued but a short time before the death of Moses. The announcement to him of that approaching event [ Numbers 31:2 ] seems to have accelerated, rather than retarded, his warlike preparations.

5. there were delivered--that is, drafted, chosen, an equal amount from each tribe, to prevent the outbreak of mutual jealousy or strife. Considering the numerical force of the enemy, this was a small quota to furnish. But the design was to exercise their faith and animate them to the approaching invasion of Canaan.

6. Moses sent . . . Eleazar the priest, to the war--Although it is not expressly mentioned, it is highly probable that Joshua was the general who conducted this war. The presence of the priest, who was always with the army ( Deuteronomy 20:2 ), was necessary to preside over the Levites, who accompanied the expedition, and to inflame the courage of the combatants by his sacred services and counsels.
holy instruments--As neither the ark nor the Urim and Thummim were carried to the battlefield till a later period in the history of Israel, the "holy instruments" must mean the "trumpets" ( Numbers 10:9 ). And this view is agreeable to the text, by simply changing "and" into "even," as the Hebrew particle is frequently rendered.

7. they slew all the males--This was in accordance with a divine order in all such cases ( Deuteronomy 20:13 ). But the destruction appears to have been only partial--limited to those who were in the neighborhood of the Hebrew camp and who had been accomplices in the villainous plot of Baal-peor ( Numbers 25:1-3 ), while a large portion of the Midianites were absent on their pastoral wanderings or had saved themselves by flight. (Compare Judges 6:1 ).