Numbers 31

CHAPTER 31

Vengeance on the Midianites (31:1–24)

1–2 The Lord said: “Take vengeance on the Midianites” (verse 1). The Lord’s “vengeance” is essentially His retribution, His judgment against ungodliness. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men (Romans 1:18). The Lord says, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19).

The Lord determined to punish the Midianites for their role in attempting to seduce Israel into committing idolatry and immorality (Numbers 25:16–18). Thus this war against the Midianites was the Lord’s war; it was a judicial war, the purpose of which was to render judgment on an ungodly nation that had threatened the very existence of God’s chosen people. Organizing this battle against the Midianites was to be Moses’ last act before dying–before being gathered to [his] people.

3–6 Twelve thousand men (out of a total of 600,000) were chosen to fight the Midianites. Phinehas, son of Eleazar the high priest, went into battle also; he was the one who earlier had executed Zimri and the Midianite woman for their immorality (Numbers 25:7–8). Phinehas took with him the two silver trumpets used for signaling the troops and for ensuring that God would be with them in the battle (Numbers 10:9).

7–12 God was indeed with them: the Israelites killed every Midianite man⁹⁹ —together with Balaam (verses 7–8)—and did not lose one soldier of their own (verse 49). They brought all the plunder and the captured women and children back to the Israelite encampment on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, just across from the Canaanite city of Jericho (verse 12).

13–18 Moses rebuked the officers for letting all the women live; some of them were the very ones who had seduced Israel earlier.¹⁰⁰ Only the virgins were to be spared, since they had not taken part in sexual immorality with the Israelites. Some of the virgins would eventually marry Israelite men and become part of Israel. However, the Midianite boys were not spared (verse 17); they might demand inheritance rights in the land or even rise up later and oppose Israel.

We modern readers are no doubt troubled by the severity of God’s judgment, when even young boys are put to death. However, God is always just and does what is right (see Exodus 15:3–5; 34:4–7 and comments). Furthermore, at the end of history a universal judgment is going to take place that will make this judgment against the Midianites seem trivial by comparison. Every individual has the choice to stand with God or stand against Him. For those too young to take a stand, we must simply trust them to God’s mercy. Among those Midianite boys there may have been many who were taken up into heaven; we simply do not know. But this one thing we do know: God will always do what is right.

19–24 After a battle, the ceremonial cleanliness of the soldiers and the plunder had to be ensured. This was accomplished by sprinkling the water of cleansing (verse 23) on all unclean persons and objects (see Numbers 19:1–22 and comment). Anyone who had touched a dead body had to stay outside the camp for seven days (verse 19). Metal objects of plunder were first to be put through the fire to purify them; then they also were sprinkled with the water of cleansing (verses 22–23). In this way, no ceremonial uncleanness would defile either God’s people or His tabernacle.

Dividing the Spoils (31:25–54)

25–47 The spoils were to be divided equally between the soldiers and the community, one half to each (verse 27). The soldiers were to give one five-hundredth of their share of the plunder to the Lord (verse 28); the community was to give one fiftieth of their share of the plunder to the Lord (verse 30)—ten times as much as the soldiers were required to give.

48–54 The soldiers and their officers took many plundered objects for themselves. The officers, in acknowledgement of God’s protection over every Israelite soldier, gave back to God all the gold articles they had taken. The total weight of gold came to 16,750 shekels—that is, about two hundred kilograms.

This offering of gold to the Lord by the officers was to make atonement for themselves (verse 50). They had taken men’s lives; they themselves may have been brutal and greedy. Thus they felt the need to be cleansed from their sinfulness. Their offering was accepted; the gold was probably melted down and fashioned into a memorial to be placed within the tabernacle (verse 54).