Numbers 31:10

10 Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites lived, as well as all their encampments,

Numbers 31:10 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 31:10

And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt
} So far as they went into the country, which, perhaps, might not be the whole land of Midian:

and all their goodly castles with fire;
which were either the palaces of their princes and nobles, or such like great personages; or they were fortified places, for the security of their cities and country: the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan interpret them of their houses of worship, their temples, and their altars.

Numbers 31:10 In-Context

8 Along with the others slain by them, they killed the Midianite kings-Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.

9 The Israelites took the Midianite women and their children captive, and they plundered all their cattle, flocks, and property.

10 Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites lived, as well as all their encampments,

11 and took away all the spoils of war and the captives, both human and animal.

12 They brought the prisoners, animals, and spoils of war to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the Israelite community at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan [across from] Jericho.