Numbers 31:13-18

13 Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp.

14 And Moses was angry with ¹the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.

15 Moses said to them, “Have you ²let all the women live?

16 Behold, ³these, ⁴on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of ⁵Peor, and so ⁶the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.

17 Now therefore, ⁷kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

18 But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him ⁸keep alive for yourselves.

Numbers 31:13-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 31

This chapter contains an order to make war upon Midian, which was accordingly done, Nu 31:1-12, but Moses was wroth, because they saved the women alive, who, through the counsel of Balaam, had been the cause of sin, and of the plague for it in Israel, and therefore orders them, and the male children, to be slain, Nu 31:13-18, and then directs to the purification of the soldiers, their captives and spoil, Nu 31:19-24, and by the command of God an account is taken of the prey, and a division of it made between the soldiers and the congregation, and out of each part a tribute is levied for the Lord, Nu 31:25-31 and the sum of the whole booty is given, Nu 31:32-35 and of the part which belonged to the soldiers, and of the tribute given to the Lord, Nu 31:36-41 and of the part which belonged to the children of Israel, Nu 31:42-47 and besides the above tribute to the Lord, the officers made a voluntary oblation out of their spoil, both by way of gratitude for sparing their lives, and to make atonement for their souls, Nu 31:48-54.

Cross References

• 1. 31:14 ver. 48
• 2. 31:15 [1 Sam. 15:3]
• 3. 31:16 ch. 25:2
• 4. 31:16 ch. 24:14; 2 Pet. 2:15; Rev. 2:14
• 5. 31:16 See ch. 23:28
• 6. 31:16 ch. 25:9
• 7. 31:17 Judg. 21:11, 12
• 8. 31:18 See Deut. 21:10-14