Numbers 31:7

7 They warred against Midyan, as the LORD commanded Moshe; and they killed every male.

Numbers 31:7 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 31:7

And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord
commanded Moses
Whether the Midianites came out against them with an army, and there was a pitched battle between them, is not certain; however the Israelites committed acts of hostility upon them, by entering their cities, plundering their houses, and slaying the inhabitants of them; the Targum of Jonathan is,

``they warred against Midian, and surrounded it in the three corners of it, as the Lord commanded Moses;''

for, as Maimonides ^F2 observes from tradition,

``when they besiege a city to take it, they do not surround it in the four corners of it, but in the three corners of it, and leave a place to flee out, that everyone that would might escape for his life, as it is said, "and they warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses"; by report, or from tradition, it is learnt that so he commanded him;''

that is, in such a manner to besiege a city; but for this there is only tradition, for it is not mentioned among the rules after directed to in such a case, ( Deuteronomy 20:10-20 ) ,

and they slew all the males;
which fell into their hands; for, no doubt, there were multitudes that made their escape, since in later times we read of the Midianites, as a very powerful people, and very distressing to Israel, ( Judges 6:1 Judges 6:2 ) these, as Aben Ezra observes, they slew, were such as were grown up, for as for their little ones, them they spared and carried captive, ( Numbers 31:9 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Hilchot Melacim, c. 6. sect. 7.

Numbers 31:7 In-Context

5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Yisra'el, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 Moshe sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Pinechas the son of El`azar the Kohen, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

7 They warred against Midyan, as the LORD commanded Moshe; and they killed every male.

8 They killed the kings of Midyan with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Tzur, and Hur, and Reva, the five kings of Midyan: Bil`am also the son of Be'or they killed with the sword.

9 The children of Yisra'el took captive the women of Midyan and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.