Numbers 31:7

7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man.

Numbers 31:7 in Other Translations

7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.

7 They warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every male.

7 They attacked Midian as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men.

7 They attacked Midian, just as God had commanded Moses, and killed every last man.

7 And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male.

7 They went to war against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man.

7 They waged war against Midian, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and killed every male.

7 They fought against Midian, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. They killed every man.

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 twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel.

6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man.

8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.

9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 25:16
• 2. Deuteronomy 20:13; Judges 21:11; 1 Kings 11:15,16