Bamidbar 31:7

7 And they warred against Midyan, just, as Hashem commanded Moshe; and they slaughtered kol zachar.

Bamidbar 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.

Bamidbar 31:7 In-Context

5 So there were supplied out of the thousands of Yisroel, an elef (a thousand) of every matteh, sheneym asar elef armed for war.

6 And Moshe sent them to war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Pinchas Ben Eleazar HaKohen, to the war, with the kelei hakodesh, and the tzotzerot hateru’ah in his yad.

7 And they warred against Midyan, just, as Hashem commanded Moshe; and they slaughtered kol zachar.

8 And they slaughtered the Melachim of Midyan, besides the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Tzur, and Chur, and Reva, five melachim of Midyan; Balaam Ben Beor also they slaughtered with the cherev.

9 And the Bnei Yisroel took all the nashim of Midyan captive, and their little ones, and took the plunder of all their behemah, and all their mikneh, and all their goods.