Numberi 31:1-6

1 En de HEERE sprak tot Mozes, zeggende:

2 Neem de wraak der kinderen Israels van de Midianieten; daarna zult gij verzameld worden tot uw volken.

3 Mozes dan sprak tot het volk, zeggende: Dat zich mannen uit u ten strijde toerusten, en dat zij tegen de Midianieten zijn, om de wraak des HEEREN te doen aan de Midianieten.

4 Van elken stam onder alle stammen Israels zult gij een duizend ten strijde zenden.

5 Alzo werden geleverd uit de duizenden van Israel, duizend van elken stam, twaalf duizend toegerusten ten strijde.

6 En Mozes zond hen ten strijde, duizend van elken stam, hen en Pinehas, den zoon van Eleazar, den priester, ten strijde, met de heilige vaten, en de trompetten des geklanks in zijn hand.

Numberi 31:1-6 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.