Numbers 31:1-11

1 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses sayenge:

2 auenge the childern of Israel of the Madianites and afterwarde be gathered vnto thy people.

3 And Moses spake vnto the folke sayenge: Harnesse some of you vnto warre and let them goo apon the Madianites and auenge the Lorde of the Madianitis.

4 Ye shall sende vnto the warre a thousande of euery trybe thorow out all the trybes of Israel.

5 And there were taken oute of the thousandes of Israel .xij. thousande prepared vnto warre of euery trybe a thousande.

6 And Moses sent them a thousande of euery trybe with Phineas the sonne of Eleazer the preaste to warre and the holye vessels and the trompettes to blowe with in his honde.

7 And they warred agenst the Madianites as the Lorde commaunded Moses ad slewe all the males.

8 And they slewe the kynges of Madian among other that were slayne: Eui Rekem Zur Hur and Reba: fyue kynges of Madian. And they slewe Bala the sonne of Beor with the swerde.

9 And the childern of Israel toke all the wemen of Madian presoners and their childern and spoyled all their catell their substance and their goodes.

10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt and all their castels with fyre.

11 And they toke all the spoyle and all they coude catche both of men and beestes.

Numbers 31:1-11 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.