Numeri 31:1-7

1 Poi l’Eterno parlò a Mosè, dicendo: "Vendica i figliuoli d’Israele dei Madianiti;

2 poi sarai raccolto col tuo popolo".

3 E Mosè parlò al popolo, dicendo: "Mobilitate tra voi uomini per la guerra, e marcino contro Madian per eseguire la vendetta dell’Eterno su Madian.

4 Manderete alla guerra mille uomini per tribù, di tutte le tribù d’Israele".

5 Così furon forniti, fra le migliaia d’Israele, mille uomini per tribù: cioè dodicimila uomini, armati per la guerra.

6 E Mosè mandò alla guerra que’ mille uomini per tribù, e con loro Fineas figliuolo del sacerdote Eleazar, il quale portava gli strumenti sacri ed aveva in mano le trombe d’allarme.

7 Essi marciarono dunque contro Madian, come l’Eterno aveva ordinato a Mosè, e uccisero tutti i maschi.

Numeri 31:1-7 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.