Numbers 31:2

31:2 “Exact vengeance ¹  for the Israelites on the Midianites ²  – after that you will be gathered to your people.” ³ 

Genesis 25:8

25:8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. ⁴  He joined his ancestors. ⁵ 

Genesis 25:17

25:17 Ishmael lived a total of ⁶  137 years. He breathed his last and died; then he joined his ancestors. ⁷ 

¹ tn The imperative is followed by its cognate accusative to stress this vengeance. The Midianites had attempted to destroy Israel with their corrupt pagan practices, and now will be judged. The accounts indicate that the effort by Midian was calculated and evil.

² sn The war was commanded by the Lord and was to be divine vengeance on the Midianites. So it was holy war. No Israelites then could take spoils in this – it was not a time for plunder and aggrandizement. It was part of the judgment of God upon those who would destroy or pervert his plan and his people.

³ sn This would be the last major enterprise that Moses would have to undertake. He would soon die and “be gathered to his people” as Aaron was.

⁴ tn Heb “old and full.”

⁵ tn Heb “And he was gathered to his people.” In the ancient Israelite view he joined his deceased ancestors in Sheol, the land of the dead.

⁶ tn Heb “And these are the days of the years of Ishmael.”

⁷ tn Heb “And he was gathered to his people.” In the ancient Israelite view he joined his deceased ancestors in Sheol, the land of the dead.