Numbers 31:1-20

31:1

31:2

vengeance <05358> [Avenge.]

Midianites <04084> [the Midianites.]

gathered <0622> [gathered.]

31:3

Arm <02502 0582> [Arm some.]

you ........... execute ... Lord's <03068 05414> [avenge the Lord.]

It was God's quarrel, not their own, that they were now to take up. These people were idolaters, and had seduced the Israelites to practise the same abominations. Idolatry is an offence against God; and the civil power has no authority to meddle with what belongs to Him, without especial directions, certified, as in this case, in the most unequivocal manner. Private revenge, ambition, or avarice were to have no place in this business: Jehovah is to be avenged; and through Him, the children of Israel, (ver. 2,) because they were nearly ruined by their idolatries. If Jehovah, instead of punishing sinners by earthquakes, pestilence, or famine,is pleased expressly to command any person or people to avenge his cause, this commission justifies, nay sanctifies, war, massacre, or devastation. Though none at present shew such a commission, yet the Israelites could; and it is therefore absurd to censure Moses, Joshua, and Israel, for the dreadful slaughter made by them. God himself passed sentence of condemnation, and employed them merely as ministers of his vengeance; and unless it could be proved that the criminals did not deserve their doom, or that God had no right to punish his rebellious creatures, such objectors only shew their enmity to God by becoming the unsolicited advocates of his enemies.

31:4

thousand men .... tribe ..... tribes <04294 0505> [Of every tribe a thousand. Heb. A thousand of a tribe, a thousand of a tribe. a thousand.]

31:6

thousand <0505> [a thousand.]

Twelve thousand in all--a small number in proportion to all Israel, or to the forces which they had to encounter. As they were under the conduct of captains of thousands and hundreds, they probably had no general; for Phinehas seems to have accompanied them simply to take charge of "the holy instruments;" probably the ark and silver trumpets.

Phinehas <06372> [Phinehas.]

holy articles <03627 06944> [the holy instruments.]

signal <08643> [to blow.]

31:7

male <02145> [all.]

male <02145> [the males.]

31:8

kings ................. kings <04428> [the kings.]

Zur <06698> [Zur.]

Balaam <01109> [Balaam.]

31:9

31:10

31:11

31:12

plains ... Moab <04124 06160> [the plains of Moab.]

31:13

<03318> [went forth.]

outside ... camp <04264 02351> [without the camp.]

31:14

furious <07107> [wroth.]

war <04421> [battle. Heb. host of war.]

31:15

31:16

resulted <01961 02007> [these caused.]

counsel ............... matter <01697> [in the matter.]

plague <04046> [and there.]

31:17

kill ... boy ... kill ........... man <02145 02026> [kill every male.]

The sword of war should spare women and children, as incapable of resisting; but the sword of justice knows no distinction, except that of guilty or not guilty, or more or less guilty. This was the execution of a righteous sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were the greatest criminals; and it may safely be said, that their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions. With respect to the execution of the male infants, who cannot be supposed to have been guilty, God, the author and supporter of life, who has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper, commanded it; and "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

boy ............. man <02145> [him. Heb. a male.]

31:18

yours <02421> [keep alive for yourselves.]

It has been groundlessly asserted, that Moses here authorised the Israelites to make concubines of the whole number of female children; and an insidious objection against his writings has been grounded upon this monstrous supposition. But the whole tenor of the law, and especially a statute recorded in De 21:10-14, proves most decisively to the contrary. They were merely permitted to possess them as female slaves, educating them in their families, and employing them as domestics; for the laws concerning fornication, concubinage, and marriage, were in full force, and prohibited an Israelite even from marrying a captive, without delays and previous formalities; and if he afterwards divorced her, he was to set here at liberty, "because he had humbled her."

31:19

remain <02583> [abide.]

Though the Israelites had acted by the commission of God, yet they had contracted pollution by touching the dead; and the spoil having been used by idolaters, must also be purified in the prescribed manner.

31:20

garment <0899> [raiment.]

made ........... made <03627> [that is made. Heb. instrument, or, vessel.]