Numbers 31

In Numbers 31, God instructs Moses to lead the Israelites in a military campaign against the Midianites. This chapter focuses on God’s judgment on Midian, a nation that had led Israel into idolatry and immorality in Numbers 25. The instructions given to Moses include details about the warfare, spoils of war, and how the Israelites should purify themselves after the battle.

Numbers 31:1-3 (NKJV)
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”
3 So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the LORD on Midian.

God commands Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites, who had seduced Israel into sin, leading to a plague and God's wrath in earlier chapters. This is a divine judgment against Midian, showing God's justice. Moses is instructed that this will be his final act before his death. The call to war against Midian is framed as not just for Israel but for the Lord, signifying divine judgment.

Numbers 31:4-6 (NKJV)
4 A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.”
5 So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
6 Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the signal trumpets in his hand.

Moses selects twelve thousand soldiers, one thousand from each tribe, to participate in the campaign. Phinehas, the son of the high priest, accompanies the army with holy articles and trumpets, indicating this is a holy war, sanctioned by God. Phinehas' presence shows that this battle is not only physical but also spiritual, and the signal trumpets serve both practical and ceremonial purposes.

Numbers 31:7-8 (NKJV)
7 And they warred against the Midianites, just as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed all the males.
8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword.

The Israelites carry out God's command, killing all the Midianite males, including their five kings. The death of Balaam, the prophet who had earlier attempted to curse Israel but was forced to bless them, is also significant. Though Balaam was not an Israelite enemy by nationality, his involvement in Midian's plot to corrupt Israel justified his execution.

Numbers 31:9-11 (NKJV)
9 And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captive, with their little ones, and took as spoil all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods.
10 They also burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their forts.
11 And they took all the spoil and all the booty—of man and beast.

The Israelites capture the women and children of Midian and take their possessions as spoils of war. The complete destruction of the Midianite cities and forts demonstrates the thoroughness of God's judgment. The Israelites also gather livestock and goods as booty, which will later be distributed among the soldiers and the community.

Numbers 31:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Then they brought the captives, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.
13 And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp.

The army returns from battle, bringing the captives and spoils of war to the Israelite camp, located near the plains of Moab, across from Jericho. Moses, Eleazar, and the leaders go out to meet them, indicating that this is a significant moment for Israel. The spoils and captives are presented before the Lord and the community.

Numbers 31:14-16 (NKJV)
14 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from the battle.
15 And Moses said to them: “Have you kept all the women alive?
16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Moses expresses anger at the soldiers for allowing the Midianite women to live, as they had been the primary cause of Israel's sin at Peor through their seduction and idol worship. Moses reminds them that it was their actions, under Balaam's counsel, that led to the earlier plague among the Israelites. His reaction highlights the importance of eradicating all potential sources of future sin and corruption.

Numbers 31:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man intimately.
18 But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have not known a man intimately.

Moses instructs the Israelites to kill all the male children and the women who had been involved in sexual relations, but to spare the young girls who had not known a man. This directive comes after the Midianites, influenced by Balaam, led Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality (Numbers 25), resulting in a plague that struck Israel. The killing of the male children was intended to prevent future retaliation and ensure the eradication of Midianite hostility. The women involved in leading Israel into sin were judged for their role in the corruption, as they had actively contributed to Israel’s downfall. The young girls, who were likely innocent and not involved in the immoral acts, were spared. This judgment reflects the seriousness of God’s response to sin and the need to remove corrupting influences from among His people to preserve purity and faithfulness to Him.

Numbers 31:19-20 (NKJV)
19 And as for you, remain outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day.
20 Purify every garment, everything made of leather, everything woven of goats’ hair, and everything made of wood.”

Moses instructs those who participated in the battle to undergo a purification process. Contact with death made them ceremonially unclean, so they were required to stay outside the camp for seven days and perform purification rites on the third and seventh days. Everything taken as spoil also had to be purified, reflecting the strict regulations on cleanliness in Israel.

Numbers 31:21-24 (NKJV)
21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to the battle, “This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses:
22 Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
23 everything that can endure fire, you shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean; and it shall be purified with the water of purification. But all that cannot endure fire you shall put through water.
24 And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp.”

Eleazar provides further instructions on purification. Items that can withstand fire, such as metals, are to be purified through fire, while others must be purified with water. This reflects the comprehensive nature of the purification process, ensuring that no unclean or defiled items are brought into the camp. The men themselves are required to wash their clothes and complete the process of cleansing before re-entering the community.

Numbers 31:25-27 (NKJV)
25 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
26 “Count up the plunder that was taken—of man and beast—you and Eleazar the priest and the chief fathers of the congregation;
27 and divide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

God instructs Moses to take an inventory of the plunder, including both human captives and animals. The plunder is to be divided equally between the soldiers who fought in the battle and the rest of the Israelite community. This fair distribution acknowledges the role of both those who fought and those who stayed behind, showing that all shared in the blessing of God's victory.

Numbers 31:28-30 (NKJV)
28 And levy a tribute for the LORD on the men of war who went out to battle: one of every five hundred of the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep;
29 take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest as a heave offering to the LORD.
30 And from the children of Israel’s half you shall take one of every fifty, drawn from the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep, from all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.”

Moses is commanded to set aside a portion of the spoils as a tribute to God. From the soldiers' share, one out of every five hundred captives and animals is to be given to Eleazar, the priest, as an offering to the Lord. From the community’s share, one out of every fifty is to be given to the Levites, who are responsible for the tabernacle. This offering acknowledges God's role in the victory and supports the priesthood and Levites.

Numbers 31:31-32 (NKJV)
31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
32 The booty remaining from the plunder, which the men of war had taken, was six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep,

Moses and Eleazar follow the Lord’s instructions precisely. The remaining spoils include an enormous amount of livestock, demonstrating the great wealth gained from the battle. The large numbers of animals highlight the scale of the victory over Midian and the abundance of resources now available to the Israelites.

Numbers 31:33-35 (NKJV)
33 seventy-two thousand cattle,
34 sixty-one thousand donkeys,
35 and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of women who had not known a man intimately.

The breakdown of the plunder includes thousands of cattle, donkeys, and young women. The specific mention of women who had not been involved in the immorality of Midian reflects the careful handling of the spoils and the focus on preserving purity within the community. These numbers emphasize the richness of the Midianite society and the significant resources Israel gained.

Numbers 31:36-38 (NKJV)
36 And the half, the portion for those who had gone out to war, was in number three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep;
37 and the LORD’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred and seventy-five.
38 The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which the LORD’s tribute was seventy-two.

The soldiers’ share of the spoils is calculated, and the portion designated as the Lord's tribute is listed. The tribute includes 675 sheep and 72 cattle, showing that even in the midst of distributing the spoils, the Israelites are mindful of offering a portion back to God in gratitude for His provision and victory.

Numbers 31:39-41 (NKJV)
39 The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the LORD’s tribute was sixty-one.
40 The persons were sixteen thousand, of which the LORD’s tribute was thirty-two persons.
41 So Moses gave the tribute which was the LORD’s heave offering to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The tribute to the Lord also includes donkeys and human captives. Thirty-two individuals are given as part of the offering, a symbolic act acknowledging God’s ownership of the victory. Moses ensures that Eleazar, the priest, receives the tribute in accordance with God’s command, underscoring the importance of following divine instructions in every detail.

Numbers 31:42-47 (NKJV)
42 And from the children of Israel’s half, which Moses separated from the men who fought—
43 now the half belonging to the congregation was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,
44 thirty-six thousand cattle,
45 thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,
46 and sixteen thousand persons—
47 and from the children of Israel’s half Moses took one of every fifty, drawn from man and beast, and gave them to the Levites, who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The congregation’s share of the spoils is listed, mirroring the soldiers’ portion. From this, Moses takes one out of every fifty for the Levites, who maintain the tabernacle. This act not only provides for the Levites but also ensures that the entire community, including those who did not fight, has a share in the blessings of God’s victory. It reinforces the interconnectedness of the community in their service to God.

Numbers 31:48-50 (NKJV)
48 Then the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;
49 and they said to Moses, “Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.
50 Therefore we have brought an offering for the LORD, what every man found of ornaments of gold: armlets and bracelets and signet rings and earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.”

The officers of the army come to Moses with an extraordinary report: not a single Israelite soldier has been lost in the battle. In gratitude for this miraculous protection, the soldiers voluntarily bring an offering of gold ornaments to the Lord as a form of atonement and thanksgiving. This act demonstrates their recognition of God’s role in their victory and their desire to show gratitude.

Numbers 31:51-54 (NKJV)
51 So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all the fashioned ornaments.
52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered to the LORD, from the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.
53 (The men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)
54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of meeting as a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Moses and Eleazar receive the gold offering, which totals 16,750 shekels. This offering, a result of each soldier taking spoils for himself, is presented as a memorial before the Lord. The dedication of the gold as a memorial signifies Israel’s ongoing acknowledgment of God's intervention and serves as a reminder of His deliverance and faithfulness to the nation. This act of dedication helps solidify Israel's commitment to serving and worshipping God.