Chapter 31

2
Avenge Num 31:3, Num 25:17-18; Deut 32:35; Judg 16:24, Judg 16:28-30; Ps 94:1-3; Isa 1:24; Nah 1:2; Luke 21:22; Rom 12:19, Rom 13:4; 1Thess 4:6; Heb 10:30; Rev 6:10; Rev 18:20, Rev 19:2

the Midianites Num 25:6, Num 25:14-18; Gen 25:1-4; Exod 2:16

gathered Num 27:13; Gen 15:15, Gen 25:8, Gen 25:17; Judg 2:10; Acts 13:36


3
Arm some Exod 17:9-13

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 (Num 31:2), 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. Num 25:11, Num 25:13; Exod 17:16; Lev 26:25; Judg 5:2, Judg 5:23; 2Kgs 9:7, 2Kgs 10:30; Jer 46:10; Jer 50:28


4
Of every tribe a thousand Heb. A thousand of a tribe, a thousand of a tribe

a thousand Lev 26:8; Judg 7:2; 1Sam 14:6


6
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 Num 25:7-13

the holy instruments Num 14:44, Num 33:20-22; Exod 25:9; Josh 6:4-6, Josh 6:13-15; 1Sam 4:4-5, 1Sam 4:17, 1Sam 14:18; 1Sam 23:9; 2Sam 11:11

to blow Num 10:8-9; 2Chr 13:12-15


7
all Deut 20:13-14; Judg 21:11; 1Sam 27:9; 1Kgs 11:15-16

the males Judg 6:1-2, Judg 6:33


8
the kings Num 22:4; Josh 13:21-22

Zur Num 25:15, Num 25:18

Balaam Num 22:10, Num 24:25; Josh 13:22; Ps 9:16, Ps 10:2; 1Tim 6:9-10; 2Pet 2:15; Jude 1:11; Rev 2:14, Rev 19:20


9
Num 31:15-16; Deut 20:14; 2Chr 28:5, 2Chr 28:8-10


10
Josh 6:24; 1Sam 30:1; 1Kgs 9:16; Isa 1:7; Rev 18:8


11
Deut 20:14; Josh 8:2


12
the plains of Moab Num 22:1


13
went forth Gen 14:17; 1Sam 15:12, 1Sam 30:21

without the camp Num 31:12, Num 31:22-24, Num 5:2, Num 19:11


14
wroth Num 12:3; Exod 32:19, Exod 32:22; Lev 10:16; 1Sam 15:13-14; 1Kgs 20:42; 2Kgs 13:19; Eph 4:26

battle Heb. host of war


15
Deut 2:34, Deut 20:13, Deut 20:16-18; Josh 6:21, Josh 8:25, Josh 10:40, Josh 11:14; 1Sam 15:3; Ps 137:8-9; Jer 48:10; Ezek 9:6


16
these caused Num 24:14, Num 25:1-3; Prov 23:27; Eccl 7:26; 2Pet 2:15; Rev 2:14

in the matter Num 25:18; Deut 4:3; Josh 22:17

and there Num 25:9


17
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?" Judg 21:11-12

him Heb. a male


18
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 Deut 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." Lev 25:44; Deut 20:14, Deut 21:10-14; 2Chr 28:8-10; Isa 14:2


19
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. Num 5:2, Num 19:11-22; 1Chr 22:8


20
raiment Num 19:14-16, Num 19:22; Gen 35:2; Exod 19:10

that is made Heb. instrument, or, vessel


21
Num 30:16


23
abide Isa 43:2; Zech 13:9; Mal 2:2-3; Matt 3:11; 1Cor 3:13; 1Pet 1:7, 1Pet 4:12; Rev 3:18

it shall be purified Num 8:7, Num 19:9, Num 19:17

ye shall make Lev 11:32, Lev 15:17; Eph 5:26; Titus 3:5-6; 1Pet 3:21


24
Num 19:19; Lev 11:25, Lev 14:9, Lev 15:13


26
that was taken Heb. of the captivity, Num 31:26


27
two parts Josh 22:8; 1Sam 30:4, 1Sam 30:24-25; Ps 68:12


28
levy Gen 14:20; Josh 6:19, Josh 6:24; 2Sam 8:11-12; 1Chr 18:11, 1Chr 26:26-27; Prov 3:9-10; Isa 18:7, Isa 23:18, Isa 60:9; Matt 22:21

one soul Num 31:30, Num 31:47, Num 18:26


29
an heave Num 18:26; Exod 29:27; Deut 12:12, Deut 12:19


30
one portion Num 31:42-47

flocks or, goats

and give Num 31:28, Num 18:24-28; 1Cor 9:13-14

keep the Num 3:7-8, Num 3:25, Num 3:31, Num 3:36-39, Num 18:1-5, Num 18:23; 1Chr 9:27-29, 1Chr 23:32, 1Chr 26:20-27; Acts 20:28; 1Cor 4:2; Col 4:17; Heb 13:17


32
the booty It appears from the enumeration here, that the Israelites, in this war with the Midianites, took 32,000 female prisoners, 61,000 asses, 72,000 beeves, and 675,000 sheep and small cattle; besides the immense number of males who fell in battle, and the women and children who were slain by the divine command (Num 31:17). This booty was divided into equal parts, by which partition a far larger share was justly given to the warriors employed on the expedition, who were only 12,000, than to those, who being equally willing to go, were ordered to stay in the camp. Each party was to give a certain proportion to Jehovah, as their sovereign, in grateful acknowledgment that to him they owed their success. The soldiers to give to the Lord one out of every five hundred persons, beeves, asses, and sheep (Num 31:28), and the people, who by staying at home risked nothing, and had no fatigue, were to give one out of fifty of each of the above to the Levites, who were far more numerous than the priests (Num 31:30). It does not appear that a single ox, sheep, or ass, was required by Moses as his portion; or that there was any given to him by the people; and though he had a family as well as others, yet no provision was made for them above the common lot of Levites!


41
Eleazar Num 31:29-31, Num 18:8, Num 18:19; Matt 10:10; 1Cor 9:10-14; Gal 6:6; 1Tim 5:17; Heb 7:4-6, Heb 7:9-12


47
the Levites Num 18:21-24; Deut 12:17-19; Luke 10:1-8; 1Thess 5:12-13

kept the charge Num 31:30; Ps 134:1; Isa 56:10-11


49
charge Heb. hand

lacketh 1Sam 30:18-19; Ps 72:14; John 18:9


50
therefore brought The officers of the army having mustered their men, found they had not lost a man in the contest with Midian! Penetrated with gratitude for this most remarkable interposition of Providence in their favour, they now offer to Jehovah the golden jewels which they had found among the spoil, to the amount of 16,750 shekels, equal to £37,869, 16s. 5d. of our money.

an oblation Ps 107:15, Ps 107:21-22, Ps 116:12, Ps 116:17

gotten Heb. found

an atonement Exod 30:12, Exod 30:15-16; Lev 17:11


51
Num 7:2-6


52
offering Heb. heave-offering, Num 31:52


53
Deut 20:14


54
a memorial Num 16:40; Exod 30:16; Josh 4:7; Ps 18:49, Ps 103:1-2, Ps 115:1, Ps 145:7; Zech 6:14; Luke 22:19; Acts 10:4


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