25-47 Whatever we have, God justly claims a part. Out of the people's share God required one in fifty, but out of the soldiers' share only one in five hundred. The less opportunity we have of honouring God with personal services, the more should we give in money or value. read more
The Division of the Spoils v. 25. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, v. 26. Take the sum of the prey that was taken, of everything that was captured in this campaign, both of man and of beast, thou and Eleazar, the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation, the heads of the fathers' houses, Exodus 6:14; v. 27. and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who assumed the offensive, made the attack, who went out to battle, and between all the... read more
EIGHTH SECTIONThe new Separation from the Heathenism of Midian analogous to the earlier Separation from the Heathenism of Egypt. The war of Revenge against Midian as a prologue to the extermination of the Canaanites. The Midianitish spoil a parallel to the Egyptian.Numbers 31:1-541, And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. 3And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the... read more
the Disposition of the Spoils of War Numbers 31:21-54 This law, which subjected the victors to a whole week of separation and to special purification, instead of an immediate welcome into the camp, was intended to wean the Hebrews from the practice of war, giving them a higher standard than that of surrounding nations. Thus God educates us, by placing before us an ever higher standard, as we are able to obey it. It is easy to say hard things against this treatment of Midian, but... read more
Here we have the story of the end of Balaam. It took place in connection with a war directly resulting from the sin of the people committed through the influence of Balaam. They had corrupted the national life by cohabitation with the women of Midian. This, as specifically stated, resulted from "the counsel of Balaam." In this war Phinehas led as priest. This is arresting as revealing the peculiar and religious note of the conflict. It was the relationship of the people to God that was... read more
The Division Between the Men of War, Yahweh (the Priests), the People and the Levites (Numbers 31:32-47 ). The assessing and dividing of the spoils follows a sequential pattern rather than the usual chiastic pattern. a The sum of the prey assessed (Numbers 31:32-35). b Sum of the half which belongs to the soldiers and to Yahweh’s tribute (Numbers 31:36-40). c Yahweh’s tribute given to Eleazar the Priest (Numbers 31:41). a The congregation’s half divided from the men that warred... read more
Numbers 31:25-1 Timothy : . The Division of the Booty.— The principle of equal division between those who went forth to fight, and those who remained in the camp was observed by David ( 1 Samuel 30:22-Lamentations :), who seems to have been the first to establish such a rule. The tax of ⅟? 500 of the combatants’ share for the priests and of ⅟? 50 of the residue for the Levites is not elsewhere mentioned. Numbers 31:50 . ankle chains: the use of these made the steps of the wearers short and... read more
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTESMoses had already received command to smite the Midianites (Numbers 25:16-18); and in this chapter we have the order given to him to execute that command, and the narrative of its execution.Numbers 31:2. Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites, i.e., for the injury which the Midianites had done to the Israelites in seducing them to the licentious and idolatrous worship of Baal-Peor.Afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people. See p. 379.Numbers 31:3.... read more
Chapter 31Then as we get into Numbers chapter thirty-one, the Lord orders the destruction of the Midianites.Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward thou shall be gathered to your people ( Numbers 31:2 )So this was to be sort of the final act of Moses. They are just about ready to enter into the land that God has promised and God orders the avenging against the Midianites, who actually created a problem with the children of Israel that we were studying last week. Balak the... read more
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Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Numbers 31:25-47
I think it not necessary to break the chain of those verses, when one general observation may be properly made from the whole taken together. It is worthy of remark, how graciously the LORD, by taking a portion to himself, hath taught us to consider from whom all blessings flow, and therefore to whom tribute should return, in a perpetual thanksgiving. It is suitable in all our alms, to the poor, to keep in view that they are the LORD'S poor, and therefore the gift is first and principally on... read more