Numbers 31:48-49

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Numbers 31:48-54

The Gifts Consecrated to the Lord v. 48. And the officers which were over thousands of the host, (namely,) the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses; v. 49. and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. "This is one of the features of this narrative which shows that we are dealing here with the execution of a divine sentence. It implies an extraordinary divine... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Numbers 31:1-54

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

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 31:21-54

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

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:1-54

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

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 31:48-54

The Sum of The Surviving Men of War and Their Freewill Gift to The Sanctuary Of Their Personal Spoil (Numbers 31:48-54 ). a The assessing of the men of war, not one is missing (num 8-49). b They offer the gold from their personal spoils to Yahweh to make atonement for themselves before Yahweh (Numbers 31:50). c Moses and Eleazar accept the gold and wrought jewels of their offering (Numbers 31:51). c The sum of the offering made to Yahweh (Numbers 31:52). b The explanation of where... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 31:25-54

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

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Numbers 31:1-54

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

Charles Simeon

Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae - Numbers 31:48-50

DISCOURSE: 181DESTRUCTION OF THE MIDIANITESNumbers 31:48-50. And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses: and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, ear-rings, and tablets, to make an... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:1-54

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

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 31:1-54

Numbers 31:2 . Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites. If it were just to cut off twenty four thousand of the Israelites for the awful feast, apostasy, and fornication at Baal-peor, it was equally just to punish Midian. Numbers 31:4 . Of every tribe a thousand. The twelve thousand sent against the Midianites were picked men, such as the enemy could not resist; and they were the more encouraged to see the priests and the ark of God marching at their head. The people of Midian... read more