Numbers 31:2-3 ESV

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 31:1-20

the Destruction of the Midianites Numbers 31:1-20 In reading such a chapter as this we must remember that the Bible is the history of the slow advance of a nation toward the knowledge of God, and its preparation to become one of the greatest of spiritual forces. That process could only be a prolonged one. Only by slow degrees could the grossness of the period be eliminated. Our Lord distinctly said that certain things were allowed for a time because of the hardness of their hearts. See... 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 31:1-24

(i) The Sentence Passed and Carried Out on the Local Midianites (Numbers 31:1-24 ). Analysis. a The command to avenge Yahweh on Midian (Numbers 31:1-6). b The judgment of Yahweh in the defeat of Midian (Numbers 31:7-8). c The sparing of the women who had caused them to sin at Baal-peor (Numbers 31:9-12). c The judgment on the sparing of the women who had made them sin (Numbers 31:13-18). b Purification before returning to the camp to avoid judgment (Numbers 31:19-20). a Retention... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 31:1-18

Numbers 31:1-Job : . The Extermination of the Midianites.— This story of a war of extermination, waged to avenge the wiles practised on Israel by Midian (as described in Numbers 25:6-Ezra :) is marked by various fanciful elements, such as ( a) the huge number massacred (for if the girls and unmarried women amounted to 32,000, the married women and the males of all ages must have been three times as many); ( b) the vast quantity of spoil taken; ( c) the complete immunity of the Israelite... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:2

Of the Midianites, for their malicious designs and practices against Israel, both by hiring Balaam to curse them, and by sending their women to enslave them. The Moabites also were guilty, but God out of his own good pleasure, and in kindness to Lot, was pleased to spare them, the rather, because the measure of their iniquity was not yet full. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:3

For the affront and injury which they offered to God, partly by their own idolatry and lewdness, and partly by seducing God’s people into rebellion against him. God’s great care was to avenge the Israelites, Numbers 31:2, and Moses’s chief desire was to avenge God rather than himself or the people. Withal he doth hereby insinuate, that God and his people have the same cause, the same friends and enemies. 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

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

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Numbers 31:1-12

Numbers 31:1-12They warred against the Midianites.The vengeance of Jehovah on MidianI. That in the administration of the Divine government the punishment of sin is certain.1. The sin which the Midianites had committed.2. The Author of the punishment of the Midianites.3. The executioners of the punishment.4. The severity of the punishment.(1) It fell upon an immense number.(2) It tell upon persons of every rank.(3) It involved the destruction of their towns and villages, and the loss of their... read more

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Numbers 31:1-20

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

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 31:1-24

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 31:1-18

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:2

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:3

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

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:1-54

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

The Biblical Illustrator - Numbers 31:1-12

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