Numbers 31:2-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 31:1-6

Here, I. The Lord of hosts gives orders to Moses to make war upon the Midianites, and his commission no doubt justified this war, though it will not serve to justify the like without such commission. The Midianites were the posterity of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25:2. Some of them settled south of Canaan, among whom Jethro lived, and they retained the worship of the true God; but these were settled east of Canaan, and had fallen into idolatry, neighbours to, and in confederacy with, the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 31:7-12

Here is, 1. The descent which this little army of Israelites made, under the divine commission, conduct, and command, upon the country of Midian. They warred against the Midianites. It is very probable that they first published their manifesto, showing the reasons of the war, and requiring them to give up the ringleaders of the mischief to justice; for such afterwards was the law (Deut. 20:10), and such the practice, Jdg. 20:12; 13. But the Midianites justifying what they had done, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:2

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites ,.... For the injury they had done them, by sending their daughters among them, who enticed them to commit uncleanness with them, and then drew them into the worship of their idols, which brought the wrath of God upon them, and for which 24,000 persons were slain. Now, though the Moabites had a concern in this affair as well as the Midianites, yet they were spared; which some think was for the sake of Lot, from whom they descended; but why not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:3

And Moses spake unto the people, saying ,.... In obedience to the divine command; this must be supposed to be spoken to the heads or princes of the tribes: arm some of yourselves unto the war : not the whole body of the militia, 600,000 men and upwards, only some of them, and these choice and select men; and, according to the Jewish writers, good men, who, detesting the sins of lewdness and idolatry, would more strictly and severely avenge themselves on the Midianites for drawing their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:4

Of every tribe a thousand ,.... So that the whole number of those that were armed were 12,000 as after given: throughout all the tribes of Israel ; this is observed, as Jarchi thinks, to comprehend the tribe of Levi, which in some cases was left out of the account: shall ye send to the war ; to fight with Midian. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:5

So they were delivered out of the thousands of Israel ,.... Several thousands very probably offered themselves voluntarily to go to the war, or however were summoned together on this account, and out of them the following number was delivered of picked and chosen men: a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war ; which was but a small number to go against so considerable a nation and people; but this was done to show that the war was of the Lord, he would fight the battle,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:6

And Moses sent them to the war ,.... Being mustered and armed: a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the war ; which looks as if Phinehas was the general of this army; for Moses went not to the war, and no mention is made of Joshua, nor might it be proper for him, he being the successor of Moses, who was quickly to die; but it seems rather that there was no one person that had the command of the whole, but every captain commanded his own company;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:7

And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses ,.... Whether the Midianites came out against them with an army, and there was a pitched battle between them, is not certain; however the Israelites committed acts of hostility upon them, by entering their cities, plundering their houses, and slaying the inhabitants of them; the Targum of Jonathan is,"they warred against Midian, and surrounded it in the three corners of it, as the Lord commanded Moses;'for, as Maimonides ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:8

And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain ,.... Besides the males of the common people, they slew their kings, who were petty kings or princes, perhaps under the king of Moab, or had reassumed their titles and government after the death of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who, in his time, were called dukes of Sihon, Joshua 13:21 , namely: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian ; the Targum of Jonathan says of Zur, this is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:9

And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives ,.... The word "all" is not in the original text, nor should it be supplied; for if all had been taken, and carried captive, and put to death, as those were afterwards, how could there have been such an increase of the Midianites as there was in some time after this? see Judges 6:1 but the meaning is, that as many as fell into their hands they took and carried captive: and their little ones ; both male and female: ... read more

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