Numbers 31:5, Numbers 31:6 NIV

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

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:5

Were delivered - Or, “were told off.” read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 31:5

Numbers 31:5. Twelve thousand God would send no more, though it is apparent the Midianites were numerous and strong, because he would exercise their trust in him, and give them an earnest of their conquests in Canaan. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:1-54

Judgment on Midian (31:1-54)God now sent Israel to carry out his judgment on the Midianites (and Balaam with them) for the evil they did to Israel at Peor (see 25:1-9,14-17). Since it was a ‘holy’ war, the person who led the Israelite forces was not the army general Joshua, but the priest Phinehas (see 25:10-13). The Israelites were to destroy the Midianite fighting forces and burn their settlements. All captives and goods seized in battle were to be given to God, represented by the high... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 31:5

armed = assigned to or for, &c. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:4-6

Numbers 31:4-6. Of every tribe a thousand— Six thousand of the Midianites taken prisoners in the war (see the following verses) give us a sufficient proof of the strength of that nation, and that the laws of prudence required a numerous army to attack them; but a people favoured by heaven, and led on by the God of hosts, had a method of fighting superior to all human prudence. It pleased God, that Moses should command but a small army in this expedition, that the victory might appear owing to... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:5

5. there were delivered—that is, drafted, chosen, an equal amount from each tribe, to prevent the outbreak of mutual jealousy or strife. Considering the numerical force of the enemy, this was a small quota to furnish. But the design was to exercise their faith and animate them to the approaching invasion of Canaan. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Numbers 31:1-24

The "vengeance" Israel was to take (Numbers 31:2) was for the spiritual and sexual seduction the Midianites had led the Moabites to practice with them. This had resulted in the defeat of God’s people (ch. 25). Her enemies had lured Israel away from her true husband, Yahweh.Moses did not give us the name of Israel’s military leader in this battle. However Phinehas, the high priest’s son, is the prominent person in the record (Numbers 31:6). This phenomenon points to the nature of the battle as... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Numbers 31:1-54

3. Reprisal against the Midianites and the settlement of the Transjordanian tribes chs. 31-32Moses’ last campaign ch. 31The writer now recorded the fulfillment of God’s instructions to Moses that Israel should destroy the Midianites (Numbers 25:16-18). In this account, the aftermath of the battle receives more attention than the battle itself. Evidently God included this chapter here for two reasons at least. It records Israel’s victory over one of her enemies, and it explains the way she... read more

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

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 31:5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 31:1-54

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 31:5

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:4-6

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Numbers 31:1-24

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Numbers 31:1-54

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