Numbers 31:8

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 31:8

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 31:8

Balaam - they slew with the sword - This man had probably committed what St. John calls the sin unto death - a sin which God punishes with temporal death, while at the same time he extends mercy to the soul. See the remarks at Numbers 24:25 ; (note). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:8

And they slew ... were slain ... - Render: And the kings of Midian they put to death, beside those that fell in the battle; namely, etc. From which it would seem that beside these five, put to death after the battle, there were other Midianite kings who perished fighting. The five chieftains here mentioned were vassals of Sihon the Amorite Joshua 13:21. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 31:7-8

Numbers 31:7-8. They slew all the males That is, they slew those who were in the fight, and who did not save themselves by flight. As a nation they had forfeited their lives to the laws of God, and he, as judge of all the earth, had given command that the sentence of his laws should be executed on the guilty. Le Clerc properly observes, that there was this material difference between the wars of other nations and those of the Jews, that the former followed the bent of their own passions;... 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 31:8

Evi. Compare Joshua 13:21 . five kings: called princes or dukes of Sihon, Joshua 13:21 . Balaam. Compare Joshua 13:22 . slew. Balaam thus did not "die the death of the righteous". Compare Numbers 23:10 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:7-12

Numbers 31:7-12. And they warred against the Midianites, &c.— The twelve thousand men chosen out by Moses marched against the Midianites. The battle they gave them was less an ordinary combat, than an execution of justice upon criminals; and, being performed by the immediate direction of God, can certainly never be brought into example to warrant a similar conduct. All the males of Midian, and five kings, i.e. princes or governors, Jos 13:21 were slain with the edge of the sword. Balaam... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 31:8

Numbers 31:8. And they slew the kings— This would be more intelligible, if rendered, after Houbigant, "and in the midst of the slaughter, they slew five kings of Midian, Evi, &c." REFLECTIONS.—The success was answerable to their wishes. Their enemies fell before them, and justly suffered for the evil they had seduced Israel to commit. Note; God will often make the tempters to sin to be tormented of those whom they deceived. They slew all the males, not all in the nation, but, probably, all... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 31:8

8. the kings of Midian—so called, because each was possessed of absolute power within his own city or district; called also dukes or princes of Sihon ( :-), having been probably subject to that Amorite ruler, as it is not uncommon in the East to find a number of governors or pachas tributary to one great king. Zur—father of Cozbi ( :-). Balaam also . . . they slew with the sword—This unprincipled man, on his dismissal from Balak, set out for his home in Mesopotamia ( :-). But, either diverging... read more

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