Numbers 32

F. FUTURE PROSPECTS IN THE LAND (chapters 26-36).

We now come to the final main section of the book. It will commence with the numbering of Israel, a sign that they were making ready for the final push, and is divided up into rededication and preparations for entering the land (chapters 26-32), and warning and encouragement with respect to it (chapters 33-36). The first section concentrates on the mobilisation and dedication of the people of Yahweh, and the punishment of those who by their behaviour hinder that mobilisation and dedication.

In terms of the overall pattern of the book the first section covers the mobilisation of Israel, the appointment of Joshua on whom was the Spirit and the death of Moses For Sin (chapters 26-27), which compares with the earlier murmuring of Israel, the appointment of elders on whom came the Spirit, and the plague on Miriam because of sin (chapters 11-12). This then followed by the dedication of Israel through Feasts, Offerings and Vows and the purifying of Transjordan through vengeance on the Midianites and settlement of the two and a half Tribes (chapters 28-32) which compares with the purification and dedication of Israel in chapters 5-10.

Analysis of the section.

(I). Preparation for Entering the Land (chapters 26-32).

This can be divided up into:

a Numbering of the tribes for possessing the land (Numbers 26:1-51).

b Instructions concerning division of the land (Numbers 26:52-62).

c Vengeance had been brought on those who had refused to enter the land (Numbers 26:63-65).

d Regulation in respect of land to be inherited by women and others (Numbers 27:1-11).

e Provision of a dedicated shepherd for the people of Israel (Numbers 27:12-23).

e Provision of a dedicated people and future worship in the land (Numbers 28-29).

d Regulation in respect of dedicatory vows made by women and others (Numbers 30:0)

c Vengeance to be obtained on Midian (Numbers 31:1-24).

b Instructions concerning division of the spoils of Midian (Numbers 31:25-54).

a Settlement of the Transjordanian tribes in possessing land (Numbers 32:0).

(II) Warning and Encouragement of The Younger Generation (chapters 33-36).

a Review of the journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab (Numbers 33:1-49).

b Instruction concerning the successful possession of and dividing up of the land in the future (Numbers 33:50 to Numbers 34:15).

c The Leaders who will divide the land for them are appointed (Numbers 34:16-29).

d Provision of cities for the Levites. (Numbers 35:1-5)

d Provision of cities of refuge and prevention of defilement of the land (Numbers 35:6-34).

c The Leaders of the tribe of Manasseh approach Moses about the possible loss of part of their division of the land as a result of the decision about the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 36:1-4).

b Instruction concerning women who inherit land so as to maintain the dividing up of the land which they successfully possess (Numbers 36:5-12)

a Final summary of the book and colophon. The journey is over. They are in the plains of Moab opposite Jericho (Numbers 36:13).

In this section stress is laid on preparation for entering the land.

(I). Overall Preparation for Entering the Land (chapters 26-32).

The preparations include the mobilisation of Israel, instructions as to what to do on entering the land, appointment of a new commander-in-chief in whom is the Spirit, instructions concerning the worship to be offered to Yahweh, a description of the ‘atonement’ for the sin of Baal-peor and purification of the land by the slaughter of the Midianites, and the settling in of the tribes in their land on the east of Jordan, preparatory to their soldiers joining the offensive on Canaan.

Chapter 31. Vengeance on The Midianites For Causing Israel To Sin.

3). Yahweh to be Avenged on Midian (Numbers 31:1-54 ).

One blot still remained on the horizon. Balaam and the Midianites had plotted to bring down Israel’s dedication to Yahweh by leading them astray after false gods, and as a result a goodly number of Israelites had been executed or had died in the plague. It remained therefore for justice to be brought on the murderers responsible.

This was another side of the dedication of Israel. As Yahweh’s dedicated people they had to be concerned for His holiness and for the destruction of all that actively stood against Him. Defeating Midian would be evidence of their genuine dedication, and as a result of shedding blood for blood would purify the land. Together with what has gone before in 27-29 it is part of the process of rededication and purification resulting from possession of the land, and the whole parallels chapters 5-9 which also dealt with purifying and dedication. The new Israel must be dedicated and purified as the old had been.

The principle here follows a similar principle to that which demanded the destruction or driving out of the Canaanites. All who would lead Israel astray from Yahweh must be removed. But it carries it a stage further, for these Midianites, (not be it noted the whole of Midian. Midian were widely scattered in a number of sub-tribes), who are depicted as having deliberately plotted Israel’s downfall at the behest of Balaam would clearly never cease to be a thorn in the side of Israel. There was therefore no alternative but to exterminate them. Had they left Israel alone, they would have been left alone. And the parallel in the chiasmus below also suggests that this extirpation was to be seen as a cleansing for Israel. Blood had been spilled in the land and so the murderers had to be brought to justice.

The chapter splits into two main sections, the carrying out of the sentence on Midian (Numbers 31:1-24), and the division of the spoils (Numbers 31:25-54), which can be analysed as follows:

The Sentence Passed and Carried Out On Midian (Numbers 31:1-24 ).

a To avenge the children of Israel who had died because of Midian (to make Israel clean) (Numbers 31:1-2).

b A proportion of the men armed and to go to war (Numbers 31:3-5).

c Phinehas goes with them with the vessels of the Sanctuary and the trumpets for alarm (Numbers 31:6).

d Warred against Midian and slew every male (Numbers 31:7).

e They slew the kings of Midian (Numbers 31:8 a).

f They slew also Balaam of Peor (Numbers 31:8 b).

g Took captive all their women, children, beasts and spoil (Numbers 31:9).

h All their cities and encampments burned with fire (Numbers 31:10).

i Took all the spoil both of man and beast (Numbers 31:10-11).

i Brought all the captives prey and spoil to Moses and Eleazar and the congregation in the camp (Numbers 31:12).

h Moses, Eleazar and chieftains go out to meet the victorious army (31:13)

g Moses angry because all the women were spared (Numbers 31:14-15).

f These were the women who led Israel astray through the counsel of Balaam (Numbers 31:16)

e To slay all the male children and all the married women (who caused Israel to sin though the command of the kings) (Numbers 31:17).

d Keep alive young unmarried women (Numbers 31:18).

c The men to purify themselves seven days and all garments (to make them fit to approach the Sanctuary and its vessels) (Numbers 31:19-20).

b All spoils to be purified by fire or by water of uncleanness (Numbers 31:21-23).

a Men to wash on seventh day and be clean and enter the camp (Numbers 31:24).

(ii) The Division of the Spoils (Numbers 31:25-54 ).

a The sum of the prey that was taken and the levies commanded (Numbers 31:25-31).

b Division between the men of war, Yahweh (the priests), the people and the Levites (Numbers 31:32-47).

a The sum of the men of war and their freewill gift to the Sanctuary (Numbers 31:48-54)

This second section can then be analysed as follows:

The Sum of The Prey That Was Taken From The Midianites and The Levies For Yahweh and the Levites Commanded (Numbers 31:25-31 ).

a Yahweh speaks to Moses. With Eleazar he is to take the sum of the prey which has been captured (Numbers 31:25-26).

b The prey to be divided into two parts between the men who went to war and the remainder of the congregation (Numbers 31:27).

b A levy to be made on the soldiers’ share for Yahweh and given to Eleazar the Priest as a contribution offering and a levy to be made on the congregation’s share for the Levites who keep the charge of the Dwellingplace (Numbers 31:28-30).

a Moses and Eleazar do as Yahweh commanded (Numbers 31:31).

The Division Between the Men of War, Yahweh (the Priests), the People and the Levites (Numbers 31:32-47 ).

a The sum of the prey assessed (Numbers 31:32-35).

b Sum of the half which belongs to the soldiers and to Yahweh’s tribute (Numbers 31:36-40).

c Yahweh’s tribute given to Eleazar the Priest (Numbers 31:41).

a The congregation’s half divided from the men that warred (Numbers 31:42).

b Sum of the half which belongs to the congregation (Numbers 31:43-46).

c The Levites share given to the Levites (Numbers 31:47).

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 (Numbers 31:48-49).

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 the personal spoils came from (Numbers 31:53).

a Moses and Eleazar take the gold into the Dwellingplace of the congregation for a memorial of the children of Israel before Yahweh (Numbers 31:54).

We shall now look at Numbers 31:0 in detail in its three sections.

Chapter 32. The First Settlement Of Tribes of Israel.

We do not know at what stage this approach took place, but it must have been at an early one for Manasseh/Machir are not mentioned. They would come in later, when they saw the land of Og that they had conquered. The land which Reuben and Gad took was mainly the land which had been controlled by Sihon and his Amorites. The taking of the whole of that area followed later by the seizure of Upper Gilead and Bashan would have taken considerable time and effort, and was probably still going on when the battle with the Midianites took place.

A quick defeat of Sihon and Og was one thing, taking possession of their countries was another (see Numbers 22:24-25; Numbers 22:35; Deuteronomy 2:34-36; Deuteronomy 3:4-10). But it becomes clear that different generals had been sent with their men and had assailed different places (see below). And as Yahweh had given them the land and they had been told from the beginning that they were to possess it (Deuteronomy 4:1) we can be sure that this procedure was carried out with alacrity. The subjection of Upper Gilead and Bashan could only have had possession in mind for it was not on their route to Canaan.

4). The Settlement of the Transjordanian Tribes (Numbers 32:0 ).

The defeat of Sihon having taken place (Numbers 22:21-25) and the country having been possessed and given to Israel by Yahweh (Deuteronomy 4:1), it would need to be permanently occupied, and Reuben and Gad, recognising that it suited their way of life, approached Moses for permission to settle there.

This settlement of the land finalised its cleansing. Those who through idolatry had been sentenced to death had been dealt with and now possession was taken of it in the name of Yahweh.

Once the details had been sorted out this possession would be a huge encouragement to all Israel. Here were the actual firstfruits of the invasion. And what Yahweh had done here, He could continue to do. So it was described in some detail with this in view.

But this reminds us that the logistics behind the invasion were far more complicated than appears from the narrative. This is in fact true of all books on warfare. Only a tiny proportion of the complications can be revealed. Here we learn of how Reuben and Gad, over a period of time, took possession of and ‘rebuilt’ the land of the Amorites, while Machir did the same in Upper Gilead and Bashan.

Once the crossing of the Jordan had taken place it would mainly be left in the hands of the young men between thirteen and twenty, partially disabled men of fighting age, and the older men who were unable to fight, together with their feisty womenfolk. And what was also important was that it would secure their rear.

Analysis.

a Reuben and Gad desire to settle in Transjordan (Numbers 32:1-2).

b A description of the desirable cities and desirable land for their cattle (Numbers 32:3-5).

c Moses is angry at them for discouraging the other tribes (Numbers 32:6-15).

d Moses reminds them that Yahweh will cast them from the land if they hesitate to enter it, as He did before (Numbers 32:10-15)

e They covenant that their warriors will go forward with Israel (Numbers 32:16-19).

e Their going forward is confirmed and agreed (Numbers 32:20-23).

d Moses permits settlement on the condition that they go forward and do not hesitate (Numbers 32:24-27).

c Moses confirms to the leadership of the tribes that the soldiers of Reuben and Gad will go with the other tribes (thus preventing discouragement) (Numbers 32:28-32).

b They receive the desirable cities and build folds for their sheep (Numbers 32:33-38).

a The land of the Amorites in Transjordan is given to the two tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:39-42).