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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Numbers 31

Numbers 31:1

NUMBERS CHAPTER 31 God commanded Moses, before he die, to avenge Israel of the Midianites, NUMBERS 31:1,2. he chooses twelve thousand men, and Phineas: the kings of Midian and Balaam slain, NUMBERS 31:3. Their women and cattle taken; and cities burnt: they bring the spoil to Moses and Eleazar, NUMBE... [ Continue Reading ]

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 th... [ Continue Reading ]

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... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:5

A THOUSAND OF EVERY TRIBE, to prevent emulations or divisions. God would send no more, though it is apparent that the Midianites were numerous and strong, because he would try and exercise their trust in him, and because he would hereby give them an earnest of their Canaanitish conquests.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:6

PHINEHAS had the charge not of the army, as general, (an office never committed to any priest in all the Old Testament,) but of THE HOLY INSTRUMENTS, & c. as is here expressed, and was also sent to encourage, and quicken, and confirm them in their good enterprise. It is not here mentioned who was th... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:7

Namely, all whom they took in that war, or all who lived in those parts; for it is probable (and was then very usual) some colonies of them were sent forth to remoter places, which therefore had no hand either in their former sin, or ill this present ruin, of whom we read after this, JUD 6. And here... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:8

THE KINGS, called _dukes or princes_ of Sihon, JOSHUA 13:21, because they were subject to him while he lived, but upon his death they resumed their kingly power. ZUR, the father of _Cozbi_, NUMBERS 25:15. BALAAM ALSO. OBJECT. He was gone and returned to his own place, NUMBERS 24:25, which was Aram o... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:10

Partly, to blot out the name and memory of so lewd and vile a people; partly, lest any of the Israelites should be tempted to settle there, and so be discouraged in their progress to Canaan; and partly, lest they should be possessed by other people who might prove as bad neighbours to them as these... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:13

Partly to put respect upon them, and congratulate with them for their happy success; and partly to prevent the pollution of the camp by the untimely entrance of the warriors into it.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:17

AMONG THE LITTLE ONES, which they were forbidden to do to other people, DEUTERONOMY 20:14, except the Canaanites, to whom this people had equalled themselves by their horrid crimes; and therefore it is not strange, nor unjust, that God, the supreme Lord of all men's lives, who as he gives them, so m... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:18

NOT KNOWN A MAN, to wit, _carnally_: SEE POOLE "GE 4:1 19:8 Leviticus 18:22. KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES; either to sell them as slaves to others, or to use them as servants to yourselves, or to marry them, when you have prepared and instructed them.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:20

ALL YOUR RAIMENT, to wit, your spoil and prey. See LEVITICUS 8:15, LEVITICUS 14:49. All these things had contracted some ceremonial uncleanness, either from the dead bodies which wore them, or the tents or houses where they were, in which such dead bodies lay, or from the touch of the Israelitish so... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:27

The congregation hath some share, because the warriors went in the name of all, and because all having been injured by the Midianites, all were to have some share in the reparations; but the warriors, who were but 12,000, have a far greater share than others of their brethren, because they underwent... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:30

ONE PORTION OF FIFTY; whereas the former part was one of five hundred: the reason of the difference is, partly because this was taken out of the people's portion, whose hazards being less than the others, their gains also in all reason were to be less; partly because this was to be distributed into... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:32

THE REST OF THE PREY; all which was now left of the prey. It is so expressed because they took more, but some of the persons were since killed, NUMBERS 31:17, and some of the cattle was spent for the necessary provisions of the army.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:41

Either now upon his consulting of God in the case, or formerly in general rules and laws for such occasions, such as NUMBERS 18:8.... [ Continue Reading ]

Numbers 31:50

For their error, noted, NUMBERS 31:14, and withal FOR A MEMORIAL, as it is said NUMBERS 31:54, or by way of gratitude for such a stupendous assistance and deliverance, as appears from the word therefore in the beginning of this verse, and from NUMBERS 31:49.... [ Continue Reading ]

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