NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 31:1__ The Midianites were nomadic people who lived in the deserts on the outside edges of Canaan. They were associated with the Ishmaelites, Amalekites, and Moabites. It is the Moabite Midianites who are discussed here. Urged on by Balaam (v. Numbers 31:16), they had seduced... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 31:6 PHINEHAS had intervened to stop the plague brought on by the worship of Baal (Numbers 25:7). Here, he goes into battle as chaplain of the army because his father, the high priest, has to keep away from the pollution caused by death in battle. VESSELS OF THE SANCTUARY may... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 31:13 Normally in wars outside Canaan, the women were spared (Deuteronomy 20:14). But because these WOMEN had seduced the Israelites, they had to be killed (compare Numbers 25:6). Killing EVERY MALE AMONG THE LITTLE ONES would end the Midianite nation. Girls without sexual ex... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 31:19 Though the war had been ordered by God, it still made the soldiers unclean. They and the spoils had to be purified. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 31:25 Half of the spoils of war went to the soldiers and half to those who stayed behind (v. Numbers 31:27; compare 1 Samuel 30:24). From their share the soldiers were to give one-five-hundredth to the priests. From their share the people were to give one-fiftieth to the Levi... [ Continue Reading ]
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 31:48 Conducting a census involves an offering of half a silver__ shekel per person (Exodus 30:11). On this occasion they dedicate all the GOLD captured from the Midianites: 16,750 SHEKELS (Numbers 31:52) on behalf of 12,000 warriors (v. Numbers 31:5). ⇐ ⇔ [ Continue Reading ]