Numbers 31:2
THE MIDIANITES - The Moabites are not included. It would thus seem that it was the Midianites, and they only, who deliberately set themselves to work the corruption of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MIDIANITES - The Moabites are not included. It would thus seem that it was the Midianites, and they only, who deliberately set themselves to work the corruption of Israel.... [ Continue Reading ]
AVENGE THE LORD OF MIDIAN - The war against the Midianites was no ordinary war. It was indeed less a war than the execution of a divine sentence against a most guilty people. Doubtless there were many among the Midianites who were personally guiltless as regards Israel. But the rulers deliberately... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE DELIVERED - Or, “were told off.”... [ Continue Reading ]
PHINEHAS - He was marked out as the fitting director of the expedition by his conduct (compare Numbers 25:7) in the matter of Zimri and Cozbi. WITH THE HOLY INSTRUMENTS, AND THE TRUMPETS - Or rather, “with the holy instruments, to wit, the trumpets,” for the trumpets themselves seem to be the instr... [ Continue Reading ]
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 me... [ Continue Reading ]
GOODLY CASTLES - Rather, both here and in Genesis 25:16, hamlets. The word is derived from a word טוּר _ṭûr_,) signifying “a row” or “range” (compareEzekiel 46:23); and probably indicates those collections of rude dwellings, made of stones piled one on another and covered with tent-cloths, which a... [ Continue Reading ]
The “prey” refers to the captives and live-stock: the “spoil” to the ornaments and other effects.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSED ... TO COMMIT TRESPASS - More literally, “became to the children of Israel for a cause (or, incitement) of treachery to the Lord.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BRASS - Render copper. See Genesis 4:22 note. The verse is curious as illustrating the variety of metals in use at this early date for domestic purposes. All these metals were common in Egypt centuries before the date of the Exodus.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HEAVE-OFFERING - Render simply an offering, and compare Numbers 18:24. The verb from which the word here rendered “heave-offering” is derived, is rightly translated “levy” in Numbers 31:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare Numbers 31:11, and render “And the prey” (i. e., the live prey) “in addition to the spoil which the men of war seized, etc.” The “spoil” is described in Numbers 31:50. The number of sheep, beeves, asses, and persons taken is given in this and following verses in round thousands. Hence, the L... [ Continue Reading ]
There is no mention of any resistance on the part of the Midianites. The Israelites saw in this and in the preservation of all those engaged, proofs that the Lord had been with them in the work, and hence, the free-will oblation of Numbers 31:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
The “chains” were “armlets” 2 Samuel 1:10. The “rings” were “finger-rings,” or “seal-rings;” and the “tablets” were worn suspended from the neck Exodus 35:22. TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR OUR SOULS BEFORE THE LORD - Compare Exodus 30:11. The atonement was not for any special offence committed (which wo... [ Continue Reading ]
The value of the offering was about 20,000 British pounds.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse seems to imply that the soldiers, as distinct from the officers (compare Numbers 31:49), did not make any offering from their plunder. Of course besides the gold there would be much spoil of less precious materials; see Numbers 31:20, Numbers 31:22.... [ Continue Reading ]