Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 31

2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

For their malicious designs and practices against Israel, both by hiring Balaam to curse them, and by sending their Women to insnare 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 the measure of their Iniquity was not yet full.

Marginal references: Chap. 2[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Chap. 2[illegible: 1+ letters] ▪

3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of your selves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.

For the affront and injury which they offered to God partly by their own Idolatry and lewdness, and partly by seducing Gods people into Rebellion against him. Gods great care was to avenge the Israelites, v. 2. and Moses his chief desire was to avenge God rather than himself or the people. Withal he doth hereby insinuate, that God and his people have the same cause, the same Friends and Enemies.

5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe , twelve thousand armed for war.

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 Cana[illegible: 1+ letters]nitish Conquests.

6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe; them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the Priest to the war, with the holy instruments , and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

Who 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 enterprize. It is not here mentioned who was the general, whether Iosua, as some think, because he is not named amongst those who went out to meet the returning host, though that might be for other reasons, or some other Prince, nor is it worth while to determine.

Either 1. the Ark, with the things belonging to it, which before the building of the Temple, they did sometimes carry into the War for the encouragement of their Army. See Numb. 14. 44. Ios. 6. 9. 1 Sam. 4. 4. and 14. 18. But why then is it thus ambiguously expressed, seeing in all the other places it is called by its proper Name? Nor is the Ark ever so called in Scripture. Or 2. The Trumpets, as it here follows, the words being thus to be read, the Holy Instruments, that is, the Trumpets: for and is oft times put exegetically for that is, or to wit, as Gen. 13. 15. 1 Chron. 21. 12. compared with 2 Sam. 24. 13. Zach. 1. 4. and 9. 9, &c. Or rather 3. The Holy Breast-plate, wherein was the Urim and Thummim, which was easily carryed, and used, and very useful in War upon many emergent occasions. See 1 Sam. 23. 9. and 30. 7.

Which were to be used in war as well as in the service of the Tabernacle. See Numb. 10. 9. 2 Chron. 13. 12.

7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they slew all the males .

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 in this present raine, of whom we read after this, Iudg 6. And herein they did according to Gods own order concerning such people, Deut 20. 13. only their fault was, that they did not consider the special reason and great obligation which they had to involve the Women in the destruction, for which reason Moses blames them afterward, v. 15, 16.

Marginal references: See Judg. 6. 33.

8 And they slew the Kings of Midian , besides the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur , and Hur, and Reba, five Kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor, they slew with the sword.

Called Dukes or Princes of Sihon, Ios. 13. 21. because they were subject to him while he lived, but upon his death they resumed their Kingly power.

The Father of Cozbi, Numb. 25. 15.

Obj. he was gone and returned to his own place, Numb. 24. 25. which was Aram or Mesopotamia, Numb. 23. 7. Answ. Either he did go thitherward, but in his journey made some stay in Midian, where he was overtaken by divinevengeance: or understanding the success of his wicked counsel left with Balaam in the sin and slaughter of the Israelites, he returned partly to enjoy the reputation and reward of his counsel which he had lost before, and partly to employ his Hellish arts against Israel, now they were, as he thought forsaken by their God, and exposed to his malice. Here Balaam dies the death of the wicked, and not of the righteous, as he desired, Numb. 23. 10.

Marginal references: Josh. 13. 21.

10 And they burnt all their cities , wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles with fire:

Partly to blot out the Name and Memory of so lewd and vile a people; partly least any of the Israelites should be tempted to settle there, and so be discouraged in their progress to Canaan; and partly least they should be possessed by other people who might prove as bad Neighbours to them as these would have been.

13 And Moses, and Eleazar the Priest, and all the Princes of the congregation went forth to meet them without the camp .

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 Warriours into it.

14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host , with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battel.

Because they had spared those who were most criminal, and who by the law of God and of nature were worthy of Death.

Marginal references: Hebr. host of war.

17 Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones , and kill every woman that hath known man , by lying with him.

Which they were forbidden to do to other people, Deut. 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 supream Lord of all mens lives, who as he gives them, so may take them away when he pleaseth, did equal them in the punishment.

Partly for punishment, because the guilt was general, and though some of them only did prostitute themselves to the Israelites, yet the rest made themselves accessary by their consent or concurrence or approbation; and partly, for prevention of the like mischief from such an adulterous generation.

Marginal references: Judg. 21. 11.; Hebr. a male.

18 But all the women children that have not known a man , by lying with him, keep alive for your selves .

To wit, carnally. See on Gen. 48. 1. and 19. 8. Levit. 18. 22.

Either to sell them as slaves to others, or to use them as Servants to your selves, or to marry them, when you have prepared and instructed them.

19 And do ye abide without the camp seven dayes : whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both your selves, and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.

According to the Law, Levit. 15. 13. and Numb. 19. 11, 12.

With the water of sprinkling, Numb. 19. 9.

Marginal references: Chap. 19. 11, &c.

20 And purifie all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats hair , and all things made of wood.

To wit your spoil and prey. See Levit. 8. 15. and 14. 49.

All which 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 Souldiers, who were legally defiled by the slaughters they made.

Marginal references: Heb. Instrument, or vesse[illegible: 1+ letters] of skins.

27 And divide the prey into two parts between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battel, and between all the congregation .

The Congregation hath some share, because the Warriours 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 Warriours who were but 12000, have a far greater share than others of their brethren, because they underwent greater pains and dangers.

Marginal references: Josh. 22. 8. 1 Sam. 30. 24.

28 And levy a tribute unto the LORD, of the men of war which went out to battel: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep.

(i. e.) one person, as it follows here and ver. 30.

29 Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest for an heave-offering of the LORD .

In thankfulness to God for their preservation and good success.

30 And of the children of Israels half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty , of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the sheep, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.

Whereas the former part was one of 500, the reason of the difference is partly because this was taken out of the peoples 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 more hands, the Levites being now numerous, when the Priests were but few.

Marginal references: Or, goats.; chap. 3. 7, 8, 25, 31, 36.

32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand, and seventy thousand, and five thousand sheep,

All which was now left of the prey. It is so expressed because they took more, but some of the persons were since killed, ver. 17. and some of the cattel was spent for the necessary provisions of the army.

41 And Moses gave the tribute which was the LORDS heave-offering unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses .

Either now upon his consulting of God in the case, or formerly in general rules and laws for such occasions, such as Numb. 18. 8.

50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.

For their error noted ver. 14, 15, 16. and withal for a memorial, as it is said ver. 54. or by way of gratitude for such a stupendious assistance and deliverance, as appears from the word therefore in the beginning of this verse, and from ver. 49.

Marginal references: Heb. so[illegible: 1+ letters]