mh_parser/vol_split/4 - Numbers/Chapter 31.xml

<div2 id="Num.xxxii" n="xxxii" next="Num.xxxiii" prev="Num.xxxi" progress="79.59%" title="Chapter XXXI">
<h2 id="Num.xxxii-p0.1">N U M B E R S</h2>
<h3 id="Num.xxxii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Num.xxxii-p1">This chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of
the Lord," in which it is probable it was inserted. It is the
history of a holy war, a war with Midian. Here is, I. A divine
command for the war, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.1-Num.31.2" parsed="|Num|31|1|31|2" passage="Nu 31:1,2">ver. 1,
2</scripRef>. II. The undertaking of the war, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.3-Num.31.6" parsed="|Num|31|3|31|6" passage="Nu 31:3-6">ver. 3-6</scripRef>. III. The glorious success of it,
<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.7-Num.31.12" parsed="|Num|31|7|31|12" passage="Nu 31:7-12">ver. 7-12</scripRef>. IV. Their
triumphant return from the war. 1. The respect Moses paid to the
soldiers, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.13" parsed="|Num|31|13|0|0" passage="Nu 31:13">ver. 13</scripRef>. 2. The
rebuke he gave them for sparing the women, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.14-Num.31.18" parsed="|Num|31|14|31|18" passage="Nu 31:14-18">ver. 14-18</scripRef>. 3. The directions he gave them
for the purifying of themselves and their effects, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.19-Num.31.24" parsed="|Num|31|19|31|24" passage="Nu 31:19-24">ver. 19-24</scripRef>. 4. The distribution of
the spoil they had taken, one half to the soldiers, the other to
the congregation, and a tribute to the Lord out of each, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.25-Num.31.47" parsed="|Num|31|25|31|47" passage="Nu 31:25-47">ver. 25-47</scripRef>. 5. The free-will
offering of the officers, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.48-Num.31.54" parsed="|Num|31|48|31|54" passage="Nu 31:48-54">ver.
48</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.31" parsed="|Num|31|0|0|0" passage="Nu 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.1-Num.31.6" parsed="|Num|31|1|31|6" passage="Nu 31:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.31.1-Num.31.6">
<h4 id="Num.xxxii-p1.11">The Slaughter of the
Midianites. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p1.12">b. c.</span> 1452.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxxii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   2 Avenge the children of Israel of
the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
  3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of
yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites,
and avenge the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p2.2">Lord</span> of Midian.
  4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of
Israel, shall ye send to the war.   5 So there were delivered
out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of <i>every</i> tribe,
twelve thousand armed for war.   6 And Moses sent them to the
war, a thousand of <i>every</i> 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p3">Here, I. The Lord of hosts gives orders to
Moses to make war upon the Midianites, and his commission no doubt
justified this war, though it will not serve to justify the like
without such commission. The Midianites were the posterity of
Abraham by Keturah, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.25.2" parsed="|Gen|25|2|0|0" passage="Ge 25:2">Gen. xxv.
2</scripRef>. Some of them settled south of Canaan, among whom
Jethro lived, and they retained the worship of the true God; but
these were settled east of Canaan, and had fallen into idolatry,
neighbours to, and in confederacy with, the Moabites. Their land
was not designed to be given to Israel, nor would Israel have
meddled with them if they had not made themselves obnoxious to
their resentment by sending their bad women among them to draw them
to whoredom and idolatry. This was the provocation, this was the
quarrel. For this (says God) <i>avenge Israel of the
Midianites,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.2" parsed="|Num|31|2|0|0" passage="Nu 31:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>.
1. God would have the Midianites chastised, an inroad made upon
that part of their country which lay next to the camp of Israel,
and which was probably more concerned in that mischief than the
Moabites, who therefore were let alone. God will have us to reckon
those our worst enemies that draw us to sin, and to avoid them; and
since <i>every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own
lusts,</i> and these are the Midianites which ensnare us with their
wiles, on them we should avenge ourselves, not only make no league
with them, but make war upon them by living a life of
mortification. God had taken vengeance on his own people for
yielding to the Midianites' temptations; now the Midianites, that
gave the temptation, must be reckoned with, for <i>the deceived and
the deceiver are his</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.12.16" parsed="|Job|12|16|0|0" passage="Job 12:16">Job xii.
16</scripRef>), both accountable to his tribunal; and, though
<i>judgment begin at the house of God,</i> it shall not end there,
<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.4.17" parsed="|1Pet|4|17|0|0" passage="1Pe 4:17">1 Pet. iv. 17</scripRef>. There is a
day coming when vengeance will be taken on those that have
introduced errors and corruptions into the church, and the devil
that deceived men will be <i>cast into the lake of fire.</i>
Israel's quarrel with Amalek, that fought against them, was not
avenged till long after: but their quarrel with Midian, that
debauched them, was speedily avenged, for they were looked upon as
much more the dangerous and malicious enemies. 2. God would have it
done by Moses, in his life-time, that he who had so deeply resented
that injury might have the satisfaction of seeing it avenged. "See
this execution done upon the enemies of God and Israel, and
<i>afterwards thou shalt be gathered to thy people.</i>" This was
the only piece of service of this kind that Moses must further do,
and then he has accomplished, as a hireling, his day, and shall
have his <i>quietus—enter into rest:</i> hitherto his usefulness
must come, and no further; the wars of Canaan must be carried on by
another hand. Note, God sometimes removes useful men when we think
they can be ill spared; but this ought to satisfy us, that they are
never removed till they have done the work which was appointed
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p4">II. Moses gives orders to the people to
prepare for this expedition, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.3" parsed="|Num|31|3|0|0" passage="Nu 31:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. He would not have the whole body of the camp to stir,
but they must <i>arm some of themselves to the war,</i> such as
were either most fit or most forward, and <i>avenge the Lord of
Midian.</i> God said, <i>Avenge Israel;</i> Moses says, <i>Avenge
the Lord;</i> for the interests of God and Israel are united, and
the cause of both is one and the same. And if God, in what he does,
shows himself jealous for the honour of Israel, surely Israel, in
what they do, ought to show themselves jealous for the glory of
God. Then only we can justify the avenging of ourselves when it is
the vengeance of the Lord that we engage in. Nay, for this reason
we are forbidden to avenge ourselves, because God has said,
<i>Vengeance is mine, I will repay.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p5">III. A detachment is drawn out accordingly
for this service, 1000 <i>out of every tribe,</i> 12,000 in all, a
small number in comparison with what they could have sent, and it
is probable small in comparison with the number of the enemies they
were sent against. But God would teach them that it is all one to
him <i>to save by many or by few,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.14.6" parsed="|1Sam|14|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 14:6">1 Sam. xiv. 6</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p6">IV. Phinehas the son of Eleazar is sent
along with them. It is strange that no mention is made of Joshua in
this great action. If he was general of these forces, who do we not
find him leading them out? If he tarried at home, why do we not
find him meeting them with Moses at their return? It is probable,
each tribe having a captain of its own thousand, there was no
general, but they proceeded in the order of their march through the
wilderness, Judah first, and the rest in their posts, under the
command of their respective captains, spoken of <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.48" parsed="|Num|31|48|0|0" passage="Nu 31:48"><i>v.</i> 48</scripRef>. But, the war being a holy war,
Phinehas was their common head, not to supply the place of a
general, but, by the oracle of God, to determine the resolves of
their counsels of war, in which the captains of thousands would all
acquiesce, and according to which they would act in conjunction. He
therefore took with him the holy instruments or vessels, probably
the breast-plate of judgment, by which God might he consulted in
any emergency. Though he was not yet the high priest, yet he might
be delegated <i>pro hac vice—for this particular occasion,</i> to
bear the urim and thummim, as <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.6" parsed="|1Sam|23|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:6">1 Sam.
xxiii. 6</scripRef>. And there was a particular reason for sending
Phinehas to preside in this expedition; he has already signalized
himself for his zeal against the Midianites and their cursed arts
to ensnare Israel when he slew Cozbi, a daughter of a chief house
in Midian, for her impudence in the matter of Peor, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.15" parsed="|Num|25|15|0|0" passage="Nu 25:15"><i>ch.</i> xxv. 15</scripRef>. He that had so
well used the sword of justice against a particular criminal was
best qualified to guide the sword of war against the whole nation.
<i>Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee
ruler over many things.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.7-Num.31.12" parsed="|Num|31|7|31|12" passage="Nu 31:7-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.31.7-Num.31.12">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxxii-p7">7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p7.1">Lord</span> commanded Moses; and they slew
all the males.   8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside
the rest of them that were slain; <i>namely,</i> Evi, and Rekem,
and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the
son of Beor they slew with the sword.   9 And the children of
Israel took <i>all</i> the women of Midian captives, and their
little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their
flocks, and all their goods.   10 And they burnt all their
cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
  11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey,
<i>both</i> of men and of beasts.   12 And they brought the
captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the
priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto
the camp at the plains of Moab, which <i>are</i> by Jordan
<i>near</i> Jericho.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p8">Here is, 1. The descent which this little
army of Israelites made, under the divine commission, conduct, and
command, upon the country of Midian. They <i>warred against the
Midianites.</i> It is very probable that they first published their
manifesto, showing the reasons of the war, and requiring them to
give up the ringleaders of the mischief to justice; for such
afterwards was the <i>law</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.20.10" parsed="|Deut|20|10|0|0" passage="De 20:10">Deut.
xx. 10</scripRef>), and such the <i>practice,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.20.12-Judg.20.13" parsed="|Judg|20|12|20|13" passage="Jdg 20:12,13">Judg. xx. 12, 13</scripRef>. But the
Midianites justifying what they had done, and standing by those
that had done it, the Israelites attacked them with fire and sword,
and all the pious fury with which their zeal for God and their
people inspired them. 2. The execution (the military execution)
they did in this descent. (1.) <i>They slew all the males</i>
(<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.7" parsed="|Num|31|7|0|0" passage="Nu 31:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), that is, all
they met with as far as they went; they put them all to the sword,
and gave no quarter. But that they did not slay all the males of
the nation is certain, for we find the Midianites a powerful and
formidable enemy to Israel in the days of Gideon; and they were the
Midianites of this country, for they are reckoned with the
<i>children of the east,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.6.3" parsed="|Judg|6|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 6:3">Judg. vi.
3</scripRef>. (2.) They <i>slew the kings of Midian</i> the same
that are called <i>elders of Midian</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Num.22.4" parsed="|Num|22|4|0|0" passage="Nu 22:4"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 4</scripRef>), and the <i>dukes of
Sihon,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:Josh.13.21" parsed="|Josh|13|21|0|0" passage="Jos 13:21">Josh. xiii. 21</scripRef>.
Five of these princes are here named, one of whom is <i>Zur,</i>
probably the same Zur whose daughter Cosbi was, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.25.15" parsed="|Num|25|15|0|0" passage="Nu 25:15"><i>ch.</i> xxv. 15</scripRef>. (3.) They slew Balaam.
Many conjectures there are as to what brought Balaam among the
Midianites at this time; it is probable that the Midianites, having
intelligence of the march of this army of Israelites against them,
hired Balaam to come and assist them with his enchantments, that if
he could not prevail to act offensively in their favour, by cursing
the armies of Israel, yet he might act defensively, by blessing the
country of Midian. Whatever was the occasion of his being there,
God's overruling providence brought him thither, and there his just
vengeance found him. Had he himself believed what he said of the
happy state of Israel, he would not have herded thus with the
enemies of Israel; but justly does he die the death of the wicked
(though he pretended to desire that of the righteous), and go
<i>down slain to the pit with the uncircumcised,</i> who rebelled
thus against the convictions of his own conscience. The Midianites'
wiles were Balaam's projects, it was therefore just that he should
perish with them, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:Hos.4.5" parsed="|Hos|4|5|0|0" passage="Ho 4:5">Hos. iv. 5</scripRef>.
Now was <i>his</i> folly made manifest to all men, who foretold the
fate of others, but foresaw not his own. (4.) They took all the
<i>women and children captives,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.9" parsed="|Num|31|9|0|0" passage="Nu 31:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. (5.) They <i>burnt their cities
and goodly castles</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.10" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.10" parsed="|Num|31|10|0|0" passage="Nu 31:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>), not designing to inhabit them themselves (that
country was out of their line), but they thus prevented those who
had made their escape from sheltering themselves in their own
country and settling there again. Some understand it of their
idol-temples; it was fit that they should share in this vengeance.
(6.) They plundered the country, and carried off all the cattle and
valuable goods, and so returned to the camp of Israel laden with a
very rich booty, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p8.11" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.9 Bible:Num.31.11 Bible:Num.31.12" parsed="|Num|31|9|0|0;|Num|31|11|0|0;|Num|31|12|0|0" passage="Nu 31:9,11,12"><i>v.</i> 9, 11,
12</scripRef>. Thus (as when they came out of Egypt) they were
enriched with the spoils of their enemies, and furnished with stock
for the good land into which God was bringing them.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p8.12" osisRef="Bible:Num.31" parsed="|Num|31|0|0|0" passage="Nu 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p8.13" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.13-Num.31.24" parsed="|Num|31|13|31|24" passage="Nu 31:13-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.31.13-Num.31.24">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxxii-p9">13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all
the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without
the camp.   14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the
host, <i>with</i> the captains over thousands, and captains over
hundreds, which came from the battle.   15 And Moses said unto
them, Have ye saved all the women alive?   16 Behold, these
caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to
commit trespass against the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p9.1">Lord</span> in
the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p9.2">Lord</span>.   17 Now therefore
kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that
hath known man by lying with him.   18 But all the women
children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive
for yourselves.   19 And do ye abide without the camp seven
days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched
any slain, purify <i>both</i> yourselves and your captives on the
third day, and on the seventh day.   20 And purify all
<i>your</i> raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of
goats' <i>hair,</i> and all things made of wood.   21 And
Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the
battle, This <i>is</i> the ordinance of the law which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p9.3">Lord</span> commanded Moses;   22 Only the
gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
  23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make
<i>it</i> go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless
it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that
abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.   24
And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be
clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p10">We have here the triumphant return of the
army of Israel from the war with Midian, and here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p11">I. They were met with great respect,
<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.13" parsed="|Num|31|13|0|0" passage="Nu 31:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Moses
himself, notwithstanding his age and gravity, walked out of the
camp to congratulate them on their victory, and to grace the
solemnity of their triumphs. Public successes should be publicly
acknowledged, to the glory of God, and the encouragement of those
that have jeoparded their lives in their country's cause.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p12">II. They were severely reproved for saving
the women alive. It is very probable that Moses had commanded them
to kill the women, at least this was implied in the general order
to avenge Israel of the Midianites; the execution having reference
to that crime, their drawing them in to the worship of Peor, it was
easy to conclude that the women, who were the principal criminals,
must not be spared. What! says Moses, <i>have you saved the women
alive?</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.15" parsed="|Num|31|15|0|0" passage="Nu 31:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. He
was moved with a holy indignation at the sight of them. <i>These
were those that caused the children of Israel to commit this
trespass;</i> and therefore, 1. It is just that they should die.
The law in case of whoredom was, <i>The adulterer and adulteress
should surely be put to death.</i> God had put to death the
adulterers of Israel by the plague, and now it was fit that the
adulteresses of Midian, especially since they had been the
tempters, should be put to death by the sword. 2. "It is dangerous
to let them live; they will be still tempting the Israelites to
uncleanness, and so your captives will be your conquerors and a
second time your destroyers." Severe orders are therefore given
that all the grown women should be slain in cold blood, and only
the female children spared.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p13">III. They were obliged to purify
themselves, according to the ceremony of the law, and to abide
without the camp seven days, till their purification was
accomplished. For, 1. They had imbrued their hands in blood, by
which though they had not contracted any moral guilt, the war being
just and lawful, yet they were brought under a ceremonial
uncleanness, which rendered them unfit to come near the tabernacle
till they were purified. Thus God would preserve in their minds a
dread and detestation of murder. David must not build the temple
because he had been a <i>man of war, and had shed blood,</i>
<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.28.3" parsed="|1Chr|28|3|0|0" passage="1Ch 28:3">1 Chron. xxviii. 3</scripRef>. 2. They
could not but have touched dead bodies, by which they were
polluted, and that required they should be purified with the water
of separation, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.19-Num.31.20 Bible:Num.31.24" parsed="|Num|31|19|31|20;|Num|31|24|0|0" passage="Nu 31:19,20,24"><i>v.</i> 19, 20,
24</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p14">IV. They must likewise purify the spoil
they had taken, the captives (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.19" parsed="|Num|31|19|0|0" passage="Nu 31:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>) and all the goods, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.21-Num.31.23" parsed="|Num|31|21|31|23" passage="Nu 31:21-23"><i>v.</i> 21-23</scripRef>. What would bear
the fire must pass through the fire, and what would not must be
washed with water. These things had been use by Midianites, and,
having now come into the possession of Israelites, it was fit that
they should be sanctified to the service of that holy nation and
the honour of their holy God. To us now every thing is sanctified
by the word and prayer, if we are sanctified by the Spirit, who is
compared both to fire and water. <i>To the pure all things are
pure.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.25-Num.31.47" parsed="|Num|31|25|31|47" passage="Nu 31:25-47" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.31.25-Num.31.47">
<h4 id="Num.xxxii-p14.4">Distribution of the Spoil. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p14.5">b. c.</span> 1452.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxxii-p15">25 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   26 Take the sum of the prey that
was taken, <i>both</i> of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the
priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:   27 And
divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon
them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:
  28 And levy a tribute unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.2">Lord</span> of the men of war which went out to battle:
one soul of five hundred, <i>both</i> of the persons, and of the
beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:   29 Take
<i>it</i> of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest,
<i>for</i> an heave offering of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.3">Lord</span>.   30 And of the children of Israel's
half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the
beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts,
and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the
tabernacle of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.4">Lord</span>.   31
And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.5">Lord</span> commanded Moses.   32 And the booty,
<i>being</i> the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught,
was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand
sheep,   33 And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,  
34 And threescore and one thousand asses,   35 And thirty and
two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by
lying with him.   36 And the half, <i>which was</i> the
portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred
thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:
  37 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.6">Lord</span>'s tribute of
the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.   38 And
the beeves <i>were</i> thirty and six thousand; of which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.7">Lord</span>'s tribute <i>was</i> threescore and
twelve.   39 And the asses <i>were</i> thirty thousand and
five hundred; of which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.8">Lord</span>'s
tribute <i>was</i> threescore and one.   40 And the persons
<i>were</i> sixteen thousand; of which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.9">Lord</span>'s tribute <i>was</i> thirty and two
persons.   41 And Moses gave the tribute, <i>which was</i> the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.10">Lord</span>'s heave offering, unto Eleazar
the priest, as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.11">Lord</span> commanded
Moses.   42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses
divided from the men that warred,   43 (Now the half <i>that
pertained unto</i> the congregation was three hundred thousand and
thirty thousand <i>and</i> seven thousand and five hundred sheep,
  44 And thirty and six thousand beeves,   45 And thirty
thousand asses and five hundred,   46 And sixteen thousand
persons;)   47 Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses
took one portion of fifty, <i>both</i> of man and of beast, and
gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.12">Lord</span>; as the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p15.13">Lord</span> commanded Moses.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p16">We have here the distribution of the spoil
which was taken in this expedition against Midian. God himself
directed how it should be distributed, and Moses and Eleazar did
according to the directions, and thus unhappy contests among
themselves were prevented and the victory was made to turn to the
common benefit. It was fit that he who gave them the prey should
order the disposal of it. All we have is from God, and therefore
must be subject to his will.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p17">I. The prey is ordered to be divided into
two parts, one for the 12,000 men that undertook the war, and the
other for the congregation. The prey that was divided seems to have
been only the captives and the cattle; as for the plate, and
jewels, and other goods, every man kept what he took, as is
intimated, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.50-Num.31.53" parsed="|Num|31|50|31|53" passage="Nu 31:50-53"><i>v.</i>
50-53</scripRef>. That only was distributed which would be of use
for the stocking of that good land into which they were going. Now
observe, 1. That the one half of the prey was given to the whole
congregation, Moses allotting to each tribe its share, and then
leaving it to the heads of the tribes to divide their respective
shares among themselves, according to their families. The war was
undertaken on the behalf of the whole congregation; they would all
have been ready to <i>go to the help of the Lord against the
mighty,</i> if they had been so ordered, and they did help, it is
likely, by their prayers; and therefore God appoints that those
that <i>tarried at home should divide the spoil,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.12" parsed="|Ps|68|12|0|0" passage="Ps 68:12">Ps. lxviii. 12</scripRef>. David, in his time,
made it a <i>statute and an ordinance for Israel,</i> that, as his
part is that <i>goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that
tarrieth by the stuff,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.30.24-1Sam.30.25" parsed="|1Sam|30|24|30|25" passage="1Sa 30:24,25">1 Sam.
xxx. 24, 25</scripRef>. Those that are employed in public trusts
must not think to benefit themselves only by their toils and
hazards, but must aim at the advantage of the community. 2. That
yet the 12,000 that went to the battle had as much for their share
as the whole congregation (which were fifty times as many) had for
theirs; so that the particular persons of the soldiery had a much
better share than any of their brethren that tarried at home: and
good reason they should. The greater pains we take, and the greater
hazards we run, in the service of God and our generation, the
greater will our recompence be at last; for <i>God is not
unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p18">II. God was to have a tribute out of it, as
an acknowledgment of his sovereignty over them in general, and that
he was their king to whom <i>tribute was due,</i> and particularly
of his interest in this war and the gains of it, he having given
them their success; and that the priests, the Lord's receivers,
might have something added to the provision made for their
maintenance. Note, Whatever we have, God must have his dues out of
it. And here (as before) the soldiers are favoured above the rest
of the congregation, for out of the people's share God required one
in fifty, but out of the soldier's share only one in 500, because
the people got theirs easily, without any peril or fatigue. The
less opportunity we have of honouring God with our personal
services the more it is expected we should honour him with our
substance. The tribute out of the soldiers' half was given to the
priests (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.29" parsed="|Num|31|29|0|0" passage="Nu 31:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>),
that out of the people's half was given to the Levites, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.30" parsed="|Num|31|30|0|0" passage="Nu 31:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. For the priests were
taken from among the Levites, as these soldiers from among the
people, for special and hazardous service, and their pay was
proportioned accordingly.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Num.xxxii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.48-Num.31.54" parsed="|Num|31|48|31|54" passage="Nu 31:48-54" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Num.31.48-Num.31.54">
<p class="passage" id="Num.xxxii-p19">48 And the officers which <i>were</i> over
thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of
hundreds, came near unto Moses:   49 And they said unto Moses,
Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which <i>are</i>
under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.   50 We
have therefore brought an oblation for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p19.1">Lord</span>, 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p19.2">Lord</span>.   51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest
took the gold of them, <i>even</i> all wrought jewels.   52
And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p19.3">Lord</span>, of the captains of thousands, and of
the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and
fifty shekels.   53 (<i>For</i> the men of war had taken
spoil, every man for himself.)   54 And Moses and Eleazar the
priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds,
and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, <i>for</i>
a memorial for the children of Israel before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Num.xxxii-p19.4">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Num.xxxii-p20">Here is a great example of piety and
devotion in the officers of the army, the colonels, that are called
<i>captains of thousands,</i> and the inferior officers that were
<i>captains of hundreds;</i> they came to Moses as their general
and commander-in-chief, and, though he was now going off the stage
they very humbly and respectfully addressed themselves to him,
calling themselves his <i>servants;</i> the honours they had won
did not puff them up, so as to make them forget their duty to him.
Observe in their address to them, 1. The pious notice they take of
God's wonderful goodness to them in this late expedition, in
preserving not only their own lives, but the lives of all the men
of war that they had under their charge; so that, upon the review
of their muster-roll, it appeared there was not one missing,
<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.49" parsed="|Num|31|49|0|0" passage="Nu 31:49"><i>v.</i> 49</scripRef>. This was very
extraordinary, and perhaps cannot be paralleled in any history. So
many thousands of lives jeoparded in the high places of the field,
and not one lost, either by the sword of the enemy or by any
disease or disaster. This was <i>the Lord's doing,</i> and cannot
but be marvellous in the eyes of those that consider how the lives
of all men, especially soldiers, are continually in their hands. It
is an evidence of the tender feeling which these commanders had for
their soldiers, and that their lives were very precious to them,
that they looked upon it as a mercy to themselves that none of
those under their charge miscarried. <i>Of all that were given them
they had lost none;</i> so precious also is the blood of Christ's
subjects and soldiers to him, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.14" parsed="|Ps|72|14|0|0" passage="Ps 72:14">Ps.
lxxii. 14</scripRef>. 2. The pious acknowledgment they make for
this favour: <i>Therefore we have brought an oblation to the
Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.50" parsed="|Num|31|50|0|0" passage="Nu 31:50"><i>v.</i> 50</scripRef>. The
oblation they brought was out of that which <i>every man had
gotten,</i> and it was gotten honestly by a divine warrant. Thus
every man should lay by <i>according as God has prospered him,</i>
<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.16.2" parsed="|1Cor|16|2|0|0" passage="1Co 16:2">1 Cor. xvi. 2</scripRef>. For where
God sows plentifully in the gifts of his bounty he expects to reap
accordingly in the fruits of our piety and charity. The tabernacle
first, and the temple afterwards, were beautified and enriched with
the spoils taken from the enemies of Israel; as by David (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.8.11-2Sam.8.12" parsed="|2Sam|8|11|8|12" passage="2Sa 8:11,12">2 Sam. viii. 11, 12</scripRef>), and his
captains, <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.26.26-1Chr.26.27" parsed="|1Chr|26|26|26|27" passage="1Ch 26:26,27">1 Chron. xxvi. 26,
27</scripRef>. We should never take any thing to ourselves, in war
or trade, which we cannot in faith consecrate a part of to God, who
<i>hates robbery for burnt-offerings;</i> but, when God has
remarkably preserved and prospered us, he expects that we should
make some particular return of gratitude to him. As to this
oblation, (1.) The captains offered it to <i>make an atonement for
their souls,</i> <scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.50" parsed="|Num|31|50|0|0" passage="Nu 31:50"><i>v.</i>
50</scripRef>. Instead of coming to Moses to demand a recompence
for the good service they had done in <i>avenging the Lord of
Midian,</i> or to set up trophies of their victory for the
immortalizing of their own names, they bring an oblation to <i>make
atonement for their souls,</i> being conscious to themselves, as
the best men must be even in their best services, that they had
been defective in their duty, not only in that instance for which
they were reproved (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.14" parsed="|Num|31|14|0|0" passage="Nu 31:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>), but in many others; <i>for there is not a just man
upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not.</i> (2.) Moses
accepted it, and laid it up in the tabernacle <i>as a memorial for
the children of Israel</i> (<scripRef id="Num.xxxii-p20.9" osisRef="Bible:Num.31.54" parsed="|Num|31|54|0|0" passage="Nu 31:54"><i>v.</i>
54</scripRef>), that is, a monument of God's goodness to them, that
they might be encouraged to trust in him in their further wars, and
a monument of their gratitude to God (sacrifices are said to be
memorials), that he, being well pleased with this thankful
acknowledgment of favours bestowed, might continue and repeat his
mercies to them.</p>
</div></div2>