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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>N U M B E R S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXXI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of the Lord," in which it
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is probable it was inserted. It is the history of a holy war, a war
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with Midian. Here is,
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I. A divine command for the war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:1,2">ver. 1, 2</A>.
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II. The undertaking of the war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:3-6">ver. 3-6</A>.
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III. The glorious success of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:7-12">ver. 7-12</A>.
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IV. Their triumphant return from the war.
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1. The respect Moses paid to the soldiers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:13">ver. 13</A>.
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2. The rebuke he gave them for sparing the women,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:14-18">ver. 14-18</A>.
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3. The directions he gave them for the purifying of themselves and
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their effects,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:19-24">ver. 19-24</A>.
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4. The distribution of the spoil they had taken, one half to the
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soldiers, the other to the congregation, and a tribute to the Lord out
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of each,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:25-47">ver. 25-47</A>.
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5. The free-will offering of the officers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:48-54">ver. 48</A>, &c.</P>
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</FONT></P>
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<A NAME="Nu31_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Slaughter of the Midianites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake unto Moses, saying,
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2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward
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shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
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3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of
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yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites,
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and avenge the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> of Midian.
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4 Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of
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Israel, shall ye send to the war.
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5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a
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thousand of <I>every</I> tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
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6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of <I>every</I> tribe,
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them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with
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the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. The Lord of hosts gives orders to Moses to make war upon the
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Midianites, and his commission no doubt justified this war, though it
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will not serve to justify the like without such commission. The
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Midianites were the posterity of Abraham by Keturah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+25:2">Gen. xxv. 2</A>.
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Some of them settled south of Canaan, among whom Jethro lived, and they
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retained the worship of the true God; but these were settled east of
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Canaan, and had fallen into idolatry, neighbours to, and in confederacy
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with, the Moabites. Their land was not designed to be given to Israel,
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nor would Israel have meddled with them if they had not made themselves
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obnoxious to their resentment by sending their bad women among them to
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draw them to whoredom and idolatry. This was the provocation, this was
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the quarrel. For this (says God) <I>avenge Israel of the
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Midianites,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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1. God would have the Midianites chastised, an inroad made upon that
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part of their country which lay next to the camp of Israel, and which
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was probably more concerned in that mischief than the Moabites, who
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therefore were let alone. God will have us to reckon those our worst
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enemies that draw us to sin, and to avoid them; and since <I>every man
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is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lusts,</I> and these are
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the Midianites which ensnare us with their wiles, on them we should
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avenge ourselves, not only make no league with them, but make war upon
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them by living a life of mortification. God had taken vengeance on his
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own people for yielding to the Midianites' temptations; now the
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Midianites, that gave the temptation, must be reckoned with, for <I>the
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deceived and the deceiver are his</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+12:16">Job xii. 16</A>),
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both accountable to his tribunal; and, though <I>judgment begin at the
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house of God,</I> it shall not end there,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+4:17">1 Pet. iv. 17</A>.
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There is a day coming when vengeance will be taken on those that have
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introduced errors and corruptions into the church, and the devil that
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deceived men will be <I>cast into the lake of fire.</I> Israel's
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quarrel with Amalek, that fought against them, was not avenged till
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long after: but their quarrel with Midian, that debauched them, was
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speedily avenged, for they were looked upon as much more the dangerous
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and malicious enemies.
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2. God would have it done by Moses, in his life-time, that he who had
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so deeply resented that injury might have the satisfaction of seeing it
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avenged. "See this execution done upon the enemies of God and Israel,
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and <I>afterwards thou shalt be gathered to thy people.</I>" This was
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the only piece of service of this kind that Moses must further do, and
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then he has accomplished, as a hireling, his day, and shall have his
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<I>quietus--enter into rest:</I> hitherto his usefulness must come, and
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no further; the wars of Canaan must be carried on by another hand.
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Note, God sometimes removes useful men when we think they can be ill
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spared; but this ought to satisfy us, that they are never removed till
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they have done the work which was appointed them.</P>
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<P>
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II. Moses gives orders to the people to prepare for this expedition,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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He would not have the whole body of the camp to stir, but they must
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<I>arm some of themselves to the war,</I> such as were either most fit
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or most forward, and <I>avenge the Lord of Midian.</I> God said,
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<I>Avenge Israel;</I> Moses says, <I>Avenge the Lord;</I> for the
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interests of God and Israel are united, and the cause of both is one
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and the same. And if God, in what he does, shows himself jealous for
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the honour of Israel, surely Israel, in what they do, ought to show
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themselves jealous for the glory of God. Then only we can justify the
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avenging of ourselves when it is the vengeance of the Lord that we
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engage in. Nay, for this reason we are forbidden to avenge ourselves,
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because God has said, <I>Vengeance is mine, I will repay.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. A detachment is drawn out accordingly for this service, 1000
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<I>out of every tribe,</I> 12,000 in all, a small number in comparison
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with what they could have sent, and it is probable small in comparison
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with the number of the enemies they were sent against. But God would
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teach them that it is all one to him <I>to save by many or by few,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+14:6">1 Sam. xiv. 6</A>.</P>
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<P>
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IV. Phinehas the son of Eleazar is sent along with them. It is strange
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that no mention is made of Joshua in this great action. If he was
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general of these forces, who do we not find him leading them out? If he
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tarried at home, why do we not find him meeting them with Moses at
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their return? It is probable, each tribe having a captain of its own
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thousand, there was no general, but they proceeded in the order of
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their march through the wilderness, Judah first, and the rest in their
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posts, under the command of their respective captains, spoken of
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:48"><I>v.</I> 48</A>.
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But, the war being a holy war, Phinehas was their common head, not to
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supply the place of a general, but, by the oracle of God, to determine
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the resolves of their counsels of war, in which the captains of
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thousands would all acquiesce, and according to which they would act in
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conjunction. He therefore took with him the holy instruments or
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vessels, probably the breast-plate of judgment, by which God might he
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consulted in any emergency. Though he was not yet the high priest, yet
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he might be delegated <I>pro hac vice--for this particular occasion,</I>
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to bear the urim and thummim, as
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:6">1 Sam. xxiii. 6</A>.
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And there was a particular reason for sending Phinehas to preside in
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this expedition; he has already signalized himself for his zeal against
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the Midianites and their cursed arts to ensnare Israel when he slew
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Cozbi, a daughter of a chief house in Midian, for her impudence in the
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matter of Peor,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+25:15"><I>ch.</I> xxv. 15</A>.
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He that had so well used the sword of justice against a particular
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criminal was best qualified to guide the sword of war against the whole
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nation. <I>Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee
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ruler over many things.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Nu31_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_12"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded
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Moses; and they slew all the males.
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8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them
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that were slain; <I>namely,</I> Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and
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Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew
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with the sword.
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9 And the children of Israel took <I>all</I> the women of Midian
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captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their
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cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
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10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all
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their goodly castles, with fire.
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11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, <I>both</I> of men
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and of beasts.
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12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil,
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unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of
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the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab,
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which <I>are</I> by Jordan <I>near</I> Jericho.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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1. The descent which this little army of Israelites made, under the
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divine commission, conduct, and command, upon the country of Midian.
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They <I>warred against the Midianites.</I> It is very probable that
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they first published their manifesto, showing the reasons of the war,
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and requiring them to give up the ringleaders of the mischief to
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justice; for such afterwards was the <I>law</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:10">Deut. xx. 10</A>),
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and such the <I>practice,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+20:12,13">Judg. xx. 12, 13</A>.
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But the Midianites justifying what they had done, and standing by those
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that had done it, the Israelites attacked them with fire and sword, and
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all the pious fury with which their zeal for God and their people
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inspired them.
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2. The execution (the military execution) they did in this descent.
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(1.) <I>They slew all the males</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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that is, all they met with as far as they went; they put them all to
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the sword, and gave no quarter. But that they did not slay all the
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males of the nation is certain, for we find the Midianites a powerful
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and formidable enemy to Israel in the days of Gideon; and they were the
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Midianites of this country, for they are reckoned with the <I>children
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of the east,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+6:3">Judg. vi. 3</A>.
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(2.) They <I>slew the kings of Midian</I> the same that are called
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<I>elders of Midian</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+22:4"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 4</A>),
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and the <I>dukes of Sihon,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:21">Josh. xiii. 21</A>.
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Five of these princes are here named, one of whom is <I>Zur,</I>
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probably the same Zur whose daughter Cosbi was,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+25:15"><I>ch.</I> xxv. 15</A>.
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(3.) They slew Balaam. Many conjectures there are as to what brought
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Balaam among the Midianites at this time; it is probable that the
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Midianites, having intelligence of the march of this army of Israelites
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against them, hired Balaam to come and assist them with his
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enchantments, that if he could not prevail to act offensively in their
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favour, by cursing the armies of Israel, yet he might act defensively,
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by blessing the country of Midian. Whatever was the occasion of his
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being there, God's overruling providence brought him thither, and there
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his just vengeance found him. Had he himself believed what he said of
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the happy state of Israel, he would not have herded thus with the
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enemies of Israel; but justly does he die the death of the wicked
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(though he pretended to desire that of the righteous), and go <I>down
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slain to the pit with the uncircumcised,</I> who rebelled thus against
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the convictions of his own conscience. The Midianites' wiles were
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Balaam's projects, it was therefore just that he should perish with
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them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+4:5">Hos. iv. 5</A>.
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Now was <I>his</I> folly made manifest to all men, who foretold the
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fate of others, but foresaw not his own.
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(4.) They took all the <I>women and children captives,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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(5.) They <I>burnt their cities and goodly castles</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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not designing to inhabit them themselves (that country was out of their
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line), but they thus prevented those who had made their escape from
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sheltering themselves in their own country and settling there again.
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Some understand it of their idol-temples; it was fit that they should
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share in this vengeance.
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(6.) They plundered the country, and carried off all the cattle and
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valuable goods, and so returned to the camp of Israel laden with a very
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rich booty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:9,11,12"><I>v.</I> 9, 11, 12</A>.
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Thus (as when they came out of Egypt) they were enriched with the
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spoils of their enemies, and furnished with stock for the good land
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into which God was bringing them.</P>
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<A NAME="Nu31_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Nu31_24"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of
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the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
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14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, <I>with</I>
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the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which
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came from the battle.
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15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
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16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the
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counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in the
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matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and
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kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
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18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by
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lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
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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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
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.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the triumphant return of the army of Israel from the war
|
|
with Midian, and here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. They were met with great respect,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+28:3">1 Chron. xxviii. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:19,20,24"><I>v.</I> 19, 20, 24</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. They must likewise purify the spoil they had taken, the captives
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>)
|
|
|
|
and all the goods,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:21-23"><I>v.</I> 21-23</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_47"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Distribution of the Spoil.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1452.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 And the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'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
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s tribute <I>was</I> threescore and twelve.
|
|
39 And the asses <I>were</I> thirty thousand and five hundred; of
|
|
which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s tribute <I>was</I> threescore and one.
|
|
40 And the persons <I>were</I> sixteen thousand; of which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s
|
|
tribute <I>was</I> thirty and two persons.
|
|
41 And Moses gave the tribute, <I>which was</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s heave
|
|
offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>;
|
|
as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:50-53"><I>v.</I> 50-53</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:12">Ps. lxviii. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+30:24,25">1 Sam. xxx. 24, 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
that out of the people's half was given to the Levites,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_52"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_53"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Nu31_54"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
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
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, 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 L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:49"><I>v.</I> 49</A>.
|
|
|
|
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,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:14">Ps. lxxii. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. The pious acknowledgment they make for this favour: <I>Therefore we
|
|
have brought an oblation to the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+16:2">1 Cor. xvi. 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+8:11,12">2 Sam. viii. 11, 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
and his captains,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+26:26,27">1 Chron. xxvi. 26, 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:50"><I>v.</I> 50</A>.
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+31:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>),
|
|
|
|
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>
|
|
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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