Numbers

Numbers 31:1-11

The Lord directed Moses to bring vengeance – just retribution for the wrong brought against them.  The Lord said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” in Romans 12:19 which was a quote from Deuteronomy 32:35 (also see Psalms 94:1; 1 Thess 4:6 and Hebrews 10:30).  In this case, the Lord uses His people to bring vengeance by war.  They were to be willing to fight at the direction of the Lord for what was right.  This would be Moses’ last act of leadership before death.

Those twenty years old or older were fit for service, but not all would take part in this action.  A thousand from each tribe was called up to form an army.  However, the Levites did not go to war.  The twelve tribes might be consistent with the twelve that would inherit land – Ephraim and Manassas instead of Joseph. 

Phineas, the son of the high priest, would join the army (the high priest was forbidden from corpse contamination). He would take the holy articles and the signal trumpet.  We don’t know what these holy articles are for sure.  Were the holy articles in his hand along with the trumpet?  In other places, these articles could include the Ark, bowls, utensils and so forth.  Its far more likely that he is taking the breastplate with the Urim and Thummin for consulting the Lord on the battlefield.  His presence, with the breastplate, would bring confidence to the army that they were following the will of the Lord.

They killed all the males and five kings of Midian.  Rekem is Petra.  Zur is the father of Cozbi, the woman Phineas killed (25:15).  Balaam was killed.

Numbers 31:12-24

The army brought all the booty and captives before the Moses and Eleazar outside the camp.  Moses was angry, asking why they kept the women alive?  They were the ones that started the issue with Israel at the instigation of Balaam.  Just retribution had not been completed.  They were to kill every male of the youth.  This prevented retribution from them.  They were also to kill all the non-virgin women.  The young girls could be brought into the camp for servants and wives.  How in the world was this accomplished?  Milgrom offered this:

The midrash proposes a lie detector test: “Every female child you shall stand before the holy crown (the gold frontlet of the High Priest) and cross-examine her. And whoever has slept with a man, her face will pale; and whoever has not slept with a man, her face will blush like a fire, and you shall spare.” [Milgrom, J. (1990). Numbers (p. 259). Jewish Publication Society.]

To complete the action, anyone contaminated by a corpse was to remain outside the camp for seven days to purify themselves according to the law.  This included the captives.  Whatever couldn’t come through the fire was to be cleansed with water of purification on the third and seventh day (outlined in chapter 19).

Numbers 31:25-54

The spoils of war were divided among all.  It started by dividing into two parts; those who went to war and a portion for those who did not.  Then, from those two halves, tributes were made to the Levites.

1. Those who went to war
   1. One of every five hundred person, cattle, donkey or sheep was given to Eleazar as a heave offering (given to God, transferred to the priest.
   2. The inventory of booty
      1. 337,500 sheep
         1. 675 were tribute
      2. 36,000 cattle
         1. 72 were tribute
      3. 30,500 donkeys
         1. 61 were tribute
      4. 16,000 people
         1. 32 people were tribute
2. Those who did not
   1. One of every fifty persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep and other livestock were given to the Levites.
      1. 337,500 sheep
         1. 6750 were tribute
      2. 36,000 cattle
         1. 720 were tribute
      3. 32,500 donkeys
         1. 610 were tribute
      4. 16,000 people
         1. 320 were tribute

The officers took a count of the twelve thousand men of the army and found that they had suffered no losses.  They brought an offering to the Lord.  This may serve a few purposes or display their attitude.

1. Ward off any plague due to taking census.
2. A ransom for their lives.
3. To indicate they are the Lord’s army – at His disposal.  The census is us as well as the spoils of war. 

This offering amounted to 400-500lbs of gold.  It would be used for the tabernacle as a memorial. 

© 2023 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater