1Und Jehovah redete zu Mose und sprach: 2Nimm Rache für die Söhne Israels an den Midianitern. Danach sollst du zu deinen Völkern versammelt werden. 3Und Mose redete zu dem Volke und sprach: Rüstet Männer unter euch zu einem Heere aus und sie seien wider Midian, um Jehovah Rache zu geben an Midian. 4Je tausend für jeden Stamm von allen Stämmen Israels sollt ihr senden zum Heere. 5Und es wurden aus den Tausenden Israels je tausend aus jedem Stamm, zwölftausend zum Heere Ausgerüstete, ausgehoben. 6Und Mose sandte sie zum Heere, Tausend vom Stamme, sie und Pinechas, Eleasars, des Priesters Sohn, zum Heer, und die heiligen Geräte, und die Trompeten zum Lärmblasen in seiner Hand. 7Und sie rückten aus wider Midian, wie Jehovah dem Mose geboten hatte, und erwürgten alles, was männlich war. 8Und die Könige Midians erwürgten sie samt den Erschlagenen, Evi und Rekem und Zur und Chur und Reba, fünf Könige Midians. Und Bileam, Beors Sohn, erwürgten sie mit dem Schwert. 9Und die Söhne Israels nahmen die Weiber Midians und ihre Kindlein gefangen, und all ihr Vieh und all ihre Viehherden und all ihr Vermögen raubten sie. 10Und alle ihre Städte in ihren Wohnsitzen und all ihre Gehöfte verbrannten sie mit Feuer; 11Und sie nahmen alle Beute und alles, was sie genommen an Menschen und an Vieh, 12Und brachten zu Mose und zu Eleasar, dem Priester, und zu der Gemeinde der Söhne Israels herein die Gefangenen und das Genommene und die Beute zum Lager nach Arboth Moab am Jordan bei Jericho. 13Und Mose und Eleasar, der Priester, und alle Fürsten der Gemeinde gingen hinaus außerhalb des Lagers ihnen entgegen. 14Und Mose ward entrüstet über die Anführer der Streitmacht, die Obersten über Tausende und die Obersten über Hunderte, die aus dem Heerstreite kamen; 15Und Mose sprach zu ihnen: Habt ihr denn alle Weiber leben lassen? 16Sehet, sie sind es gewesen, die nach Bileams Worten die Söhne Israels ob der Sache Peors dem Jehovah Untreue anheben ließen und die Plage war in der Gemeinde Jehovahs. 17Und nun erwürget alles Männliche unter den Kindlein, und jedes Weib, das einen Mann erkannt durch Liegen mit dem Männlichen, erwürget. 18Und alle weiblichen Kindlein, die das Beilager des Männlichen nicht kannten, sollt ihr für euch leben lassen. 19Ihr aber sollt sieben Tage lagern au-ßerhalb des Lagers, jeder, der jemand erwürgt, und jeder, der einen Erschlagenen berührt hat. Ihr sollt euch entsündigen am dritten Tage und am siebenten Tage, ihr und eure Gefangenen. 20Und jedes Kleid und jedes lederne Gefäß, und alles, was aus Ziegenhaaren gemacht ist, und alles hölzerne Gefäß sollt ihr für euch entsündigen. 21Und Eleasar, der Priester, sprach zu den Männern des Streites, die zum Streite auszogen: Dies ist die Satzung des Gesetzes, die Jehovah dem Mose geboten hat. 22Nur das Gold und das Silber, das Erz, das Eisen, das Zinn und das Blei, 23Alles Ding, was ins Feuer kommt, sollt ihr durch das Feuer durchgehen lassen, daß es rein werde, nur soll es mit dem Ausscheidungswasser entsündigt werden, alles aber, das nicht ins Feuer kommen darf, sollt ihr durch das Wasser durchgehen lassen. 24Und waschet eure Kleider am siebenten Tag, und ihr seid rein und dürfet danach in das Lager kommen. 25Und Jehovah sprach zu Mose, und Er sprach: 26Nimm die Kopfzahl auf des Genommenen der Gefangenen an Menschen und an Vieh, du und Eleasar, der Priester, und die Häupter der Väter der Gemeinde; 27Und halbiere das Genommene zwischen denen, die im Streite angefaßt, die zum Heer auszogen, und zwischen der ganzen Gemeinde. 28Und erhebe eine Abgabe für Jehovah von den Männern des Streites, die zum Heere ausgezogen, eine Seele von fünfhundert, vom Menschen und vom Rind und von den Eseln und vom Kleinvieh. 29Von ihrer Hälfte sollst du es nehmen und gib es Eleasar, dem Priester, als Hebe für Jehovah. 30Und von der Hälfte der Söhne Israels sollst du nehmen ein Stück von fünfzig, vom Menschen, vom Rind, von Eseln und vom Kleinvieh, von allem Vieh, und sie den Leviten geben, so die Hut der Wohnung Jehovahs hüten. 31Und Mose und Eleasar, der Priester, taten, wie Jehovah dem Mose geboten hatte. 32Das Genommene aber, das übrig war von dem Raub, des Heeres Volk war an Kleinvieh sechshunderttausend und siebzigtausend und fünftausend. 33Und Rinder zweiundsiebzigtausend; 34Und Esel einundsechzigtausend. 35Und die Seelen der Menschen von den Weibern, die das männliche Beilager nicht gekannt, aller Seelen waren zweiunddreißigtausend. 36Und die Hälfte, der Teil derer, die in dem Heere ausgezogen waren, war in Kleinvieh an Zahl dreihunderttausend und dreißigtausend und siebentausendfünfhundert. 37Und die Abgabe für Jehovah vom Kleinvieh sechshundertfünfundsiebzig. 38Und Rinder waren es sechsunddreißigtausend; und die Abgabe für Jehovah zweiundsiebzig. 39Und Esel dreißigtausendfünfhundert; und die Abgabe für Jehovah einundsechzig. 40Und an Menschenseelen sechzehntausend; und Abgabe für Jehovah zweiunddreißig Seelen. 41Und Mose gab die Abgabe, eine Hebe für Jehovah Eleasar, dem Priester, so wie Jehovah dem Mose geboten hatte. 42Und von der Hälfte der Söhne Israels, die Mose von den Männern, die im Heere waren, abgehälftet hatte, 43Da war die Hälfte der Gemeinde an Kleinvieh dreihunderttausend und dreißigtausend und siebentausendfünfhundert. 44Und Rinder sechsunddreißigtausend; 45Und Esel dreißigtausendfünfhundert; 46Und Menschenseelen sechzehntausend. 47Und Mose nahm von der Hälfte der Söhne Israels ein Stück von fünfzig, von den Menschen und vom Vieh, und gab sie den Leviten, welche die Hut der Wohnung des Jehovah hüten, wie Jehovah dem Mose geboten hatte. 48Und es nahten zu Mose die Anführer, welche über die Tausende des Heeres waren, die Obersten der Tausende und die Obersten der Hunderte. 49Und sprachen zu Mose: Deine Knechte haben die Kopfzahl der Männer des Streites aufgenommen, die unter unseren Händen waren, und nicht ein Mann von ihnen ward vermißt. 50Und so bringen wir denn eine Opfergabe dem Jehovah dar, was jeder Mann von goldenem Geräte, Fußspangen und Armbändern, Ringen, Ohrringen und Schmuckkügelchen gefunden hat, um unsere Seelen vor Jehovah zu sühnen. 51Und Mose und Eleasar, der Priester, nahmen das Gold von ihnen und alles Kunstgeräte. 52Und alles Hebegold, das sie Jehovah hoben, war sechzehntausendsiebenhundertfünfzig Schekel, von den Obersten der Tausende und von den Obersten der Hunderte. 53Die Männer des Heeres hatten jeder Mann für sich geraubt. 54Mose aber und Eleasar, der Priester, nahmen das Gold von den Obersten der Tausende und der Hunderte und brachten es herein zum Versammlungszelt zum Andenken für die Söhne Israels vor Jehovah.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE MIDIANITES SPOILED AND BALAAM SLAIN. (Num. 31:1-54)
the Lord spake unto Moses, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites--a semi-nomad people, descended from Abraham and Keturah, occupying a tract of country east and southeast of Moab, which lay on the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. They seem to have been the principal instigators of the infamous scheme of seduction, planned to entrap the Israelites into the double crime of idolatry and licentiousness [
Num 25:1-
Num 25:3,
Num 25:17-
Num 25:18] by which, it was hoped, the Lord would withdraw from that people the benefit of His protection and favor. Moreover, the Midianites had rendered themselves particularly obnoxious by entering into a hostile league with the Amorites (
Josh 13:21). The Moabites were at this time spared in consideration of Lot (
Deut 2:9) and because the measure of their iniquities was not yet full. God spoke of avenging "the children of Israel" [
Num 31:2]; Moses spoke of avenging the Lord [
Num 31:3], as dishonor had been done to God and an injury inflicted on His people. The interests were identical. God and His people have the same cause, the same friends, and the same assailants. This, in fact, was a religious war, undertaken by the express command of God against idolaters, who had seduced the Israelites to practise their abominations.
3 Arm some of yourselves--This order was issued but a short time before the death of Moses. The announcement to him of that approaching event [
Num 31:2] seems to have accelerated, rather than retarded, his warlike preparations.
5 there were delivered--that is, drafted, chosen, an equal amount from each tribe, to prevent the outbreak of mutual jealousy or strife. Considering the numerical force of the enemy, this was a small quota to furnish. But the design was to exercise their faith and animate them to the approaching invasion of Canaan.
6 Moses sent . . . Eleazar the priest, to the war--Although it is not expressly mentioned, it is highly probable that Joshua was the general who conducted this war. The presence of the priest, who was always with the army (
Deut 20:2), was necessary to preside over the Levites, who accompanied the expedition, and to inflame the courage of the combatants by his sacred services and counsels.
holy instruments--As neither the ark nor the Urim and Thummim were carried to the battlefield till a later period in the history of Israel, the "holy instruments" must mean the "trumpets" (
Num 10:9). And this view is agreeable to the text, by simply changing "and" into "even," as the Hebrew particle is frequently rendered.
7 they slew all the males--This was in accordance with a divine order in all such cases (
Deut 20:13). But the destruction appears to have been only partial--limited to those who were in the neighborhood of the Hebrew camp and who had been accomplices in the villainous plot of Baal-peor (
Num 25:1-
Num 25:3), while a large portion of the Midianites were absent on their pastoral wanderings or had saved themselves by flight. (Compare
Judg 6:1).
8 the kings of Midian--so called, because each was possessed of absolute power within his own city or district; called also dukes or princes of Sihon (
Josh 13:21), having been probably subject to that Amorite ruler, as it is not uncommon in the East to find a number of governors or pachas tributary to one great king.
Zur--father of Cozbi (
Num 25:15).
Balaam also . . . they slew with the sword--This unprincipled man, on his dismissal from Balak, set out for his home in Mesopotamia (
Num 24:25). But, either diverging from his way to tamper with the Midianites, he remained among them without proceeding farther, to incite them against Israel and to watch the effects of his wicked counsel; or, learning in his own country that the Israelites had fallen into the snare which he had laid and which he doubted not would lead to their ruin, he had, under the impulse of insatiable greed, returned to demand his reward from the Midianites. He was an object of merited vengeance. In the immense slaughter of the Midianitish people--in the capture of their women, children, and property and in the destruction of all their places of refuge--the severity of a righteous God fell heavily on that base and corrupt race. But, more than all others, Balaam deserved and got the just reward of his deeds. His conduct had been atrociously sinful, considering the knowledge he possessed, and the revelations he had received, of the will of God. For any one in his circumstances to attempt defeating the prophecies he had himself been the organ of uttering, and plotting to deprive the chosen people of the divine favor and protection, was an act of desperate wickedness, which no language can adequately characterize.
13 Moses, and Eleazar the priest, . . . went forth to meet them without the camp--partly as a token of respect and congratulation on their victory, partly to see how they had executed the Lord's commands, and partly to prevent the defilement of the camp by the entrance of warriors stained with blood.
14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host--The displeasure of the great leader, though it appears the ebullition of a fierce and sanguinary temper, arose in reality from a pious and enlightened regard to the best interests of Israel. No order had been given for the slaughter of the women, and in ancient war they were commonly reserved for slaves. By their antecedent conduct, however, the Midianitish women had forfeited all claims to mild or merciful treatment; and the sacred character, the avowed object of the war (
Num 31:2-
Num 31:3), made their slaughter necessary without any special order. But why "kill every male among the little ones"? It was designed to be a war of extermination, such as God Himself had ordered against the people of Canaan, whom the Midianites equalled in the enormity of their wickedness.
19 abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person . . . purify both yourselves and your captives--Though the Israelites had taken the field in obedience to the command of God, they had become defiled by contact with the dead. A process of purification was to be undergone, as the law required (
Lev 15:13;
Num 19:9-
Num 19:12), and this purifying ceremony was extended to dress, houses, tents, to everything on which a dead body had lain, which had been touched by the blood-stained hands of the Israelitish warriors, or which had been the property of idolaters. This became a standing ordinance in all time coming (
Lev 6:28;
Lev 11:33;
Lev 15:12).
25 Take the sum of the prey that was taken--that is, of the captives and cattle, which, having been first lumped together according to ancient usage (
Exod 15:9;
Judg 5:30), were divided into two equal parts: the one to the people at large, who had sustained a common injury from the Midianites and who were all liable to serve: and the other portion to the combatants, who, having encountered the labors and perils of war, justly received the largest share. From both parts, however, a certain deduction was taken for the sanctuary, as a thank offering to God for preservation and for victory. The soldiers had greatly the advantage in the distribution; for a five-hundredth part only of their half went to the priest, while a fiftieth part of the congregation's half was given to the Levites.
32 the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught--Some of the captives having been killed (
Num 31:17) and part of the cattle taken for the support of the army, the total amount of the booty remaining was in the following proportions:
Prey Total Amount Half to Soldiers Deducted to God Half to Congregation Deducted to Levites
Sheep 675,000 337,500 675 337,500 6,750
Beeves 72,000 36,000 72 36,000 720
Asses 61,000 30,500 61 30,500 610
Persons 32,000 16,000 32 16,000 320
48 officers . . . said . . . there lacketh not one man of us--A victory so signal, and the glory of which was untarnished by the loss of a single Israelitish soldier, was an astonishing miracle. So clearly betokening the direct interposition of Heaven, it might well awaken the liveliest feelings of grateful acknowledgment to God (
Ps 44:2-
Ps 44:3). The oblation they brought for the Lord "was partly an atonement" or reparation for their error (
Num 31:14-
Num 31:16), for it could not possess any expiatory virtue, and partly a tribute of gratitude for the stupendous service rendered them. It consisted of the "spoil," which, being the acquisition of individual valor, was not divided like the "prey," or livestock, each soldier retaining it in lieu of pay; it was offered by the "captains" alone, whose pious feelings were evinced by the dedication of the spoil which fell to their share. There were jewels to the amount of 16,750 shekels, equal to Ł87,869 16s. 5d. sterling.