1Y JEHOVÁ habló a Moisés, diciendo: 2Venga a los hijos de Israel de los Madianitas; después de esto serás agregado a tu pueblo. 3Moisés pues habló al pueblo, diciendo: Armaos algunos de vosotros para la guerra, y vayan contra Madián, para ejecutar la venganza de Jehová contra Madián. 4Mil hombres de cada tribu, de entre todas las tribus de Israel, enviaréis a la guerra. 5Y fueron escogidos de entre los millares de Israel, mil por cada tribu, doce mil armados para la guerra. 6De manera que los envió Moisés a la guerra, mil de cada tribu; enviólos a la guerra, a ellos y a Finees, hijo de Eleazar sumo sacerdote, llevando él en su mano los instrumentos santos, y las trompetas para tocar alarma. 7E hicieron la guerra contra Madián, como había mandado Jehová a Moisés; y mataron a todos los varones. 8Mataron también a los reyes de Madián, a más de los hombres suyos que mataron; a saber, Evi, y Requem, y Zur, y Hur, y Reba, cinco reyes de Madián: a Balaam también, hijo de Beor, le pasaron a cuchillo. 9Pero los hijos de Israel tomaron cautivas a las mujeres de Madián y sus niños: hicieron presa también de todas sus bestias, y de todas sus posesiones de ganado, con todos sus haberes. 10Asimismo quemaron a fuego todas las ciudades en que habitaban, y todos sus aduares. 11Tomaron pues todo el despojo, y toda la presa así de personas como de bestias. 12Y trajeron los cautivos y la presa y el despojo a Moisés y a Eleazar el sacerdote, y a la Congregación de los hijos de Israel, al campamento, en los llanos de Moab, que están junto al Jordán, frente a Jericó. 13¶Entonces Moisés, y Eleazar el sacerdote, y todos los príncipes de la Congregación salieron a recibirlos, a las afueras del campamento. 14Y Moisés estalló en indignación contra los oficiales del ejército, los jefes de miles y los jefes de cientos que volvían del servicio de la guerra. 15Y les dijo Moisés: ¿Habéis guardado la vida a todas las mujeres? 16He aquí que ellas, por consejo de Balaam, fueron motivo para que los hijos de Israel se apartaran traidoramente de Jehová, en el asunto de Baal-peor; de modo que hubo plaga entre la Congregación de Jehová. 17Ahora pues, matad a todo varón entre los niños; matad también a toda mujer que haya conocido ayuntamiento de varón; 18pero a todas las niñas que no han conocido ayuntamiento de varón las guardaréis vivas para vosotros. 19Y quedaos vosotros fuera del campamento por siete días: todos los que hubiereis matado persona, y todos los que hubiereis tocado algún muerto, os limpiaréis del pecado en el día tercero, y en el día séptimo, así vosotros como vuestras cautivas. 20Asimismo todo vestido, y todo ajuar de pieles, y toda obra de pelos de cabra, y todo utensilio de madera, los limpiaréis del pecado para vuestro uso. 21¶Y dijo el sacerdote Eleazar a los hombres del ejército que habían ido a la guerra: Este es el mandamiento de la ley que Jehová ha mandado a Moisés. 22Ciertamente el oro, y la plata, y el bronce, y el hierro, y el estaño, y el plomo, 23en fin, toda cosa que aguanta el fuego, la haréis pasar por el fuego, y así quedará limpia, con tal que sea purificada con las aguas para la impureza; mas todo lo que no aguanta el fuego, lo haréis pasar por agua. 24También lavaréis vuestros vestidos en el día séptimo, y así quedaréis limpios; y después de esto podréis entrar en el campamento. 25¶Y Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo: 26Haz el inventario de la presa, de lo que se ha cogido, así de personas como de bestias, tú con Eleazar el sacerdote y las cabezas de las casas paternas de la Congregación. 27Y partirás la presa por mitad entre los que hicieron la guerra, saliendo a campaña, y toda la Congregación. 28Y de parte de los hombres de guerra que salieron a campaña, tomarás para Jehová un tributo, es decir, un individuo de cada quinientos, así de personas como de ganado vacuno y de asnos y de ganado menor; 29de la mitad que a ellos toca lo tomarás, y lo darás a Eleazar el sacerdote, como ofrenda a Jehová. 30Y de la mitad perteneciente a los hijos de Israel, tomarás, cual se presentare, uno de cada cincuenta; así de personas como de ganado vacuno y de asnos y de ganado menor, en fin, de todas las bestias; y lo darás a los Levitas, los que hacen la guardia de la Habitación de Jehová. 31¶Y Moisés y Eleazar el sacerdote hicieron como Jehová había mandado a Moisés. 32Y era la presa (además del botín que había saqueado para sí la gente del ejército), de ganado menor, setecientos setenta y cinco mil; 33y de ganado vacuno, setenta y dos mil; 34y de asnos, sesenta y un mil; 35y de personas, de las mujeres que no habían conocido ayuntamiento de varón; todas las personas fueron treinta y dos mil. 36Y la mitad que fué la porción de los que habían salido a campaña, llegaba al número de trescientos treinta y siete mil quinientos, de ganado menor; 37de los cuales el tributo para Jehová era, de ganado menor, seiscientos setenta y cinco: 38y de ganado vacuno, treinta y seis mil; de los cuales el tributo para Jehová era setenta y dos: 39y de asnos, treinta mil quinientos, de los cuales el tributo para Jehová era sesenta y uno: 40y de personas, diez y seis mil; de las cuales el tributo para Jehová era treinta y dos personas. 41Y dió Moisés el tributo de la ofrenda de Jehová a Eleazar el sacerdote; como Jehová había mandado a Moisés. 42¶Y de la mitad perteneciente a los hijos de Israel, la cual Moisés había apartado, quitándola de los hombres que hicieron la guerra; 43(la mitad que correspondía a la Congregación, era, de ganado menor, trescientos treinta y siete mil quinientos, 44y de ganado vacuno, treinta y seis mil, 45y de asnos, treinta mil quinientos, 46y de personas, diez y seis mil); 47de la mitad pues que era de los hijos de Israel tomó uno de cada cincuenta, según se presentaba, así de las personas como de las bestias; y los dió a los Levitas, que hacían la guardia de la Habitación de Jehová; como Jehová había mandado a Moisés. 48¶Entonces se llegaron a Moisés los oficiales, que habían tenido el mando de los millares del ejército, los jefes de miles y los jefes de cientos; 49y dijeron a Moisés: Tus siervos han tomado la cuenta de los hombres de guerra que estaban a nuestras órdenes, y no falta ni uno de nosotros. 50Por lo cual presentamos como oblación a Jehová, cada uno de lo que ha cogido en alhajas de oro, como cadenillas para los tobillos y brazaletes, anillos, pendientes y collares de cuentas, por la protección de nuestras vidas delante de Jehová. 51Y Moisés y el sacerdote Eleazar recibieron de ellos el oro, constando todo él de alhajas labradas. 52Y todo el oro de la ofrenda alzada que presentaron a Jehová fué diez y seis mil setecientos cincuenta siclos, de parte de los jefes de miles y de los jefes de cientos; 53porque los hombres de guerra habían saqueado cada cual para sí. 54Moisés y Eleazar pues recibieron el oro de los jefes de miles y de los de cientos, y lo metieron dentro del Tabernáculo de Reunión, por memorial de los hijos de Israel delante de Jehová.
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.