“Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.”
Num. 27:13 Cross references: : Num. 25:17
“And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.”
As he had commanded, Num. 25:17 , declaring also that the injury done against his people is done against him.
“And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every 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.”
For his great zeal that he bare to the Lord, Num. 25:13 .
“And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.”
Josh. 13:21 The false prophet who gave counsel how to cause the Israelites to offend their God.
“And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.”
Or, palaces and gorgeous buildings.
“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 are by Jordan near Jericho.”
As the women and little children.
“And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?”
As though he said, ye ought to have spared none.
“Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”
2 Pet. 2:15 For worshipping of Peor. Num. 25:2
“Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. him: Heb. a male”
That is, all the men-children. Judg. 21:11
“And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;”
Num. 19:12 Or, contained in the law.
“Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it 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.”
It shall be washed. Num. 19:9 The third day and before it be molten.
“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:”
The prey is first divided equally among all.
“And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:”
Of the prey that falleth to the soldiers.
“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 LORD. flocks: or, goats”
The Israelites which had not been at war, of every fiftieth paid one to the Lord: and the soldiers one of every five hundredth.
“And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.”
Hebrew, not known the bed of man .
“And the LORD'S tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen .”
This is the portion that the soldiers gave to the Lord.
“And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.”
Meaning, of the maids, or virgins which had not companied with man.
“And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,”
Of that part which was given unto them in dividing the spoil.
“We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, 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 LORD. gotten: Heb. found”
The captains by the free offering acknowledge the great benefit of God in preserving his people.
“( For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)”
And gave no portion to their captains.
“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, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.”
That the Lord might remember the children of Israel.