Vengeance of the Israelites

Numbers Chapter 31

The Lord had Moses tell the Israelites that they must take vengeance on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry. So Moses told the Israelites to choose men to fight the Lord's war against Midian. They send one thousand men from each tribe and Phinehas, son of Eleazar led them into battle. They carried holy objects and trumpets to sound the charge and attacked Midian and killed all of the men. They also killed all five of the Kings and Balaam, son of Beor.

Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite woman and children, seized their cattle and flocks as plunder and burned all the town and villages. They brought all the females and children and plunder to the community of Israel which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River. Moses was furious with the military commanders and demanded to know why they let the women live. He told them these were the very women who followed Balaam's advice and caused the people to rebel against the Lord at Mount Peor. He demanded that they kill all the boys and women who had slept with a man. Only the young virgins must live and may be kept. Also Moses reminded the warriors that anyone who killed or touched a dead body, must stay outside the camp for seven days. Then they must purify themselves and their captives on the 3rd and 7th day and purify their clothing.

Eleazar told the men who were in battle that the Lord gave Moses the rule that anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron,tin or lead must be passed through the fire to be ceremonially clean. Then these items were to be purified with water and on the seventh day they must wash their clothes for purification and return to camp.

The Lord told Moses that he, Eleazar and family leaders of each tribe must make a list of all the plunder taken in the battle including people and animals. The he asked them to divide the plunder into two parts and give half to the men who fought and half to the rest of the people. But first give the Lord his share of the captives, and animals. Set apart one out of every five hundred as the Lord's share, he said. Then give this share to Eleazar as an offering to the Lord. Take one of every fifty of the captives, cattle, animals from the half that belongs to the people and share it with the Levites who maintain the Tabernacle.

After this was all done, the commanders came to Moses and reported that they counted all the men who went to battle and not a single man was missing. So they wished to give all the gold items as an offering to the Lord to make atonement for their lives before the Lord.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW that Moses took refuge with the Midianites long ago when he fled from Egypt. But despite an alliance of sorts, the Midianites were responsible for the people worshiping Baal (idols). The Lord must have wanted the women killed because of their sinful lifestyle and he wanted it dealt with totally and completely. He wanted none left who might tempt the Israelites again with their idol worshipping ways.

What can we learn from this chapter that relates to us today? When you read the vengeance taken on the people in Midian, it sounds like a terrible bloody thing. But God was not going to risk idol worship from his people again. He had to nip it in the bud once and for all, the evil had to be eradicated quickly. Today, we can't go around killing somebody who is sinful or taunts us with some kind of devil worship. But we can nip it quickly by not putting up with it. Not giving in to being around these kinds of people. And most of all, we can pray to God to lead us to a conclusion with them, perhaps by leading the exemplary life of a Christian.

Were you surprised to find Balaam among the casualties? The sorcerer was still back in his element, worshiping idols. It should not be surprising that God saw fit to eradicate him once and for all. And God protected the Israelite army from any harm because they fought for the right reasons - the side of God.

The sharing of the plunder, shows us that the Israelites remembered to give a portion to their Lord. Because everything comes from God. Everything! All your possessions- now, at this time! But you already know that- so thank him. Thank him everytime you pray.
Praise be to the Lord!

Yours in Christ,
Mary