_A.M. 2552. B.C. 1452._ God commands Moses to avenge Israel of the Midianites, Numbers 31:1; Numbers 31:2. Moses sends them to the war, Numbers 31:3. They slay the Midianites, Numbers 31:7. He reproves them for sparing the women, Numbers 31:13. Directions for purifying themselves, Numbers 31:19. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites_ For their malicious designs and practices against Israel, both by hiring Balaam to curse them, and by sending their women to insnare them. The Moabites also were guilty, but God was pleased to spare them, because the measure of their iniquity was not... [ Continue Reading ]
_Avenge the Lord_ What in the preceding verse is termed _avenging Israel_, is here called _avenging the Lord_, because by their idolatry and lewdness, and by seducing God's people into rebellion against him, they had offered a high affront to him. God's great care was to avenge the _Israelites_, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Twelve thousand_ God would send no more, though it is apparent the Midianites were numerous and strong, because he would exercise their trust in him, and give them an earnest of their conquests in Canaan.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them and Phinehas_ Who had the charge, not of the army, as general, (an office never committed to a priest in all the Old Testament,) but of the holy instruments, and was sent to encourage and quicken them in their enterprise. _The holy instruments_ The holy breast plate, wherein was the Urim and T... [ Continue Reading ]
_They slew all the males_ That is, they slew those who were in the fight, and who did not save themselves by flight. As a nation they had forfeited their lives to the laws of God, and he, as judge of all the earth, had given command that the sentence of his laws should be executed on the guilty. Le... [ Continue Reading ]
_Went forth to meet them_ Partly to put respect upon them, and congratulate them on their happy success; and partly to prevent the pollution of the camp by the untimely entrance of the warriors into it. _ Moses was wroth with the officers_ Because they had spared those who were most criminal, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Through the counsel of Balaam_ Since the Moabites and their associates were taught by Balaam to acknowledge Jehovah to be a very powerful deity, even superior to the gods of other nations, (Numbers 23:19; Numbers 24:16,) is it not strange that they should have been induced, by Balaam's persuasion,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kill every male among the little ones_ Which they were forbidden to do to other people, (Deuteronomy 20:14,) except the Canaanites, to whom this people had equalled themselves by their horrid crimes; and therefore it is not strange, nor unjust, that God, the supreme Lord of all men's lives, who, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abide without the camp seven days_ According to the law, Leviticus 15:13. _Purify yourselves_ With the water of sprinkling, Numbers 19:9. _Your raiment_ Namely, your spoil and prey. _All work _ All which had contracted some ceremonial uncleanness, either from the dead bodies which wore them, or the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Two parts_ The congregation was to have some share, because the warriors went in the name of all, and because all having been injured by the Midianites, all were to have some share in the reparations: but the warriors, who were but twelve thousand, were to have a far greater share than their brethr... [ Continue Reading ]
_A heave-offering_ In thankfulness to God for their preservation and good success. _One of fifty_ Whereas the former part was one of five hundred; the reason of the difference Isaiah, 1 st, Because this was taken out of the people's portion, whose hazards being less than the others, their gains also... [ Continue Reading ]
_We have brought an oblation_ Finding, to their great joy and surprise, that not a single man was missing of the whole twelve thousand, they unanimously resolved, out of the free plunder, to make a voluntary offering to God, for the service of religion. _To make an atonement_ For their error, noted... [ Continue Reading ]