Numbers 31:12

31:7-12 The Israelites slew the Kings of Midian. They slew Balaam. God's overruling providence brought him thither, and their just vengeance found him. Had he himself rightly believed what he had said of the happy state of Israel, he would not have thus herded with the enemies of Israel. The Midianites' wicked wiles were Balaam's projects: it was just that he should perish with them, Ho 4:5. They took the women and children captives. They burnt their cities and castles, and returned to the camp.

The women and children, who were the captives, and the beasts which were the prey, and the gold, silver, &c. which were the spoil: unto Moses and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel; that is, they were bringing the above persons things unto them, returning from the war with Midian: unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho: see Numbers 22:1, but they were stopped, and were not admitted into the camp until seven days after.

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 (Jos 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 (Nu 25:15). Balaam also … they slew with the sword—This unprincipled man, on his dismissal from Balak, set out for his home in Mesopotamia (Nu 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.

All this booty (shalal, booty in goods), and all the prey in man and beast (malkoach), was brought by the conquerors to Moses and Eleazar and the congregation, into the camp in the steppes of Moab. In Numbers 31:12 , שׁבי applies to the women and children who were taken prisoners, מלקוח to the cattle taken as booty, and שׁלל to the rest of the prey.

[Reformed Biblical] ey should be possessed by other people who might prove as bad neighbours to them as these would have been. Numbers 31:11 Numbers 31:12 Numbers 31:13 Partly to put respect upon them, and congratulate with them for their happy success; and partly to prevent the pollution of the camp by the untimely entrance of the warriors into it. Numbers 31:14 Because they had spared those who were most criminal, and who by the law of God and of nature were worthy of death. Numbers 31:15 Numbers 31:16 Numbers 31:17 ## Among the little ones, which they were forbidden to do to other people, Deu_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 he gives them, so may take them away when he pleaseth, did equal them in the punishment. ## Every woman that hath known man; partly for punishment, because the guilt was general, and though some of them only did prostitute themselves to the Israelites, yet the rest made themselves accessory by their consent, or concurrence, or approbation; and partly for prevention of the like mischief from such an adulterous generation. Numbers 31:18 ## Not known a man, to wit, carnally : See Poole "Genesis 4:1 19:8 Lev_18:22. ## Keep alive for yourselves; either to sell them as slaves to others, or to use them as servants to yourselves, or to marry them, when you have prepared and instructed them. Numb

[Reformed Biblical] hath 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 12,000, have a far greater share than others of their brethren, because they underwent greater pains and dangers. Numbers 31:28 ## One soul, i.e. one person, as it follows here and Num_31:30. Numbers 31:29 Numbers 31:30 ## One portion of fifty; whereas the former part was one of five hundred: the reason of the difference is, partly because this was taken out of the people’s portion, whose hazards being less than the others, their gains also in all reason were to be less; partly because this was to be distributed into more hands, the Levites being now numerous, when the priests were but few. Numbers 31:31 Numbers 31:32 ## The rest of the prey; all which was now left of the prey. It is so expressed because they took more, but some of the persons were since killed, Num_31:17, and some of the cattle was spent for the necessary provisions of the army. Numbers 31:33 Numbers 31:34 Numbers 31:35 Numbers 31:36 Numbers 31:37 Numbers 31:38 Numbers 31:39 Numbers 31:40 Numbers 31:41 Either now upon his consulting of God in the case, or formerly i n general rule s and laws for such occasions, such as Num_18:8. Numbers 31:42 Numbers 31:43 Numbers 31:44 Numbers 31:45 Numbers 31:46 Numbers 31:47 Numbers 31:48 Numbers 31:49 Numbers 31:50 For their error, noted, Num_31:14-16