Numbers 31 — Overview

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible · Matthew Henry (1662–1714) · Public Domain

This chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of the Lord," in which it is probable it was inserted. It is the history of a holy war, a war with Midian. Here is, I. A divine command for the war, ver. 1, 2. II. The undertaking of the war, ver. 3-6. III. The glorious success of it, ver. 7-12. IV. Their triumphant return from the war. 1. The respect Moses paid to the soldiers, ver. 13. 2. The rebuke he gave them for sparing the women, ver. 14-18. 3. The directions he gave them for the purifying of themselves and their effects, ver. 19-24. 4. The distribution of the spoil they had taken, one half to the soldiers, the other to the congregation, and a tribute to the Lord out of each, ver. 25-47. 5. The free-will offering of the officers, ver. 48, &c.

The Slaughter of the Midianites. (b. c. 1452.)

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Numbers 31 — OverviewNumbers 31 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 31:1, The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain; Numbers 31:13, Moses is wroth with the officers, for saving the women alive; Numbers 31:19, How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be…Numbers 31 — OverviewNumbers 31 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter contains an order to make war upon Midian, which was accordingly done, Nu 31:1, but Moses was wroth, because they saved the women alive, who, through the counsel of Balaam, had been the cause of sin, and of…Numbers 31:1-6Numbers 31:1-6 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere, I. The Lord of hosts gives orders to Moses to make war upon the Midianites, and his commission no doubt justified this war, though it will not serve to justify the like without such commission. The…Numbers 31:2Numbers 31:2 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeAvenge: Numbers 31:3, Numbers 25:17-18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Judges 16:24, Judges 16:28-30; Psalms 94:1-3; Isaiah 1:24; Nahum 1:2; Luke 21:22; Romans 12:19, Romans 13:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:6; Hebrews 10:30; Revelation…Numbers 31:2Numbers 31:2 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAvenge the children of Israel of the Midianites,.... For the injury they had done them, by sending their daughters among them, who enticed them to commit uncleanness with them, and then drew them into the worship of…Numbers 31:3Numbers 31:3 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeArm some: Exodus 17:9-13 avenge the Lord: It was God's quarrel, not their own, that they were now to take up. These people were idolaters, and had seduced the Israelites to practise the same abominations. Idolatry is…

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