1ER redete zu Mosche, sprechend: 2Ahnde die Ahndung der Söhne Jissraels an den Midjanitern, danach wirst du zu deinen Volkleuten eingeholt. 3Mosche redete zum Volke, sprechend: Sturmgürten sollen sich von euch Männer zur Heerschar, sie sollen über Midjan geraten, SEINE Ahndung an Midjan zu üben, 4tausend für den Stab, tausend für den Stab, für alle Stäbe Jissraels, sendet zur Heerschar. 5Geliefert wurden von den Tausenden Jissraels tausend für den Stab, zwölftausend Stürmer der Heerschar, 6die schickte Mosche, tausend für den Stab, zur Schar, sie und Pinchas Sohn Elasars des Priesters zur Schar und die Geräte der Heiligung und die Trompeten des Geschmetters in seiner Hand. 7Sie scharten sich über Midjan, wie ER Mosche geboten hatte, brachten alles Männliche um, 8und die Könige Midjans brachten sie auf ihren Durchbohrten um, den Ewi, den Rakem, den Zur, den Chur, den Raba, die fünf Könige Midjans, auch Bilam Sohn Bors brachten sie mit dem Schwerte um. 9Gefangen führten die Söhne Jissraels die Weiber von Midjan und ihr Kleinvolk, all ihr Lastvieh, all ihre Herden, all ihr Vermögen erbeuteten sie, 10all ihre Städte in ihren Siedlungen, all ihre Zeltburgen ver- brannten sie im Feuer. 11Sie nahmen alles Plündergut und alles Eingenommne, an Mensch und an Vieh, 12sie schafftens zu Mosche und zu Elasar dem Priester, und zur Gemeinschaft der Söhne Jissraels, die Gefangenen, das Eingenommne und das Plündergut zum Lager, zu den Steppen Moabs, die am Jericho-Jordan sind. 13Mosche und Elasar der Priester und alle Fürsten der Gemeinschaft gingen hinaus, ihnen entgegen, außer Lagers. 14Mosche ergrimmte über die Verordneten des Heers, die Obern der Tausendschaften und die Obern der Hundertschaften, die von der Kriegsschar kamen, 15Mosche sprach zu ihnen: Habt ihr alles Weibliche am Leben gelassen? 16Sie ja sind, auf Verursachen Bilams, der Söhne Jissraels geworden, - Trug gegen IHN zu überliefern in der Sache des Por, und Niederstoß geschah in SEINE Gemeinschaft! 17Und nun, bringt alles Männliche unter dem Kleinvolk um, alljedes Eheweib, das einen Ehegatten in männlicher Beiwohnung erkannte, sollt ihr umbringen, 18aber alles Kleinvolk unter den Weibern, die noch keine männliche Beiwohnung kennen, laßt am Leben für euch. 19Und ihr, lagert außer Lagers ein Tagsiebent, alljeder, der ein Wesen umbrachte, alljeder, der einen Durchbohrten berührte, laßt euch entsünden am dritten Tag und am siebenten Tag, ihr und eure Gefangnen. 20Alle Gewandung, alles Ledergerät, alles Ziegenhaarwerk, alles Holzgerät, laßts euch absünden! 21Elasar der Priester sprach zu den Männern der Heerschar, die in den Krieg gegangen waren: Dies ist eine Satzung der Weisung, die ER Mosche geboten hat: 22Jedoch das Gold, das Silber, das Erz, das Eisen, das Zinn und das Blei, 23all Ding, das ins Feuer kommen kann, laßt durchs Feuer ziehn, und es ist rein, jedoch mit Entsondrungswasser muß es abgesündet werden; und alles, was nicht ins Feuer kommen kann, laßt durchs Wasser ziehn. 24Waschet eure Kleider am siebenten Tag, und ihr seid rein, danach dürft ihr ins Lager kommen. 25ER sprach zu Mosche, sprach: 26Eintrage den Häupterbestand der Gefangennahme, an Mensch und an Vieh, du und Elasar der Priester, und die Väterhäupter der Gemeinschaft, 27und hälfte das Genommene zwischen denen, die den Krieg ergriffen, die zur Heerschar ausfuhren, und aller Gemeinschaft. 28Dann erhebe als Steuer IHM von den Kriegsmännern, die zur Heerschar ausfuhren, ein Wesen von fünfhundert von den Menschen und von den Rindern und von den Eseln und von den Schafen, 29von ihrer Hälfte sollt ihrs nehmen, gib es Elasar dem Priester als SEINE Hebe, 30von der Hälfte der Söhne Jissraels aber nimm eins aus fünfzig gefaßt, von den Menschen, von den Rindern, von den Eseln und von den Schafen, von allem Vieh, gib sie den Lewiten, die die Verwahr SEINER Wohnung wahren. 31Mosche tat und Elasar der Priester, wie ER Mosche geboten hatte. 32Da war des Genommnen, des Überbleibs von der Beute, die das Heerscharvolk erbeutet hatte, Schafe sechshunderttausend und siebzigtausend und fünftausend, 33Rinder zweiundsiebzigtausend, 34Esel einundsechzigtausend, 35Menschenwesen, von den Weibern, die männliches Beilager nicht kannten, aller Wesen zweiunddreißigtausend. 36So war die Hälfte als Anteil der in der Heerschar Ausgefahrnen: Zahl der Schafe dreihunderttausend und dreißigtausend und siebentausend und fünfhundert, 37so war die Steuer IHM von den Schafen sechshundertfünfundsiebzig; 38der Rinder sechsunddreißigtausend, ihre Steuer IHM zweiundsiebzig; 39Esel dreißigtausend und fünfhundert, ihre Steuer IHM einundsechzig; 40Menschenwesen sechzehntausend, ihre Steuer IHM zweiunddreißig Wesen. 41Mosche gab die Steuer als SEINE Hebe Elasar dem Priester, wie ER Mosche geboten hatte. 42Und von der Hälfte der Söhne Jissraels, die Mosche von den gescharten Männern abgehälftet hatte, 43- die Hälfte der Gemeinschaft war von den Schafen dreihunderttausend und dreißigtausend, siebentausend und fünfhundert, 44Rinder sechsunddreißig- tausend, 45Esel dreißigtausend und fünfhundert, 46Menschenwesen sechzehntausend - 47von der Hälfte der Söhne Jissraels nahm Mosche das Gefaßte, eins von fünfzig, von Mensch und von Vieh, er gab sie den Lewiten, die die Verwahr SEINER Wohnung wahren, wie ER Mosche geboten hatte. 48Es nahten Mosche die den Tausenden der Heerschar Übergeordneten, die Obern der Tausendschaften und die Obern der Hundertschaften, 49sie sprachen zu Mosche: Deine Knechte haben den Häupterbestand der Kriegsmänner eingetragen, die unter unsrer Hand waren, nicht ein Mann von uns wird vermißt. 50Wir wollen als SEINE Nahung darnahn jedermann, was er erlangte an Goldgerät, Armband und Spange, Siegelring, Ohrreif und Halsgeschmeid, über unsern Seelen vor IHM zu bedecken. 51Mosche nahm und Elasar der Priester das Gold von ihnen, alles Kunstgerät, 52es war alles Golds der Hebe, die sie IHM zuhoben, sechzehntausend siebenhundert und fünfzig Vollgewicht, von den Obern der Tausendschaften und von den Obern der Hundertschaften - 53die Mannschaften der Schar beuteten jedermann für sich. 54Mosche nahm und Elasar der Priester das Gold von den Obern der Tausendschaften und der Hundertschaften, sie ließen es in das Zelt der Begegnung kommen als Angedenken den Söhnen Jissraels vor IHM. Am Jordan: Die Sturmgegürteten
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE MIDIANITES SPOILED AND BALAAM SLAIN. (Num. 31:1-54)
the Lord spake unto Moses, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites--a semi-nomad people, descended from Abraham and Keturah, occupying a tract of country east and southeast of Moab, which lay on the eastern coast of the Dead Sea. They seem to have been the principal instigators of the infamous scheme of seduction, planned to entrap the Israelites into the double crime of idolatry and licentiousness [
Num 25:1-
Num 25:3,
Num 25:17-
Num 25:18] by which, it was hoped, the Lord would withdraw from that people the benefit of His protection and favor. Moreover, the Midianites had rendered themselves particularly obnoxious by entering into a hostile league with the Amorites (
Josh 13:21). The Moabites were at this time spared in consideration of Lot (
Deut 2:9) and because the measure of their iniquities was not yet full. God spoke of avenging "the children of Israel" [
Num 31:2]; Moses spoke of avenging the Lord [
Num 31:3], as dishonor had been done to God and an injury inflicted on His people. The interests were identical. God and His people have the same cause, the same friends, and the same assailants. This, in fact, was a religious war, undertaken by the express command of God against idolaters, who had seduced the Israelites to practise their abominations.
3 Arm some of yourselves--This order was issued but a short time before the death of Moses. The announcement to him of that approaching event [
Num 31:2] seems to have accelerated, rather than retarded, his warlike preparations.
5 there were delivered--that is, drafted, chosen, an equal amount from each tribe, to prevent the outbreak of mutual jealousy or strife. Considering the numerical force of the enemy, this was a small quota to furnish. But the design was to exercise their faith and animate them to the approaching invasion of Canaan.
6 Moses sent . . . Eleazar the priest, to the war--Although it is not expressly mentioned, it is highly probable that Joshua was the general who conducted this war. The presence of the priest, who was always with the army (
Deut 20:2), was necessary to preside over the Levites, who accompanied the expedition, and to inflame the courage of the combatants by his sacred services and counsels.
holy instruments--As neither the ark nor the Urim and Thummim were carried to the battlefield till a later period in the history of Israel, the "holy instruments" must mean the "trumpets" (
Num 10:9). And this view is agreeable to the text, by simply changing "and" into "even," as the Hebrew particle is frequently rendered.
7 they slew all the males--This was in accordance with a divine order in all such cases (
Deut 20:13). But the destruction appears to have been only partial--limited to those who were in the neighborhood of the Hebrew camp and who had been accomplices in the villainous plot of Baal-peor (
Num 25:1-
Num 25:3), while a large portion of the Midianites were absent on their pastoral wanderings or had saved themselves by flight. (Compare
Judg 6:1).
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 (
Josh 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 (
Num 25:15).
Balaam also . . . they slew with the sword--This unprincipled man, on his dismissal from Balak, set out for his home in Mesopotamia (
Num 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. For any one in his circumstances to attempt defeating the prophecies he had himself been the organ of uttering, and plotting to deprive the chosen people of the divine favor and protection, was an act of desperate wickedness, which no language can adequately characterize.
13 Moses, and Eleazar the priest, . . . went forth to meet them without the camp--partly as a token of respect and congratulation on their victory, partly to see how they had executed the Lord's commands, and partly to prevent the defilement of the camp by the entrance of warriors stained with blood.
14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host--The displeasure of the great leader, though it appears the ebullition of a fierce and sanguinary temper, arose in reality from a pious and enlightened regard to the best interests of Israel. No order had been given for the slaughter of the women, and in ancient war they were commonly reserved for slaves. By their antecedent conduct, however, the Midianitish women had forfeited all claims to mild or merciful treatment; and the sacred character, the avowed object of the war (
Num 31:2-
Num 31:3), made their slaughter necessary without any special order. But why "kill every male among the little ones"? It was designed to be a war of extermination, such as God Himself had ordered against the people of Canaan, whom the Midianites equalled in the enormity of their wickedness.
19 abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person . . . purify both yourselves and your captives--Though the Israelites had taken the field in obedience to the command of God, they had become defiled by contact with the dead. A process of purification was to be undergone, as the law required (
Lev 15:13;
Num 19:9-
Num 19:12), and this purifying ceremony was extended to dress, houses, tents, to everything on which a dead body had lain, which had been touched by the blood-stained hands of the Israelitish warriors, or which had been the property of idolaters. This became a standing ordinance in all time coming (
Lev 6:28;
Lev 11:33;
Lev 15:12).
25 Take the sum of the prey that was taken--that is, of the captives and cattle, which, having been first lumped together according to ancient usage (
Exod 15:9;
Judg 5:30), were divided into two equal parts: the one to the people at large, who had sustained a common injury from the Midianites and who were all liable to serve: and the other portion to the combatants, who, having encountered the labors and perils of war, justly received the largest share. From both parts, however, a certain deduction was taken for the sanctuary, as a thank offering to God for preservation and for victory. The soldiers had greatly the advantage in the distribution; for a five-hundredth part only of their half went to the priest, while a fiftieth part of the congregation's half was given to the Levites.
32 the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught--Some of the captives having been killed (
Num 31:17) and part of the cattle taken for the support of the army, the total amount of the booty remaining was in the following proportions:
Prey Total Amount Half to Soldiers Deducted to God Half to Congregation Deducted to Levites
Sheep 675,000 337,500 675 337,500 6,750
Beeves 72,000 36,000 72 36,000 720
Asses 61,000 30,500 61 30,500 610
Persons 32,000 16,000 32 16,000 320
48 officers . . . said . . . there lacketh not one man of us--A victory so signal, and the glory of which was untarnished by the loss of a single Israelitish soldier, was an astonishing miracle. So clearly betokening the direct interposition of Heaven, it might well awaken the liveliest feelings of grateful acknowledgment to God (
Ps 44:2-
Ps 44:3). The oblation they brought for the Lord "was partly an atonement" or reparation for their error (
Num 31:14-
Num 31:16), for it could not possess any expiatory virtue, and partly a tribute of gratitude for the stupendous service rendered them. It consisted of the "spoil," which, being the acquisition of individual valor, was not divided like the "prey," or livestock, each soldier retaining it in lieu of pay; it was offered by the "captains" alone, whose pious feelings were evinced by the dedication of the spoil which fell to their share. There were jewels to the amount of 16,750 shekels, equal to Ł87,869 16s. 5d. sterling.
