Chapter 31:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Numbers 31
Concise Complete
War with Midian. (1-6) Balaam slain. (7-12) Those slain
who caused sin. (13-38) Purification of the Israelites. (39-24) Division of the
spoil. (25-47) Offerings. (48-54)
Verses 1-6 All
who, without commission from God, dare to execute private revenge, and who, from
ambition, covetousness, or resentment, wage war and desolate kingdoms, must one
day answer for it. But if God, instead of sending an earthquake, a pestilence,
or a famine, be pleased to authorize and command any people to avenge his cause,
such a commission surely is just and right. The Israelites could show such a
commission, though no persons now can do so. Their wars were begun and carried
on expressly by Divine direction, and they were enabled to conquer by miracles.
Unless it can be proved that the wicked Canaanites did not deserve their doom,
objectors only prove their dislike to God, and their love to his enemies. Man
makes light of the evil of sin, but God abhors it. This explains the terrible
executions of the nations which had filled the measure of their sins.
Verses 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,
hosea 4:5. They took the
women and children captives. They burnt their cities and castles, and returned
to the camp.
Verses 13-18
The sword of war should spare women and children; but the sword of justice
should know no distinction, but that of guilty or not guilty. This war was the
execution of a righteous sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were
the worst criminals. The female children were spared, who, being brought up
among the Israelites, would not tempt them to idolatry. The whole history shows
the hatefulness of sin, and the guilt of tempting others; it teaches us to avoid
all occasions of evil, and to give no quarter to inward lusts. The women and
children were not kept for sinful purposes, but for slaves, a custom every where
practised in former times, as to captives. In the course of providence, when
famine and plagues visit a nation for sin, children suffer in the common
calamity. In this case parents are punished in their children; and for children
dying before actual sin, full provision is made as to their eternal happiness,
by the mercy of God in Christ.
Verses 19-24
The Israelites had to purify themselves according to the law, and to abide
without the camp seven days, though they had not contracted any moral guilt, the
war being just and lawful, and commanded by God. Thus God would preserve in
their minds a dread and detestation of shedding blood. The spoil had been used
by Midianites, and being now come into the possession of Israelites, it was fit
that it should be purified.
Verses 25-47
Whatever we have, God justly claims a part. Out of the people's share God
required one in fifty, but out of the soldiers' share only one in five hundred.
The less opportunity we have of honouring God with personal services, the more
should we give in money or value.
Verses 48-54
The success of the Israelites had been very remarkable, so small a company
overcoming such multitudes, but it was still more wonderful that not one was
slain or missing. They presented the gold they found among the spoils, as an
offering to the Lord. Thus they confessed, that instead of claiming a reward for
their service, they needed forgiveness of much that had been amiss, and desired
to be thankful for the preservation of their lives, which might justly have been
taken away.
Chapter 31:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
