Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 31:13
And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Moses, and Eleazar the priest, .. . went forth to meet them without the camppartly as a tokenof respect and congratulation on their victory, partly to see howthey had executed the Lord’s commands, and partly to prevent thedefilement of the camp by the entrance of warriors stained withblood.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation,…. Attended, no doubt, with a proper retinue:
went forth to meet them without the camp; partly to do honour to them, and to congratulate them on their victory, and partly to hinder them going into the camp directly, until they were purified; see
Ge 14:17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Treatment of the Prisoners. – When Moses went out to the front of the camp with Eleazar and the princes of the congregation to meet the returning warriors, he was angry with the commanders, because they had left all the women alive, since it was they who had been the cause, at Balaam’s instigation, of the falling away of the Israelites from Jehovah to worship Peor; and he commanded all the male children to be slain, and every woman who had lain with a man, and only the young girls who had hitherto had no connection with a man to be left alive. , lit., the appointed persons, i.e., the officers of the army, who were then divided into princes (captains) over thousands and hundreds. – “ Which came from the battle,” i.e., who had returned. The question in Num 31:15, “ Have ye left all the women alive? ” is an expression of dissatisfaction, and reproof for their having done this. … , “ they have become to the Israelites to work unfaithfulness towards Jehovah,” i.e., they have induced them to commit an act of unfaithfulness towards Jehovah. The word , which only occurs in this chapter, viz., in Num 31:5 and Num 31:16, appears to be used in the sense of giving, delivering, and then, like , doing, making, effecting. On the fact itself, see Num 25:6. The object of the command to put all the male children to death, was to exterminate the whole nation, as it could not be perpetuated in the women. Of the female sex, all were to be put to death who had known the lying with a man, and therefore might possibly have been engaged in the licentious worship of Peor (Num 25:2), to preserve the congregation from all contamination from that abominable idolatry.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. 14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. 15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD. 17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. 19 And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. 20 And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood. 21 And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses; 22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. 24 And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.
We have here the triumphant return of the army of Israel from the war with Midian, and here,
I. They were met with great respect, v. 13. Moses himself, notwithstanding his age and gravity, walked out of the camp to congratulate them on their victory, and to grace the solemnity of their triumphs. Public successes should be publicly acknowledged, to the glory of God, and the encouragement of those that have jeoparded their lives in their country’s cause.
II. They were severely reproved for saving the women alive. It is very probable that Moses had commanded them to kill the women, at least this was implied in the general order to avenge Israel of the Midianites; the execution having reference to that crime, their drawing them in to the worship of Peor, it was easy to conclude that the women, who were the principal criminals, must not be spared. What! says Moses, have you saved the women alive? v. 15. He was moved with a holy indignation at the sight of them. These were those that caused the children of Israel to commit this trespass; and therefore, 1. It is just that they should die. The law in case of whoredom was, The adulterer and adulteress should surely be put to death. God had put to death the adulterers of Israel by the plague, and now it was fit that the adulteresses of Midian, especially since they had been the tempters, should be put to death by the sword. 2. “It is dangerous to let them live; they will be still tempting the Israelites to uncleanness, and so your captives will be your conquerors and a second time your destroyers.” Severe orders are therefore given that all the grown women should be slain in cold blood, and only the female children spared.
III. They were obliged to purify themselves, according to the ceremony of the law, and to abide without the camp seven days, till their purification was accomplished. For, 1. They had imbrued their hands in blood, by which though they had not contracted any moral guilt, the war being just and lawful, yet they were brought under a ceremonial uncleanness, which rendered them unfit to come near the tabernacle till they were purified. Thus God would preserve in their minds a dread and detestation of murder. David must not build the temple because he had been a man of war, and had shed blood, 1 Chron. xxviii. 3. 2. They could not but have touched dead bodies, by which they were polluted, and that required they should be purified with the water of separation, Num 31:19; Num 31:20; Num 31:24.
IV. They must likewise purify the spoil they had taken, the captives (v. 19) and all the goods, v. 21-23. What would bear the fire must pass through the fire, and what would not must be washed with water. These things had been use by Midianites, and, having now come into the possession of Israelites, it was fit that they should be sanctified to the service of that holy nation and the honour of their holy God. To us now every thing is sanctified by the word and prayer, if we are sanctified by the Spirit, who is compared both to fire and water. To the pure all things are pure.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 13-20:
Moses, Eleazar, and the princes of Israel met the returning army. But when Moses saw their captives, he became very angry. He rebuked the officers, charging that they should have known better than to spare the Midianite women. These were the very ones who had led Israel into immorality.
Moses ordered the immediate execution of every married woman, and every male child, among the Midianite captives. To some this sounds barbaric and unjust, entirely contrary to the concept of a loving, merciful God. But when seen from God’s viewpoint, this was an act both of justice and of mercy.
Justice: because of the guilt of the Moabite women. Their execution was necessary to preserve the integrity of Israel’s segregated family life and their relationships to God. The Midianite women had already demonstrated their sensual attraction of the Israeli men. To expose the camp to an influx of these women would be an open invitation to moral degeneration.
Mercy: because it would have been cruel to return the defenseless women and children to their desolated cities, where they would have no protectors and no means of feeding and clothing themselves.
Furthermore, if left alive, the Midianite boys would grow up among the Israelites and become a snare to marry their daughters and a source of possible sedition.
The Midianite girls were spared, to serve as servants and secondary wives among the Israelites. In this role, they would be treated kindly. They would not pose a threat to Israel’s society or to the worship of Jehovah.
The law of purification applied to the Israeli soldiers and their captives upon returning from battle, see Nu 19:11-13. Even the woolen garments and cloth must be subject to this law of purification.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
B. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THEIR DISPOSAL vv. 1320
TEXT
Num. 31:13. And Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. 14. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. 15. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16. Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the Counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. 17. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. 19. And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. 20. And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats hair, and all things made of wood.
PARAPHRASE
Num. 31:13. And Moses and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp. 14. And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from the battle. 15. And Moses said to them, Have you spared all the women alive? 16. Behold, these caused the children of Israel to revolt against the Lord through the counsel of Balaam, in the matter of Peor; and there was a plague of the Lord among the congregation. 17. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with him. 18. But all the girls who have not lain with a man you are to keep alive unto yourselves. 19. Stay outside of the camp seven days, anyone who has killed another person, and anyone who has touched a corpse; purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. 20. And you shall purify every garment and every item of leather and all work of goats hair, and all things made of wood.
COMMENTARY
The anger of Moses, Eleazar and other leaders of the people is not difficult to understand. When they learned that the very most involved members of the Midianite tribe who had earlier corrupted Israel had been spared, their reaction was spontaneously to disapprove. These were the very women who induced the people of God to sin flagrantly, both in committing whoredom and in subscribing to orgiastic religious rituals before the pagan gods. To spare them would be an affront to the very God who had ordered the extermination of the offending tribe. Moses decision is immediate, and his orders are to the point. He first rebukes those who were responsible for the situation, then he gives the reason for his displeasure. Then they are told what they must do: kill every male child and every woman who has had intercourse with a man. Only virgins, of whatever age, are to be spared. The male children are to be exterminated in order to bring Midian to extinction. The women who have had sexual experience are to be killed to prevent further seduction of the Israelites; and, as we may now conclude from present knowledge of the ravages of sexually-oriented diseases, to prevent a further infestation of Gods people in a manner all too familiar from the past.
Why, then, were the virgins spared? Unlike many of their contemporary nations, the Hebrews were not slave traders. They were permitted servants, with numerous laws in the Mosaic code to govern the practice. But in this instance it seems correct to assume that many of the Midianites married into the nation of Israel, since any children born to such a union would have been considered Israelites; and they are not yet living under the circumstances which would have prohibited the marriages. Nevertheless, both soldiers and captives were required to remain outside the camp for one week. During the time, they are to follow exactly the strictures of Num. 19:11 ff., in order that they might be ceremonially clean when they reentered the camp. Even their clothing and anything made of skin, goats hair or wool, must likewise be made clean. The directions specify that only those who have actually killed another, or have touched a corpse, are involved. Even the captives themselves are to undergo the ritual cleansing before they may be admitted into the assembly of Israel.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
565.
Give the causes for the anger of Moses and Eleazar when Israels warriors returned from their battle with the Midianites.
566.
Relate Moses instructions as to how the captives were to be treated. What was to happen to the different kinds of prisoners?
567.
Why was it reasonable to spare only the virgins among the Midianites?
568.
What eventually became of those Midianite women?
569.
For what reason and for what length of time were some of the soldiers not permitted to return to camp?
570.
Compare the treatment given these captives by Israel with that normally given to prisoners of war in other contemporary societies.
571.
Suggest any reasons you can for requiring the Israelites to purify even the garments and other such items before bringing them into camp.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
TREATMENT OF THE PRISONERS, Num 31:13-18.
13. Went forth to meet them As Melchizedek, king and priest, met Abram after the slaughter of the kings, (Gen 14:18,) to bless the victor and receive tithes. Moreover, the law required the cleansing of the soldiers after a battle before entering the holy camp of Israel. Num 5:2-3; Num 19:11-18, notes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Manner of Dealing with the Captives
v. 13. And Moses and Eleazar, the priest, and all the princes of the congregation went forth to meet them without the camp, v. 14. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds which came from the battle.
v. 15. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? v. 16. Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord, v. 17. Now, therefore, kill every male among the little ones, v. 18. But all the women children that have not known a man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
It is truly interesting to see the zeal of the faithful. How jealous for the honour of GOD was Moses? In regarding the LORD’S glory, he passeth by all lesser considerations. Angels burn with an holy flame in this particular. We have a striking instance of one of the heavenly host manifesting his warmth of zeal for the glory of GOD, in the instance of the death of Herod. Act 12:23 . And if the Reader would behold the account of one infinitely greater than the angels, he may read how the prophet described him under this feature, as clad with zeal as a cloke; and how the evangelist interpreted this when he appeared in substance of our flesh. See Isa 59:17 ; Psa 69:9 ; Joh 2:15-17 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 31:13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
Ver. 13. Went forth to meet them. ] As Melchisedec went forth to meet Abraham returning with victory; Gen 14:18 as Archbishop Hubert met our Richard I returning from the Holy Land, (as they called it,) both of them first falling to the earth, rose again and ran into each other’s arms, comforting themselves with mutual embraces, and weeping with joy. a
a Speed, Hist., fol. 540.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
meet them: as Melchizedek met Abram (Gen 14:17).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
went forth: Gen 14:17, 1Sa 15:12, 1Sa 30:21
without the camp: Num 31:12, Num 31:22-24, Num 5:2, Num 19:11
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 31:13-14. 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 who, by the law of God, were worthy of death, as idolaters, and as persons who had seduced Gods people to idolatry, Num 25:6; Num 25:17-18.