King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They set fire to all their cities in the areas where they lived and all their camps.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites had lived, as well as all their encampments,
American Standard Version:
And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they burnt{H8313} all their cities{H5892} wherein they dwelt{H4186}, and all their goodly castles{H2918}, with fire{H784}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Samuel 30:1
- ¶ And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
Genesis 25:16
- These [are] the sons of Ishmael, and these [are] their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
1 Kings 9:16
- [For] Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it [for] a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife.
Revelation 18:8
- Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.
Isaiah 1:7
- Your country [is] desolate, your cities [are] burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Joshua 6:24
- And they burnt the city with fire, and all that [was] therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
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Commentary for Numbers 31:10
Numbers 31:10 is part of the narrative in the Book of Numbers, which details the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. This particular verse is situated within the context of a military campaign against the Midianites, a people with whom the Israelites had a complex relationship, involving both kinship and conflict.
In the broader narrative, God commands Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, as recorded in Numbers 25. The verse in question, Numbers 31:10, describes the aftermath of the battle where the Israelite army, led by Pharaoh, has just defeated the Midianites. Following their victory, the Israelites burn all the cities where the Midianites lived, as well as their castles, with fire.
The themes present in this verse include divine retribution, the fulfillment of God's commands, and the stark realities of warfare in the ancient world. It also reflects the practice of herem, a concept in the Hebrew Bible where something is completely dedicated to God, often resulting in its destruction, particularly in the context of war. This action was meant to remove any temptation to idolatry and to demonstrate the utter destruction of those who opposed God's people.
Historically, this passage reflects the ancient practice of razing enemy cities as a means of conquest and as a warning to other potential adversaries. It also highlights the religious significance placed on such actions by the Israelites, who saw their military campaigns as being directed by God for the purpose of establishing a holy nation.
The verse is a challenging one in modern contexts, as it raises questions about the morality of total war and the interpretation of divine commands. It is often studied alongside other biblical passages that address warfare, justice, and the treatment of enemies, as part of the broader theological discussion within the Bible.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8313
There are 107 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂרַף
Transliteration: sâraph
Pronunciation: saw-raf'
Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire; (cause to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H4186
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוֹשָׁב
Transliteration: môwshâb
Pronunciation: mo-shawb'
Description: or מֹשָׁב; from יָשַׁב; a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population; assembly, dwell in, dwelling(-place), wherein (that) dwelt (in), inhabited place, seat, sitting, situation, sojourning. - Strong's Number: H2918
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טִירָה
Transliteration: ṭîyrâh
Pronunciation: tee-raw'
Description: feminine of (an equivalent to) טוּר; a wall; hence, a fortress or a hamlet; (goodly) castle, habitation, palace, row. - Strong's Number: H784
There are 549 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵשׁ
Transliteration: ʼêsh
Pronunciation: aysh
Description: a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively); burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.