Numbers 31:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Moshe said to the people, "Equip men from among yourselves for war. They are to go and fight Midyan, in order to carry out ADONAI's vengeance on Midyan.

Berean Standard Bible:

So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them.

American Standard Version:

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Jehovah’s vengeance on Midian.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} spake^{H1696} unto the people^{H5971}, saying^{H559}, Arm^{H2502} some^{H582} of yourselves unto the war^{H6635}, and let them go against the Midianites^{H4080}, and avenge^{{H5414}{H5360}} the LORD^{H3068} of Midian^{H4080}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 31:3

1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Vengeance:** The verse reflects the theme of divine retribution, where the Israelites are commanded to punish the Midianites as an act of vengeance for the Lord. This is rooted in the belief that the Midianites had wronged the Israelites and, by extension, God.
- **Holy War:** The concept of a "holy war" is present, as the conflict is framed not merely as a political or territorial dispute but as a religious obligation to carry out God's will.
- **Obedience to God:** The Israelites' response to Moses' command would demonstrate their obedience to God's directives, as conveyed through Moses.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Israelites and Midianites:** The Israelites and Midianites had a complex relationship. Initially, Midianites appeared sympathetic to the Israelites, with Moses even marrying a Midianite woman, Zipporah. However, tensions arose, particularly after the Midianites, along with the Moabites, hired Balaam to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22-24). Additionally, the Midianites were seen as complicit in leading the Israelites into idolatry and immorality at Baal Peor (Numbers 25), which resulted in a plague sent by God.
- **Time Period:** The event described in Numbers 31 occurred during the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness, after the exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land. This was a formative period for the Israelite nation, where their identity as a people chosen by God was being established.
- **Military Campaign:** The command to go to war against Midian can be seen as both a military campaign and a religious duty to purge the influences that could lead the Israelites away from monotheism and their covenant with God.

In summary, Numbers 31:3 is set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land and reflects themes of divine justice, holy war, and the importance of obedience to God's commands. It also highlights the shifting alliances and enmities of the time, as the Israelites transition from a loose confederation of tribes to a unified nation under God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2502
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָלַץ
   Transliteration: châlats
   Pronunciation: khaw-lats'
   Description: a primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) to depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen; arm (self), (go, ready) armed ([idiom] man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.
   
6. Strong's Number: H582
   There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh
   Pronunciation: en-oshe'
   Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6635
   There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָבָא
   Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
   Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
   Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
   
8. Strong's Number: H4080
   There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִדְיָן
   Transliteration: Midyân
   Pronunciation: mid-yawn'
   Description: the same as מִדְיָן; Midjan, a son of Abraham; also his country and (collectively) his descendants; Midian, Midianite.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5360
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נְקָמָה
    Transliteration: nᵉqâmâh
    Pronunciation: nek-aw-maw'
    Description: feminine of נָקָם; avengement, whether the act of the passion; [phrase] avenge, revenge(-ing), vengeance.
    
11. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.