Numbers 31:14

KJV

And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, [with] the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} was wroth {H7107} with the officers {H6485} of the host {H2428}, with the captains {H8269} over thousands {H505}, and captains {H8269} over hundreds {H3967}, which came {H935} from {H6635} the battle {H4421}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Moshe was angry with the army officers, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds coming in from the battlefield.

Berean Standard Bible

But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who were returning from the battle.

American Standard Version

And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:14 captures Moses' intense displeasure and anger directed at the returning military officers, including captains over thousands and hundreds, who had just come back from a victorious battle against the Midianites. This verse serves as a dramatic pivot, signaling that despite their military success, a critical aspect of God's divine command for the campaign had been overlooked or deliberately defied, prompting Moses' immediate and fiery rebuke of the leadership.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31:14 is situated within the broader narrative of Israel's final campaign against the Midianites, commanded by the Lord as an act of vengeance for their role in seducing Israel into idolatry and immorality at Peor (Numbers 25). The chapter begins with God instructing Moses to "avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites" before his death, emphasizing the divine imperative behind the war. Verses 1-12 describe the successful military engagement, the defeat of Midian, and the taking of spoil and captives. Verse 13 depicts the initial welcome of the returning army by Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the congregation. However, verse 14 immediately shifts the tone, revealing Moses' "wroth" reaction. This sudden change in Moses' demeanor foreshadows the severe instructions he gives in the subsequent verses (Numbers 31:15-18), where he explicitly articulates the army's failure to fully execute the divine judgment, specifically regarding the Midianite women who had enticed Israel into sin.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command to avenge Israel on Midian stems directly from the events of [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Peor"), where Midianite women, at the instigation of Balaam, led Israelite men into sexual immorality and the worship of Baal-Peor, resulting in a devastating plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. This background underscores the severity of the Midianite threat not merely as a military adversary but as a spiritual pollutant to the covenant community. The concept of "holy war" or *herem* (devotion to destruction) was a recognized practice in the ancient Near East, though Israel's application of it was uniquely tied to Yahweh's holiness and the preservation of covenant purity. Moses' anger reflects the understanding that incomplete obedience in such a divinely ordained mission was not merely a tactical error but a profound theological failure, jeopardizing the spiritual integrity of the entire nation. The military structure of "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds" reflects a typical hierarchical organization of ancient armies, highlighting that Moses' rebuke was directed at the responsible chain of command.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **divine command and complete obedience**. God's instructions are not suggestions but mandates, and partial obedience is tantamount to disobedience, especially when the purity of the covenant community is at stake. Secondly, it emphasizes **leadership accountability**. Moses' wrath is directed specifically at the officers, underscoring their responsibility to ensure that divine directives are fully carried out by those under their command. This theme is echoed throughout Israel's history, as seen in the consequences of King Saul's partial obedience in [1 Samuel 15](/1_samuel/15 "1 Samuel 15 - Saul's Disobedience"). Thirdly, the passage reinforces the theme of **holiness and separation**. The Midianites, particularly the women who had caused Israel to stumble, represented a spiritual contamination. Moses' subsequent command to eliminate them (Numbers 31:17-18) underscores the absolute necessity of removing all sources of spiritual defilement to maintain Israel's covenant relationship with a holy God. This pursuit of purity is a recurring motif from the laws in [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - Laws of Holiness") to the warnings in [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy/1 "Deuteronomy - Moses' Farewell Speeches").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wroth (Hebrew, _ḥārâ'_):** The Hebrew verb חָרָה (*ḥārâ*) literally means "to burn," "to be kindled," or "to be hot." When used in reference to anger, it denotes a fierce, intense, and often righteous indignation. It is a strong emotional response, frequently attributed to God Himself (e.g., [Numbers 11:1](/numbers/11-1 "Numbers 11:1 - God's Anger at Taberah")) or to key figures like Moses when confronted with sin or disobedience. Moses' anger here is not a loss of temper in a personal sense but a reflection of his deep alignment with God's holiness and his understanding of the gravity of the officers' failure to uphold divine justice.
* **Officers (Hebrew, _pəqîdîm'_):** This term refers to appointed officials or overseers. In a military context, it designates those in positions of authority and command. By specifically naming "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds," the text highlights the hierarchical structure of the army and points to the fact that the responsibility for the incomplete obedience lay squarely with those who were entrusted with leadership and execution of the divine command. It underscores the principle of accountability within leadership.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host":** This opening clause immediately establishes the emotional state of Moses and the direct recipients of his anger. His wrath is not arbitrary but a response to a perceived failure or transgression by those in charge of the military operation. The "host" refers to the Israelite army.
* **"[with] the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds":** This specifies the particular "officers" Moses was angry with. These were the senior military leaders, responsible for the conduct and actions of their respective units. Their inclusion emphasizes that the failure was not a mere oversight by common soldiers but a lapse in judgment or obedience at the highest levels of military command.
* **"which came from the battle":** This phrase contextualizes the scene. The officers had just returned victorious from the battle against Midian. The irony is palpable: they had achieved military success, yet their return was met not with commendation but with severe rebuke, indicating that victory alone was insufficient if God's specific instructions for the campaign had not been fully honored.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Foreshadowing** by presenting Moses' unexplained wrath, which immediately signals to the reader that something significant has gone wrong, even before the specific reason is revealed in subsequent verses. This creates narrative tension and prompts the reader to anticipate the details of the army's failure. There is also an element of **Irony**, as the victorious return of the army, which would typically be met with celebration, is instead met with severe condemnation. This highlights the stark contrast between human achievement (military victory) and divine expectation (complete obedience). Furthermore, the specific mention of "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds" serves as a form of **Synecdoche**, where a part (the military leaders) represents the whole (the army's collective failure to fully obey God's command).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:14 powerfully illustrates the critical theological principle that partial obedience is, in God's eyes, disobedience. Moses' intense anger reflects a divine standard of holiness and justice that demands complete adherence to God's commands, especially when the purity and spiritual integrity of the covenant community are at stake. The Midianite women, who had led Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor, represented a potent spiritual danger. Failing to eliminate them as commanded would have perpetuated this threat, compromising Israel's unique identity as God's holy people. This episode underscores that God's commands are rooted in His character and His desire for His people's flourishing, making any compromise with sin a direct affront to His holiness and a peril to the people.

* [Deuteronomy 12:30-31](/deuteronomy/12-30 "Deuteronomy 12:30-31 - Warnings Against Idolatry")
* [1 Samuel 15:22-23](/1_samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22-23 - Obedience Better Than Sacrifice")
* [Joshua 7:1-12](/joshua/7-1 "Joshua 7:1-12 - Achan's Sin and Its Consequences")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 31:14 serves as a stark reminder that true success in God's eyes is measured not merely by outward victory or achievement, but by the completeness of our obedience to His specific instructions. For leaders, this verse is a profound call to accountability: those entrusted with guiding others bear a greater responsibility to understand and meticulously follow divine directives, ensuring that those under their charge also adhere to God's will. It challenges us to examine areas where we might be tempted to practice "selective obedience," fulfilling parts of God's command that are convenient or culturally acceptable, while neglecting those that are difficult, unpopular, or counter-cultural. The spiritual dangers of compromise are immense, as even a partial failure to cleanse ourselves or our communities of sin can have far-reaching and devastating consequences, just as the Midianite women posed an ongoing threat to Israel's holiness. Our commitment to God must be holistic, embracing His entire will, not just the parts we prefer.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be practicing "selective obedience" to God's commands?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of leadership and accountability, whether in the church, family, or workplace?**
* **What "Midianite women" (i.e., sources of spiritual compromise or impurity) might I be tolerating in my life or community that need to be decisively dealt with?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper commitment to complete and uncompromising obedience to God's Word?**

### FAQ
**Why was Moses so angry when the army had just won a great victory?**

Answer: Moses' anger, described by the strong Hebrew word *ḥārâ* ("to burn"), stemmed from the army's failure to fully execute God's specific command concerning the Midianites. While they had achieved military victory and taken spoil, they had spared the Midianite women who were responsible for enticing Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal-Peor, as detailed in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Peor"). Moses understood that this partial obedience was a grave spiritual compromise that would perpetuate the very threat God intended to eliminate, jeopardizing the holiness and purity of the Israelite community. His wrath was a righteous indignation reflecting God's own abhorrence of sin and incomplete obedience.

**What was the specific command that the officers failed to carry out?**

Answer: The specific command, given by God in [Numbers 31:2](/numbers/31-2 "Numbers 31:2 - God's Command to Avenge Midian"), was to "avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites." This was not just a military conquest but an act of divine judgment. The subsequent verses, particularly [Numbers 31:15-18](/numbers/31-15 "Numbers 31:15-18 - Moses' Further Instructions"), reveal that the army had spared all the Midianite women, including those who had participated in the seduction at Peor. Moses explicitly commands them to kill every male child and every woman who had known a man intimately, sparing only the virgin girls. Their failure was in not fully eradicating the source of spiritual defilement as God had intended.

**What does "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds" signify about accountability?**

Answer: The mention of "captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds" signifies that Moses' anger was directed at the highest levels of military leadership. These individuals were not ordinary soldiers but appointed officers responsible for leading and directing the troops. Their positions implied a greater understanding of and responsibility for executing divine commands. By rebuking them specifically, the text emphasizes the principle of leadership accountability: those in positions of authority are held to a higher standard and are ultimately responsible for ensuring that God's will is carried out by those under their command.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 31:14, with Moses' righteous wrath over incomplete obedience, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. While Moses' anger was a necessary, though imperfect, response to sin and compromise within the old covenant, Christ embodies perfect obedience and the ultimate removal of sin. Unlike the Israelite officers who failed to fully execute God's judgment against the Midianites, Jesus perfectly fulfilled all of God's will, even to the point of death on a cross (e.g., [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience unto Death")). He is the perfectly obedient Son who always did what pleased the Father ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Pleases the Father")). Furthermore, the need for Israel to purge itself of the Midianite defilement foreshadows Christ's work in cleansing His people from sin. He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), not through physical warfare but through His atoning sacrifice. Through His death and resurrection, Christ empowers believers to live lives of holiness, enabling them to put off the old self and its sinful practices ([Ephesians 4:22-24](/ephesians/4-22 "Ephesians 4:22-24 - Putting Off the Old Self")) and to engage in a spiritual battle against sin within and without ([Ephesians 6:10-18](/ephesians/6-10 "Ephesians 6:10-18 - The Armor of God")). Ultimately, Christ will return to fully and finally purge all evil and unrighteousness from His creation, establishing a new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1-4 - The New Heaven and New Earth")), perfectly fulfilling the zealous holiness imperfectly pursued by Moses.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 15:13

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed [be] thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

1 Samuel 15:14

And Samuel said, What [meaneth] then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

Numbers 12:3

(Now the man Moses [was] very meek, above all the men which [were] upon the face of the earth.)

Exodus 32:22

And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they [are set] on mischief.

1 Kings 20:42

And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of [thy] hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.

Leviticus 10:16

And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron [which were] left [alive], saying,

Ephesians 4:26

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: