Numbers 31:2

KJV

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

KJV (with Strong's)

Avenge {H5358}{H5360} the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478} of the Midianites {H4084}: afterward {H310} shalt thou be gathered {H622} unto thy people {H5971}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"On behalf of the people of Isra'el, take vengeance on the Midyanim. After that, you will be gathered to your people."

Berean Standard Bible

“Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”

American Standard Version

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:2 records a solemn divine mandate given to Moses, instructing him to execute a punitive campaign against the Midianites as an act of divine justice for their role in corrupting Israel at Baal-peor. This command serves as a final, critical act of obedience for Moses, signifying the culmination of his leadership and the cleansing of Israel before his own anticipated death and "gathering to his people." It underscores God's unwavering commitment to the purity of His covenant people and the severe consequences of spiritual apostasy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This command in Numbers 31:2 immediately follows the devastating incident at Baal-peor described in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Baal-peor"). There, the Moabites and Midianites conspired to entice Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality, leading to a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. The divine instruction for vengeance is a direct consequence of this egregious sin and a necessary act of purification before Israel enters the Promised Land. It also sets the stage for the second census in [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census"), which prepares the new generation for the conquest, and foreshadows Moses's imminent death, making this military action one of his final, pivotal acts of leadership before his passing, as detailed later in [Deuteronomy 34](/deuteronomy/34 "Deuteronomy 34 - Moses's Death").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Midianites were a nomadic people, often associated with trade routes, but here they are depicted as active adversaries of Israel, collaborating with the Moabites. Their strategy at Baal-peor was not direct military confrontation but a more insidious spiritual warfare, using seduction to draw Israel away from their covenant God. In the ancient Near East, divine judgment against nations for their wickedness was a common motif, and for Israel, such judgment was often executed through "holy war" – a conflict initiated and sanctioned by God to uphold His holiness and justice. The phrase "gathered unto thy people" is a well-established biblical idiom for death, signifying a peaceful passing to join one's ancestors in the realm of the dead, as seen with figures like [Abraham](/genesis/25-8 "Genesis 25:8 - Abraham Gathered to His People") and [Jacob](/genesis/49-29 "Genesis 49:29 - Jacob Gathered to His People").
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully articulates several core themes. Firstly, **Divine Justice and Retribution** are paramount, demonstrating God's righteous response to sin, especially when it involves spiritual corruption and leading His covenant people astray. Secondly, it highlights the **Consequences of Sin**, showing that deliberate rebellion against God's commands and attempts to corrupt His people invite severe divine judgment. Thirdly, **Obedience and Leadership** are exemplified by Moses, who, even at the very end of his life and leadership, faithfully carries out God's difficult and final command, underscoring his unwavering dedication to God's will. Finally, the campaign against Midian is crucial for maintaining the **Purity of Israel**, removing a significant spiritual and moral threat that jeopardized their unique covenant relationship with Yahweh and their readiness to inherit the land.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Avenge (Hebrew, _naqam'_):** This word carries the sense of retribution, vindication, or punishment, often in a divine context. It is not about personal spite or human revenge but refers to the execution of righteous judgment to right a wrong and uphold justice. In this case, it is God's justice being enacted through Israel against those who sought to undermine His covenant with His people.
* **Gathered unto thy people (Hebrew, _'asaph 'el-'ammav'_):** This is a common biblical euphemism for death, signifying joining one's ancestors in the realm of the dead or being buried with one's kin. It implies a peaceful end to life, being reunited with one's lineage, rather than a violent or dishonorable death. For Moses, it marks the completion of his earthly mission.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites:"** This clause conveys a direct, divinely-issued command from God to Moses. The "vengeance" is not personal but a righteous act of judgment on behalf of the entire nation of Israel. It is a punitive response to the Midianites' deliberate and successful attempt to lure Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal-peor, which resulted in a plague and a severe breach of the covenant. This act of judgment is essential for restoring Israel's spiritual purity and demonstrating God's intolerance for sin that threatens His people's relationship with Him.
* **"afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people."** This second clause reveals the timing and significance of the command for Moses. The military action against Midian is to be his final act of leadership and obedience before his death. The phrase "gathered unto thy people" is a euphemism for his impending demise, indicating that his life's work is complete, and he will join his ancestors in death. It underscores the gravity and finality of this mission as Moses's last major contribution to Israel's journey before the transition of leadership to Joshua.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant **Literary Devices**. **Juxtaposition** is prominent, placing the command for a violent act of retribution directly alongside the announcement of Moses's peaceful death. This stark contrast highlights the completion of Moses's earthly mission: his final act of leadership is to execute divine justice, after which his own life's journey concludes. The phrase "gathered unto thy people" serves as a powerful **Euphemism** for death, softening the directness of the announcement while conveying its certainty and the concept of joining one's ancestral line. Furthermore, the entire verse functions as a **Divine Command** or **Oracle**, a direct pronouncement from God to Moses, emphasizing its authority and the imperative nature of the mission. It also contains **Foreshadowing**, explicitly predicting Moses's imminent death, which builds narrative tension and prepares the reader for the subsequent events of Deuteronomy.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:2 profoundly illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant and His absolute holiness. The divine command for vengeance against the Midianites is not an act of capricious cruelty but a necessary response to a direct assault on Israel's spiritual integrity and their unique relationship with Yahweh. It underscores that God takes sin, particularly spiritual idolatry and immorality that leads His people astray, with utmost seriousness. This act of judgment serves to cleanse Israel and reinforce the boundaries of their covenant, demonstrating that God's justice is an inherent aspect of His character, demanding a response to unrepentant evil that seeks to corrupt His chosen people. It also foreshadows the ultimate divine judgment that will be meted out against all forms of wickedness.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Deuteronomy 32:35 - Vengeance Belongs to God")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Romans 12:19 - Do Not Avenge Yourselves")
* [Revelation 19:11](/revelation/19-11 "Revelation 19:11 - Christ as Righteous Judge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific command to wage war against a physical enemy is unique to Old Testament Israel's historical context as God's chosen nation, the underlying principles of Numbers 31:2 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This verse calls us to a sober understanding of God's absolute holiness and His righteous indignation against sin, especially that which seeks to corrupt His people. It reminds us that spiritual compromise and idolatry carry severe consequences, urging us to maintain vigilance against worldly influences and temptations that seek to draw us away from our devotion to Christ. Just as Moses faithfully completed his difficult, final task, we are called to persevere in our own God-given assignments, demonstrating unwavering obedience and dedication to His will until the very end of our earthly journey, trusting that our ultimate "gathering" will be into His eternal presence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's command for vengeance against the Midianites deepen our understanding of His holiness and justice?**
* **In what ways might spiritual idolatry and immorality subtly infiltrate our lives or communities today, and how can we actively guard against them?**
* **What lessons can we draw from Moses's faithful obedience to this final, difficult command about finishing our own God-given tasks and callings?**
* **How do we reconcile God's command for judgment in the Old Testament with the New Testament emphasis on grace, forgiveness, and loving our enemies?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command such a harsh judgment against the Midianites?**

Answer: God commanded this severe judgment against the Midianites primarily because of their active role in enticing the Israelites into grievous sin at Baal-peor, as detailed in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Baal-peor"). This was not a random act of aggression but a divine response to a deliberate spiritual assault. The Midianites, in league with the Moabites, used sexual immorality and idolatry to lure Israel away from their covenant with God, leading to a devastating plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. This act was a direct challenge to God's holiness and His covenant with Israel. The judgment served multiple purposes: to punish those who sought to corrupt God's people, to remove a dangerous spiritual influence, and to demonstrate God's unwavering commitment to His covenant and the purity of His nation. It was an act of righteous justice against a people who actively sought to undermine Israel's relationship with God.

**What does "gathered unto thy people" mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "gathered unto thy people" is a common biblical idiom for death, signifying a peaceful passing away and joining one's ancestors. It does not necessarily imply a specific afterlife location but rather the cessation of earthly life and the rejoining of one's lineage in death. For Moses, it means that after he completes this final mission of divine judgment against the Midianites, his life's work will be finished, and he will die. This idiom is used for other patriarchs like [Abraham](/genesis/25-8 "Genesis 25:8 - Abraham's Death") and [Jacob](/genesis/49-33 "Genesis 49:33 - Jacob's Death"), indicating a natural and honorable end to their lives, often implying burial with their kin. It signifies that Moses's death will be a divinely appointed completion of his earthly journey, not a punishment for this particular act.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 31:2, with its command for divine vengeance and the announcement of Moses's death, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in a literal military campaign, but in the spiritual and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While Moses was commanded to execute a physical judgment to cleanse Israel, Christ Himself is the ultimate embodiment of God's justice and purity. He did not lead armies against physical enemies, but He came to address the root of all corruption: sin itself. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ "avenged" humanity of the power of sin and death, conquering the spiritual adversaries that seek to corrupt God's people ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). 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")), purifying a people for Himself ([Titus 2:14](/titus/2-14 "Titus 2:14 - Christ's Purpose to Purify")). Furthermore, Moses's "gathering to his people" foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over death and His promise to "gather" His people to Himself for eternity ([John 14:3](/john/14-3 "John 14:3 - Jesus Promises to Return")). Christ, as the greater Moses, leads His people not into an earthly promised land through physical conquest, but into the eternal kingdom through spiritual redemption, where He will ultimately execute perfect justice as the righteous judge of all ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Entrusted All Judgment to the Son")).

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.