Numbers 31:7

ยถ And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.

And they warred {H6633} against the Midianites {H4080}, as the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} Moses {H4872}; and they slew {H2026} all the males {H2145}.

They fought against Midyan, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe, and killed every male.

Then they waged war against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.

And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male.

Commentary

Numbers 31:7 describes a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey: the execution of God's judgment against the Midianites. This verse succinctly states that the Israelites engaged in battle and achieved a decisive victory, acting precisely as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Context of the Midianite War

This military campaign was not an unprovoked act of aggression but a direct divine retribution. The Midianites, alongside the Moabites, had previously enticed Israel into grievous sin and idolatry at Peor, leading to a plague that killed thousands (Numbers 25:1-9). Specifically, the prophet Balaam had advised the Midianites to use their women to corrupt the Israelites, thereby incurring God's wrath (Numbers 31:16). Therefore, the LORD commanded Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites before his death (Numbers 31:1-3).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Command and Obedience: The phrase "as the LORD commanded Moses" is central, emphasizing Israel's role as instruments of God's will. Their obedience to this difficult command underscores the seriousness of God's directives.
  • God's Justice and Judgment: This war serves as a stark reminder of God's unwavering justice against those who actively seek to corrupt His people and lead them into sin. The severity of the judgment reflects the gravity of the Midianites' actions.
  • Purity of Israel: By eliminating the Midianite influence, God was preparing Israel for their entry into the Promised Land, ensuring a measure of spiritual purity and separation from pagan practices that could defile them (Deuteronomy 7:1-6).

Linguistic Insight

The KJV phrase "slew all the males" is a direct translation, indicating a comprehensive and thorough execution of the military directive in this initial phase of the battle. The Hebrew term for "slew" (ื—ึธืœึทืœ - chalal, in this context meaning to pierce, slay) implies a decisive act of killing. This was part of a broader concept of cherem (ื—ึตืจึถื), or "devoted things," where enemies or their possessions were utterly destroyed as an act of divine judgment, often to prevent contamination of Israel.

Practical Application

While believers today are not called to wage physical wars of retribution, this passage offers spiritual insights. It highlights the seriousness with which God views influences that seek to corrupt faith and lead believers astray. Just as Israel had to contend with external forces, Christians are called to put off sinful desires and influences that wage war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11) and to stand firm against the schemes of spiritual adversaries (Ephesians 6:11). It underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands and the reality of divine justice, reminding us that God is holy and righteous in all His ways.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 21:11

    And this [is] the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

  • 1 Kings 11:15

    For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;

  • 1 Kings 11:16

    (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)

  • 1 Samuel 27:9

    And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.

  • Judges 6:1

    ยถ And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

  • Judges 6:2

    And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: [and] because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which [are] in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.

  • Judges 6:33

    ยถ Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
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