Numbers 31:10

And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.

And they burnt {H8313} all their cities {H5892} wherein they dwelt {H4186}, and all their goodly castles {H2918}, with fire {H784}.

They set fire to all their cities in the areas where they lived and all their camps.

Then they burned all the cities where the Midianites had lived, as well as all their encampments,

And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.

Commentary

Numbers 31:10 vividly portrays the complete destruction of Midianite settlements by the Israelite army. This act was a direct and devastating consequence of God's judgment against the Midianites for their role in corrupting Israel.

Context

This verse is situated within the narrative of the Israelites' war against Midian, as commanded by the Lord through Moses. The primary motivation for this severe military action stemmed from the Midianites' involvement in enticing Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor, which led to a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites (Numbers 25:1-9). God called for "vengeance" against Midian (Numbers 31:2). Following the defeat of Midianite kings and warriors, the burning of "all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles" was a crucial step in the complete eradication of their power and influence, ensuring that their corrupting presence was removed from the land. This act symbolized the thoroughness of God's judgment and the purification of the land from their idolatrous practices.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Vengeance: The destruction was not merely an act of war but a divinely ordained judgment against a people who had actively sought to undermine Israel's covenant relationship with God. It demonstrates the seriousness with which God views sin and rebellion against Him, especially when it leads His people astray.
  • Total Eradication: The burning of "all their cities" and "goodly castles" signifies a complete and utter destruction. This was a war of annihilation, leaving nothing behind that could serve as a stronghold or a reminder of their pagan practices. This echoes a broader principle in the Old Testament concerning the destruction of idolatrous nations to prevent the corruption of God's people (Deuteronomy 7:2).
  • Consequences of Sin: Midian's fate serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences that follow rebellion against God and the deliberate leading of others into sin. Their physical destruction mirrored the spiritual destruction they had attempted to inflict upon Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "burnt" is saraph (ืฉึธื‚ืจึทืฃ), which implies a complete consumption by fire, often used in contexts of judgment, purification, or sacrifice. The phrase "goodly castles" translates the Hebrew word tirotam (ื˜ึดื™ืจึนืชึธื), which can refer to fortified settlements, encampments, or even sheepfolds, but in this context, it suggests significant, well-built structures of power and defense. The destruction of these strongholds emphasizes the thoroughness of the Israelite victory and the complete dismantling of Midianite infrastructure.

Practical Application

While the context of ancient holy war is distinct from modern Christian life, Numbers 31:10 offers profound spiritual lessons. It underscores God's absolute holiness and His uncompromising stance against sin, particularly idolatry and immorality. For believers today, this can be understood metaphorically as the necessity to utterly destroy the "strongholds" of sin, harmful habits, and ungodly influences in our own lives (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Just as the Midianite cities were a source of temptation and corruption for Israel, we are called to ruthlessly eliminate anything that leads us away from God, striving for spiritual purity and undivided devotion to Him.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 30:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ 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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    [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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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.