Bible Commentaries
Numbers 31

Verse 1

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

Verse 2

Avenge. Hebrew revenge the revengement. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ). = execute due vengeance.

children = sons.

afterward. Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "and afterward".

be gathered, &c. Compare Numbers 27:13 .

Verse 3

avenge the LORD of Midian = render the vengeance of Jehovah upon Midian. Compare Ch. Numbers 25:17 .

Verse 5

armed = assigned to or for, &c.

Verse 6

Phinehas. Compare Numbers 25:7-15 .

instruments = vessels.

trumpets = alarm trumpets, which were also prayer trumpets. Compare Numbers 10:9 , Numbers 10:10 .

Verse 7

as = according as.

Verse 8

Evi. Compare Joshua 13:21 .

five kings: called princes or dukes of Sihon, Joshua 13:21 .

Balaam. Compare Joshua 13:22 .

slew. Balaam thus did not "die the death of the righteous". Compare Numbers 23:10 .

Verse 10

burnt = burnt up, or down. Hebrew. saraph. App-43 . The same judgment is in store for spiritual fornication. Revelation 17:16 ; Revelation 18:8 .

castles = fortified places.

Verse 11

prey = booty. Hebrew. malkoah. First occurrence. Always used of animated prey. Compare Numbers 31:32 .

Verse 12

captives. Hebrew captivity.

the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "all the".

Verse 13

meet them: as Melchizedek met Abram (Genesis 14:17 ).

Verse 14

wroth. Moses meek in his own matters, but not in Jehovah's. In these there was a "godly jealousy".

battle. Hebrew battle of the war = "the [battle] array (or host) of the war", or martial host.

Verse 16

these. Compare Numbers 25:2 .

counsel = word, or doctrine (Revelation 2:14 ).

trespass = Hebrew. ma'al. Compare App-44 .

Verse 17

him = male.

Verse 19

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ).

Verse 21

went = came, or had come

ordinance = statute.

Verse 22

the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and the" in each of these three instances, making the Figure of speech Polysyndeton .

iron. Found in Egypt as early as 2800 B.C.

Verse 23

water of separation. See Numbers 19:0 .

Verse 25

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

Verse 28

tribute = computed value, assigned to Jehovah. Hebrew. mekes. Occurs only in this chapter.

soul. Hebrew. nephesh.

persons = men. Hebrew. 'adam.

Verse 29

give it. An extra portion in addition to Deuteronomy 18:1 , Deuteronomy 18:2 and Numbers 18:19 . So Abram, Genesis 14:20 .

Verse 30

of the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and of the".

tabernacle = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 .

Verse 31

as = according as.

Verse 33

beeves. Old English (from the French), for oxen.

Verse 35

persons. Hebrew, plural of nephesh.

man = male.

Verse 36

to war = to, or, for the host.

Verse 40

And the persons. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6 .

persons = souls. Hebrew. nephesh (plural) App-13 . Literally soul of man.

Verse 47

gave them. See 1 Chronicles 9:2 . Hebrew. nathan, to give. Hence their name, "Nethinim. "

Verse 50

oblation. This was voluntary. The levy in Numbers 31:25 , &c, was commanded. See Leviticus 2:4 .

jewels = instruments or vessels.

atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33 .

souls. Hebrew, plural of nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 52

offering = heave offering. See App-43 , and note on Exodus 29:27 .

offered up = heaved.

shekels. See App-51 .

Verse 54

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel . See App-40 .