Numbers 31:8

"They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses. They killed every male."

Key Reflection

Numbers 31:8 describes a military action taken by the Israelites under Moses' command against the Midianites. This episode reflects the stringent laws of retribution given in Deuteronomy 20:13, where it is commanded to kill all males when conquering an enemy city. The cultural context here is one of total war and punishment as a means of divine justice, emphasizing the severity of the Israelites' actions against their enemies.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

And they slew ... were slain ... -Render: And the kings of Midian they put to death, beside those that fell in the battle; namely, etc. From which it would seem that beside these five, put to death after the battle, there were other Midianite kings who perished fighting. The five chieftains here mentioned were vassals of Sihon the AmoriteJoshua 13:21.

More from Numbers 31

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