War with Midian—Spoils
Numbers 31:1-24
Num.31.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Leviticus 1:1 (verbal): Same formulaic opening (וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵאמֹר) used to introduce direct divine commands—here introducing priestly/sacrificial legislation.
- Numbers 26:2 (verbal): Another instance in Numbers where God speaks to Moses with the same wording to give a specific command (call the census); parallels the function of Num 31:1 as a preface to a divine military/legal directive.
- Exodus 6:2 (verbal): God’s revelation to Moses begins with the same pattern (וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר), showing the standard prophetic/deputational formula by which instructions and revelations are delivered to Moses.
- Deuteronomy 31:14 (structural): A later occurrence where God speaks to Moses about succession and end-of-life matters for Moses—structurally similar as a transitional divine address that introduces consequential instructions for Israel’s leadership and future.
Alternative generated candidates
- The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
- The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Num.31.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נקם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נקמת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מאת: PREP
- המדינים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אחר: PREP
- תאסף: VERB,niphal,imperfect,3,f,sg
- אל: NEG
- עמיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 25:17–18 (structural): An immediate narrative precursor: God tells Moses to 'harass the Midianites' because they led Israel into sexual sin and idolatry — the direct reason given for the campaign commanded in Num 31:2.
- Judges 6–8 (esp. 6:33–35; 7:19–22) (thematic): Gideon's divinely authorized attack on the Midianites is a parallel instance of God raising Israel to punish Midianite oppression and restore Israel.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (thematic): God commands Saul to execute 'vengeance' on Amalek and utterly destroy a people as divine judgment — a similar theological pattern of divinely sanctioned warfare and retributive justice.
- Revelation 2:14 (allusion): Jesus rebukes a church for tolerating 'the teaching of Balaam' that led Israel to immorality — an explicit New Testament reference to the Midianite-related cause of Israel's sin underlying Num 31.
- Jude 11 (cf. 2 Peter 2:15) (allusion): Jude (and 2 Peter) invoke Balaam's error as a cautionary example; these references reflect later interpretation of the Midian/Balaam episode and its attendant judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Take vengeance for the people of Israel against the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered to your people.
- Avenge the Israelites of the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered to your people.
Num.31.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- החלצו: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,pl
- מאתכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויהיו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לתת: VERB,qal,inf
- נקמת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- במדין: PREP
Parallels
- Num.25:16-18 (verbal): Earlier divine injunction to Moses to take vengeance on Midian for seducing Israel at Peor — the immediate scriptural basis for Moses’ call to arm men against Midian.
- Exod.17:9-10 (structural): Moses commissions Joshua to select men and fight Amalek; parallels the leader’s call to muster fighters and conduct a divinely‑guided military action.
- 1 Sam.15:2-3 (thematic): God’s command to Saul to destroy Amalek as an act of divine judgment — parallels the theme of divinely‑sanctioned vengeance and total war against an enemy.
- Judg.4:6-10 (structural): Deborah and Barak’s summons and mustering of troops under divine directive; similar pattern of a leader calling out warriors to execute God’s will against a foe.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moses spoke to the people, saying, 'Arm from among you men for war, and let them go against Midian to execute the vengeance of the LORD on Midian.'
- Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm yourselves from among you men for war; let them go against Midian to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian."
Num.31.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכל: PREP
- מטות: NOUN,f,pl,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תשלחו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Num.1:2-3 (verbal): Instruction to take a census ‘from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war’ and to number Israel by their tribes — same military-numbering framework as sending a set force from each tribe.
- Num.26:2-4 (thematic): A later census of Israel ‘by their families, by the house of their fathers’ for allocation and military/administrative purposes; parallels the tribal enumeration and organization behind levying troops.
- Judg.20:15-17 (structural): The tribes muster chosen men and count forces tribe by tribe in the civil war against Benjamin — a comparable per-tribe raising of warriors for a specified military campaign.
- 1 Chr.27:1-15 (structural): Organizes Israel’s military into tribal/divisional contingents (monthly rotations and commanders), illustrating the same principle of allocating a set contingent from the tribes for military service.
Alternative generated candidates
- A thousand from each tribe, a thousand from each tribe—send to the army for all the tribes of Israel.
- A thousand from each tribe, a thousand from each tribe— from all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the army.
Num.31.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימסרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- מאלפי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עשר: NUM,card,m,sg,cons
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
- חלוצי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- צבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 31:4 (quotation): The immediate instruction to 'arm for the war a thousand from each tribe' appears in v.4; v.5 reports Moses carrying out that command (direct verbal continuity).
- Numbers 1:2–3 (thematic): Early census instruction to 'take a census of the congregation... from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go to war' — both passages concern levying and numbering fighting men by tribe.
- Numbers 26:2 (thematic): A later census in Moab uses the same criterion ('from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go to war') and lists tribal totals; parallels the military mustering and tribal enumeration in Num 31:5.
- Judges 20:8–10 (thematic): When Israel musters forces against Benjamin they number and organize men by tribe and thousands; similar tribal levying and mobilization of troops as in Num 31:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- So from the thousands of Israel they delivered a thousand from each tribe—twelve thousand armed for battle.
- The thousands of Israel furnished a thousand from each tribe; thus twelve thousand armed for battle.
Num.31.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלף: NUM,m,sg
- למטה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- פינחס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלעזר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לצבא: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- הקדש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וחצצרות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- התרועה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 10:2-9 (verbal): The making and use of trumpets (חצצרות) for summons and for alarms in war; Numbers 31:6 echoes the specific function of trumpets for 'teru'ah' during military action.
- Joshua 6:4-5 (thematic): Priests carrying trumpets lead Israel in a combat/ritual confrontation (the fall of Jericho); parallels the presence of a priest (Phinehas) with sacred instruments accompanying troops.
- Numbers 25:7-13 (allusion): Background on Phinehas son of Eleazar — his zeal and priestly status are the reason he is appointed to accompany the fighting men with holy instruments in Num 31:6.
- 1 Chronicles 27:1-15 (structural): Organization of Israel’s fighting men into divisions and leaders by thousands (military units by tribe/number); parallels Num 31:6’s commissioning of 'a thousand from each tribe' for the campaign.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the battle, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the battle, with the holy things and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
- Moses sent them to the war, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm were in his hand.
Num.31.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כאשר: CONJ
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויהרגו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- זכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 25:17-18 (quotation): Earlier divine command to Moses to treat Midian as enemies and strike them because of the Balaam incident—direct narrative/legal basis for the attack in Num 31.
- Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (thematic): Prescribes herem (the ban) in warfare—orders to devote certain peoples to complete destruction, paralleling the killing of all males in Num 31:7.
- Joshua 6:21 (verbal): Description of total destruction in the conquest of Jericho—‘destroyed with the sword every living thing’ echoes the language and practice of annihilating enemy populations.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (thematic): Divine command to Saul to strike the Amalekites and put men, women, children, and animals to death—another example of divinely‑mandated extermination (herem) comparable to the Midian campaign.
Alternative generated candidates
- They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
- They waged war against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
Num.31.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרגו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- חלליהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- את: PRT,acc
- אוי: INTJ
- ואת: CONJ
- רקם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- צור: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- חור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- רבע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חמשת: NUM,m,sg,cons
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- בלעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרגו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg
Parallels
- Joshua 13:22 (verbal): Repeats the tradition that Balaam son of Beor was put to death by Israel—an explicit restatement of the killing of Balaam after the Midianite campaign.
- Numbers 24:25 (structural): Points back to Balaam’s earlier role in the narrative (his prophecies over Israel) and thus frames Num 31:8 as the later fate of the same figure who once blessed Israel.
- Psalm 106:28-31 (thematic): Describes Israel’s sin with Peor and the violent divine/zealous response (Phinehas’ action), linking the themes of provocation by Midianite-related sin and subsequent lethal retribution.
- Jude 1:11 (allusion): Condemns those who ‘ran after the way of Balaam for reward,’ invoking Balaam’s corrupting influence and moral culpability that contextualize why Balaam/Midianites are judged in Num 31.
Alternative generated candidates
- They killed the kings of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian; and they killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
- They slew the kings of Midian on their slain— Oreb and Zeeb, Rekem and Zur and Hur, the five kings of Midian— and they killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
Num.31.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישבו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- נשי: NOUN,f,pl,abs,1cs
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- טפם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,prsfx=3mp
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- בהמתם: NOUN,f,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- מקנהם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- חילם: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prsfx=3mp
- בזזו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 21:10-14 (thematic): Prescribes Israelite practice toward female captives taken in war (treatment, marriage, and/or release), providing legal context for taking Midianite women in Num 31.
- Judges 21:10-12,16-24 (verbal): Narrates Israelites seizing women and children and carrying off livestock and spoil after internecine warfare—closely parallels the action of taking captives and plunder in Num 31.
- 1 Samuel 30:1-19 (verbal): Describes Amalekite raid that carried off women, children, and possessions and David’s recovery of those captives and spoil—similar motif of wartime capture of families and livestock.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (thematic): God’s command to Saul to destroy Amalek “men and women, infants and nursing infants” offers a contrasting legal/theological stance on the fate of women and children in holy war compared with the taking of captives in Num 31.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Israelites took the women of Midian captive and their children, and seized all their cattle, and all their spoil, and all their wealth.
- The Israelites took the Midianite women and children captive, and seized all their flocks and herds and all their wealth and all their plunder.
Num.31.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- עריהם: NOUN,f,pl,cons+PRON,3,m,pl
- במושבתם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff-3mp
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- טירתם: NOUN,f,pl,suff-3mp
- שרפו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 6:24 (verbal): Narrative of Israelites burning a conquered city (Jericho); shares the same verb and outcome—city burned with fire after conquest.
- Joshua 11:11 (verbal): Report that Joshua 'burned' the captured cities and destroyed their inhabitants—closely parallels the language and action of burning enemy settlements.
- Deuteronomy 20:16-18 (thematic): Divine command to destroy certain peoples completely and to show them no mercy; provides the legal/theological rationale for wholesale destruction like burning enemy towns.
- 1 Samuel 15:2-3 (thematic): God's commission to Saul to 'utterly destroy' Amalek—a parallel in motive and practice of total annihilation of an enemy people following divine command.
- 2 Kings 25:9 (verbal): Babylonian burning of Jerusalem and the temple—another historical instance of cities and sacred/urban structures being set on fire as part of military conquest and destruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- They burned all their towns and all their encampments with fire.
- They burned all their towns where they dwelt and all their encampments with fire.
Num.31.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- השלל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- המלקוח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- באדם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובבהמה: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 20:14 (verbal): Law concerning warfare permitting taking of women and children as plunder—language and subject (taking spoil/plunder of people) closely parallels Numbers 31:11.
- Joshua 8:27 (verbal): After the conquest of Ai Joshua 'took the spoil of the city and the cattle'—explicitly echoes the wording of taking all the spoil and beasts.
- 1 Samuel 30:18-19 (thematic): David 'recovered all that the Amalekites had taken' and nothing was missing—parallel theme of complete seizure/retention of spoil and captives after battle.
- 2 Samuel 8:11-12 (thematic): Accounts of David taking shields, gold and goods from defeated kings—another royal/military context emphasizing seizure and appropriation of spoils after victory.
Alternative generated candidates
- They took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and of beast.
- They took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of persons and of animals.
Num.31.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- אלעזר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- עדת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- השבי: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואת: CONJ
- המלקוח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- השלל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- ערבת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- מואב: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- אשר: PRON,rel
- על: PREP
- ירדן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירחו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Num.31.9 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallel: recounts the slaying of the Midianites and explicitly states that they took the women, children, cattle and spoil — the same actions (captives and booty) brought 'to the camp' in v.12.
- Num.31.11 (verbal): Closely related verse in the same episode: repeats that the officers brought the captives, the captives' spoil and the booty to Moses, reinforcing the same report of bringing spoil and prisoners into the camp.
- Deut.34.1 (verbal): Uses the same geographical language—'the plains of Moab, by Jordan, near Jericho'—linking the location where the people encamp and significant events surrounding Moses and Israel.
- 1 Sam.30.18-20 (thematic): Thematic parallel: David recovers captives and spoil after a raid and brings them before the people/leadership for distribution and judgment, echoing the pattern of returning captives and booty to the community and its leaders.
Alternative generated candidates
- They brought the captives, the spoil, and the plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the assembly of the people, to the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
- They brought the captives, the plunder, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the assembly of the people at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
Num.31.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ואלעזר: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- נשיאי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- העדה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לקראתם: PREP,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- מחוץ: PREP
- למחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 6:22-23 (verbal): After the fall of Jericho the two men bring Rahab and her family out and set them 'outside the camp' of Israel — a close verbal and situational parallel (leaders handling persons taken in war and placing them outside the camp).
- Deuteronomy 20:10-14 (structural): Prescribes Israel's wartime procedure for approaching a city, offering terms, and dealing with inhabitants and spoil — parallels the military context and the later treatment/division of captives and booty in Num 31.13–54.
- 1 Samuel 30:18-20 (thematic): David recovers spoil from the Amalekites and then divides it among those who fought and those who stayed — parallels Num 31's return from battle, leaders' role in reception, and the subsequent distribution of plunder and persons.
- Hebrews 13:11-13 (allusion): Refers to priests burning sacrificial bodies 'outside the camp' and connects priestly atonement with Jesus' suffering outside the gate — echoes the recurring biblical motif of priestly action and judgment taking place outside the camp, as in Num 31 where Moses and Eleazar meet the returning troops outside the camp.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
- Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
Num.31.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקצף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- פקודי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- החיל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- שרי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- האלפים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ושרי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- המאות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- הבאים: PART,qal,ptcp,masc,pl,def
- מצבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 31:15-18 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode: Moses' anger is followed by his rebuke of the officers for sparing the women and for keeping the spoil, explaining the specific cause of his anger.
- Numbers 25:1-18 (thematic): Earlier crisis at Peor in which Israelite men consort with Moabite women and idolatry ensues; provides the background motive for harsh measures against Midianite women and explains why leaders' failure to execute orders provokes Moses' wrath.
- Deuteronomy 21:10-14 (thematic): Legal regulation concerning the treatment of female captives taken in war; thematically related to Moses' rebuke about how soldiers handled captured women and plunder after battle.
- 1 Samuel 15:9, 11, 23-29 (thematic): Saul spares Agag and the best spoil contrary to divine command and is subsequently rebuked by Samuel — a parallel instance where military leaders' failure to carry out God's injunctions brings prophetic anger and judgment.
- Exodus 32:19-25 (thematic): Moses' eruption of anger on discovering Israel's sin at the golden calf and his confrontation with leaders/people mirrors his later angry rebuke of military officers who disobeyed or allowed sinful conduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moses was angry with the commanders of the force— the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds—who had come from the battle.
- And Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds—who had come from the battle.
Num.31.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- החייתם: VERB,hiph,perf,2,m,pl
- כל: DET
- נקבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 31:17-18 (verbal): Immediate context — Moses' fuller rebuke and the command to kill the Midianite men and non-virgin women while keeping virgins alive; continuation of the same incident and language.
- Deuteronomy 21:10-14 (thematic): Law concerning captive women taken in war: regulations for keeping or releasing a captive woman who becomes a wife — addresses similar issues of war captives and sexual/ marital status.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (verbal): Divine command to destroy the Amalekites 'both man and woman, infant and suckling' — parallels language and the motif of total destruction of enemy populations.
- Joshua 6:17,21 (verbal): The herem (ban) on Jericho — 'utterly destroy all that is in the city, both man and woman' — another conquest passage where women are included in the divine command to destroy.
- Judges 21:10-24 (thematic): Aftermath of civil war in Israel: seizure and distribution of women to provide wives for Benjamin — parallels the treatment and fate of women after violent conflict and communal decisions about survivors.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Moses said to them, 'Have you let all the women live?'
- He said to them, "Have you spared all the women alive?
Num.31.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הן: PART
- הנה: PART
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לבני: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בדבר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בלעם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למסר: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- מעל: PREP
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- על: PREP
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פעור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- המגפה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- בעדת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,const
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Numbers 25:1-9 (thematic): The direct narrative of the Peor incident: Israelite men consort with Moabite women, participate in idolatry, and a plague breaks out — the event explicitly attributed in Num 31:16 to Balaam's counsel.
- Numbers 22:1-41 (structural): The wider Balaam–Balak narrative: Balaam is hired by Balak and functions as an external influencer/prophet. Provides background for the claim that Balaam advised measures that led Israel into sin.
- Psalm 106:28-30 (thematic): A poetic retelling of the Peor episode: Israel 'joined themselves to Baal of Peor,' the LORD’s anger burned, and Phinehas’s action stopped the plague — a theological reflection on the same event cited in Num 31:16.
- Revelation 2:14 (allusion): Christ’s rebuke to the church at Pergamum for 'the teaching of Balaam' who taught Balak to set a stumbling block leading to eating food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality — a direct NT echo of Balaam’s role in the Peor affair.
- 2 Peter 2:15-16 (allusion): Peter condemns those following 'the way of Balaam' who loved gain from wrongdoing; Balaam is presented as an example of corrupt counsel and moral failure, alluding to his role in causing Israel’s transgression (as in Num 31:16).
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, these were the ones who followed Balaam's counsel to act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so that a plague came among the congregation of the LORD.
- Behold, these were the ones who followed Balaam's counsel to betray Israel to the LORD in the matter of Peor, and the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.
Num.31.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- הרגו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- זכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בטף: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ידעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למשכב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- זכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הרגו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 20:13–14 (thematic): Both passages prescribe killing male inhabitants in a military context and address the fate of women and children—Deut. permits taking women and children as spoil, whereas Num. 31 orders killing of women who have had sexual relations, highlighting different treatment of female captives.
- Deuteronomy 22:23–24 (verbal): Shares legal language and outcome concerning a woman 'who has known a man' (sexual intercourse) leading to death; Num. 31 applies a similar sexual criterion to determine which women are to be killed.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (verbal): God’s command to Saul to 'smite Amalek, both man and woman, infant and suckling' parallels the absolute, gender-inclusive slaughter rhetoric and divine sanction for extermination in wartime.
- Joshua 6:21 (verbal): The account of Jericho where 'they devoted to destruction man and woman, young and old' mirrors the decisive, comprehensive slaying of inhabitants after a divinely-ordained conquest, similar in scope and language to Num. 31.
- Deuteronomy 21:10–14 (thematic): Provides an alternative legal framework for dealing with female captives—permitting marriage or release—so it functions as a thematic foil to Num. 31’s harsher rule distinguishing virgins from women 'who have known a man.'
Alternative generated candidates
- Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with him.
- Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has had sexual relations with a man.
Num.31.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- הטף: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בנשים: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- משכב: NOUN,m,sg,const
- זכר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- החיו: VERB,hiph,imp,2,m,pl
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Deut.20.14 (verbal): Gives wartime regulations about taking women and children as spoils for the victors—closely parallels Num 31's instruction to keep certain women alive as booty.
- Deut.21.10-14 (thematic): Prescribes treatment of a captive woman (a virgin captured in war) if an Israelite desires to marry her—addresses the status and handling of women taken in war, thematically related to Num 31:18.
- Judg.21.10-14 (structural): Narrative account of Israel seizing virgins to provide wives for the tribe of Benjamin; a closely parallel episode of distributing captured young women after internal conflict.
- Deut.22.28-29 (thematic): Laws concerning a man who has sexual relations with a virgin who is not betrothed—connects to Num 31:18's distinction between women who 'have not known a man' and those who have.
- Josh.6.22-25 (allusion): Rahab and her household are spared after the conquest of Jericho; an example of wartime mercy/sparing of certain women that echoes the selective preservation in Num 31.
Alternative generated candidates
- But all the young girls who have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
- But all the young girls who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Num.31.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתם: CONJ+PRON,2,pl
- חנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מחוץ: PREP
- למחנה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבעת: NUM,card,construct
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כל: DET
- הרג: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- נפש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- נגע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בחלל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תתחטאו: VERB,hitpael,impf,2,m,pl
- ביום: PREP
- השלישי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- וביום: CONJ+PREP,NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השביעי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- ושביכם: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUFF,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 19:11-12 (verbal): Specifies the same corpse-impurity regime: whoever touches a dead body is unclean seven days and must be purified on the third and seventh days — language and ritual timing closely parallel Num 31:19.
- Numbers 5:2-3 (structural): Commands that anyone unclean because of a corpse (and other forms of uncleanness) be sent outside the camp — echoes Num 31:19's instruction to remain outside the camp.
- Leviticus 13:4-5 (thematic): Prescribes a seven-day period of isolation and priestly reinspection for suspected skin disease; parallels Num 31:19's seven-day separation and staged (third and seventh day) cleansing procedure.
- Deuteronomy 23:10-11 (thematic): Requires a person made unclean by nocturnal emission to go outside the camp until purified — thematically related to exclusion from the camp for ritual impurity and subsequent cleansing before reentry.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall stay outside the camp seven days. Whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, shall cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day; and you and your captives shall wash your clothes.
- You shall remain outside the camp seven days; whoever killed any person or touched any slain shall purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day— you and your captives.
Num.31.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- בגד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- עור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- מעשה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עזים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- כלי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- עץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תתחטאו: VERB,hitpael,impf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Numbers 31:23-24 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same instructions — specifies purging spoils by fire and cleansing with water, expanding on which items are to be treated as unclean (same procedural language).
- Numbers 19:11-22 (thematic): Law of corpse-impurity and purification with the water of separation — establishes the principle that contact with the dead renders persons and objects unclean and requires ritual cleansing.
- Leviticus 11:32-40 (thematic): Rules about things that touch carcasses becoming unclean and the requirement to wash or burn contaminated vessels/objects — parallels the treatment of garments, skins, goat hair, and wooden items in Num 31:20.
- Leviticus 15:4-8 (thematic): Regulations that bodily discharges make garments and beds unclean and must be washed — parallels the concern with contaminated clothing and household items and their required cleansing.
Alternative generated candidates
- As for every garment, and every skin, and every thing made of goats' hair, and every article of wood—you shall purify them.
- Also every garment and every article of skin, every thing made of goat's hair, and every wooden article shall be purified.
Num.31.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלעזר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הצבא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הבאים: PART,qal,ptcp,masc,pl,def
- למלחמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- חקת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- התורה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- צוה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Num.31:19-24 (structural): Immediate continuation: Eleazar details the ordinance about purification, offerings, ransom and procedures for the women and spoil — direct continuation of the same instruction.
- Num.31:40-54 (structural): Further regulations on the counting and division of the spoils, the tribute to the LORD and distribution to the troops and officers — closely related statutory material.
- Deut.21:10-14 (thematic): Law concerning female captives taken in war (treatment, purification period, and rights) — parallels the subject and legal concern for women captured in battle.
- Deut.20:10-18 (thematic): General Mosaic laws for conduct in war (offer of terms, treatment of cities, and herem/devotion) — provides the broader legal context for wartime statutes Eleazar invokes.
- 1 Sam.15:3 (allusion): Divine command to utterly destroy Amalek (devotion/herem) — an example of wartime divine statutes that contrast with Numbers' regulations for spoils and captives, illustrating different legal outcomes for warfare in Scripture.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone to battle, 'This is the statute of the law which the LORD commanded Moses:
- Eleazar the priest said to the men of the army who had gone to battle, "This is the ordinance of the law that the LORD commanded Moses:
Num.31.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אך: PART
- את: PRT,acc
- הזהב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- הכסף: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- הנחשת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- הברזל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- הבדיל: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- העפרת: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 31:50 (verbal): Repeats the same catalogue of metals (gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, lead) in the account of the Midianite spoil — a direct verbal/structural parallel within the same narrative context.
- Exodus 25:3 (verbal): Lists offerings of metals (gold, silver, brass) to be brought for the tabernacle; parallels the catalogue of metals that are to be set apart/dedicated to Yahweh.
- Exodus 35:22 (allusion): Describes contributions of gold, silver and brass by the community for the sanctuary — thematically parallel in treating these metals as sacred material for divine service.
- Isaiah 1:25 (thematic): Speaks of purging dross and taking away tin (refining metals by fire); echoes the Numbers instruction to purify metal spoil by fire (the metallurgical/refinement theme).
- Malachi 3:3 (thematic): Portrays the LORD as a refiner and purifier of silver — thematically connected to the purification-by-fire motif applied to the metals in Numbers 31:22–24.
Alternative generated candidates
- Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead—
- as for the gold, the silver, the copper, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
Num.31.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כל: DET
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יבא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תעבירו: VERB,hifil,impf,2,m,pl
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וטהר: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אך: PART
- במי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נדה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יתחטא: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- יבא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תעבירו: VERB,hifil,impf,2,m,pl
- במים: PREP
Parallels
- Num.19:11-22 (verbal): Explicitly prescribes the 'water of purification' (waters of separation) and procedures for cleansing persons and objects defiled by contact with the dead—the same ritual resource invoked in Num 31:23 for purifying spoils.
- Lev.14:8-9 (thematic): The cleansing of a healed leper requires washing of clothes and the person in water; parallels the Num 31 distinction between purification by washing (water) versus other means—both texts pair ritual washing with restoration to purity.
- Josh.6:17-21 (structural): Concerning devoted/despoiled cities (Jericho) Joshua commands destruction by fire and the setting aside of certain valuables for the Lord—parallels Num 31's instructions about what is to be burned, what is set apart, and how spoils are treated ritually.
- Deut.7:5 (thematic): Commands tearing down pagan altars and burning their carved images—another instance where fire is prescribed as the means to remove defilement or idolatry, echoing Num 31's use of fire for purification/destruction of contaminated items.
Alternative generated candidates
- anything that can pass through the fire, you shall pass through the fire and it shall be clean; though it must also be purified with the water of purification; but anything that cannot pass through the fire you shall pass through water.
- whatever can pass through fire you shall pass through the fire and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall also be purified with the water of purification. But whatever cannot pass through fire you shall pass through water.
Num.31.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וכבסתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- בגדיכם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2mp
- ביום: PREP
- השביעי: ADJ,m,sg,def
- וטהרתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- ואחר: CONJ
- תבאו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- המחנה: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Numbers 31:23 (verbal): Immediate parallel in same chapter: objects and garments that have touched human flesh must be washed and remain unclean until evening — same ritual requirement about washing clothes before re-entering the camp.
- Numbers 19:11–12 (verbal): Law concerning contact with a corpse: one who touches a dead body must wash his clothes and bathe, and after the prescribed sprinklings (third and seventh day) may be declared clean — closely parallels washing on the seventh day to re-enter the camp.
- Leviticus 15:5 (thematic): Case of a man with a bodily discharge: anyone who touches him must wash his clothes and bathe and remain unclean until evening — parallels the recurring ritual pattern of washing garments to remove impurity.
- Deuteronomy 23:10–11 (thematic): Regulation about relieving oneself outside the camp: soldiers must go outside, wash and be clean by evening before returning to the camp — reflects the concern to restore ritual cleanliness prior to re-entering the community encampment.
Alternative generated candidates
- You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and then you shall be clean; afterward you may come into the camp.'
- Wash your garments on the seventh day, and then be clean; afterward you may come into the camp."
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
“Avenge the people of Israel against Midian; thereafter you shall be gathered to your people.”
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm yourselves from among you men for battle; let them go against Midian to execute the LORD’s vengeance on Midian.
Send a thousand from each tribe, a thousand from each tribe, to the army.” So the thousands of Israel gave— a thousand from each tribe— twelve thousand men, the vanguard troops of the army.
Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the army, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest; and the sacred vessels and the sounding trumpets were in his hand.
They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they killed every male.
They killed the kings of Midian—Oreb, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian—and Balaam son of Beor they also killed with the sword.
The Israelites took the Midianite women and their children, and all their livestock and all their wealth, and all their plunder they took captive.
They burned all their towns and all their encampments with fire.
They took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and of beast.
They brought the captives, the plunder, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the assembly of the people, to the camp on the plains of Moab, which are beside the Jordan at Jericho.
Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who had come from the battle. And he said to them, “Have you spared all the women alive?
Behold, these were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice to cause the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with him. But all the young girls who have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
You shall stay outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed anyone and whoever has touched any slain shall purify himself on the third and on the seventh day— you and your captives.
Also every garment and every animal hide, and whatever is made of goat’s hair, and every wooden vessel—you shall purify. And Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who went to battle, “This is the statute of the law that the LORD commanded Moses:
only the gold, and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
everything that may pass through the fire you shall pass through the fire and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of purification; but whatever does not pass through the fire you shall cleanse with water.
Wash your garments on the seventh day, and you shall be clean; then you may return to the camp.”