And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
Read it in contextVengeance on Midian
Start reading at Numbers 31:1 (Numbers 31:1 to Numbers 31:24).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan.
31:1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
31:2Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
31:3And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.
31:4Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.
31:5So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
31:6And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
31:7And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
31:8And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
31:9And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
31:10And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
31:11And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.
31:12And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.
31:13And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
31:14And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
31:15And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
31:16Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
31:17Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
31:18But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
31:19And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.
31:20And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood.
31:21And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;
31:22Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
31:23Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
31:24And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional author. He is explicitly credited with writing Israel's journeys at the LORD's command. Biblical references: Numbers 33:2. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Numbers 31:1–31:54): Moses, Eleazar, Israel's military leaders, and the fighting men participate in the campaign against Midian and its aftermath. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel during the wilderness journey, including the generation preparing to enter Canaan, with the record preserved for later Israel. Biblical references: Numbers 1:1; Numbers 26:63; Numbers 36:13. stated in the text
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Vengeance on Midian. Read Numbers 31:1 through Numbers 31:24 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The book moves from the second year after departure from Egypt toward the fortieth year, through the deaths of the wilderness generation and preparation of its successors. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? The setting moves from Sinai through wilderness stations to the plains of Moab east of Jordan. Individual journeys and encounters name more precise locations. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Vengeance on Midian (Numbers 31:1 to Numbers 31:24).
Start reading at Numbers 31:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? Jesus explicitly refers to Moses lifting up the serpent when speaking about the Son of man. Paul also uses wilderness events as warnings for the church; these connections preserve both God's provision and human responsibility. See John 3:14, John 3:15, 1 Corinthians 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:12. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Receive warnings about complaint, unbelief, and rebellion without presuming that participation in a community removes personal responsibility. Read each event with its stated circumstances. interpretation
Cited: Numbers 31:1, Numbers 31:24, John 3:14, John 3:15, 1 Corinthians 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:12
Who wrote it, and how we know
Moses (traditional)Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book states that Moses wrote the record of the journeys at the LORD's command. Numbers 33:2
Early traditionJewish and Christian tradition names Moses.
What is debatedSource-critical theories propose later editing.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Time covered by Numbers
About 38 years
Second year after the exodusBeginning · Numbers 1:1
Israel is counted at Sinai
The opening census is dated to the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt.
Fortieth year after the exodusClosing wilderness period
Israel prepares to enter the land
Aaron’s death is dated to the fortieth year. The closing instructions are given on the plains of Moab before Israel crosses the Jordan.
The dated narrative moves from the second year toward the end of the fortieth year, an interval of roughly 38 years.
View historical notes and sources
This is an approximate span of the narrative, not an exact count of days and not the date when the book was written. Numbers 33:38 dates Aaron’s death; Numbers 36:13 identifies the closing setting. Deuteronomy 1:3 places Moses’ subsequent address in the fortieth year.
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Numbers 31
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Numbers follows Israel in the wilderness and toward the plains of Moab. The narrative moves from one numbered generation to another, combining events with commands for Israel. Distinguish the date of a narrated event from a proposed date of composition. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Military action, settlement requests, the travel record, and land provisions complete the preparation for entry into Canaan.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Numbers
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Numbers follows Israel in the wilderness and toward the plains of Moab. The narrative moves from one numbered generation to another, combining events with commands for Israel. Distinguish the date of a narrated event from a proposed date of composition.
Connection to the wholeDeaths and conflicts accompany the approach to Moab. Balaam's oracles are followed by Israel's sin at Peor, keeping blessing and responsibility together.