Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Numbers Ch.31 / 36 Ch.s
NU:31
* War with Midian. (1-6) Balaam slain. (7-12) Those slain who
caused sin. (13-38) Purification of the Israelites. (39-24)
Division of the spoil. (25-47) Offerings. (48-54)
#1-6 All who, without commission from God, dare to execute
private revenge, and who, from ambition, covetousness, or
resentment, wage war and desolate kingdoms, must one day answer
for it. But if God, instead of sending an earthquake, a
pestilence, or a famine, be pleased to authorize and command any
people to avenge his cause, such a commission surely is just and
right. The Israelites could show such a commission, though no
persons now can do so. Their wars were begun and carried on
expressly by Divine direction, and they were enabled to conquer
by miracles. Unless it can be proved that the wicked Canaanites
did not deserve their doom, objectors only prove their dislike
to God, and their love to his enemies. Man makes light of the
evil of sin, but God abhors it. This explains the terrible
executions of the nations which had filled the measure of their
sins.
#7-12 The Israelites slew the Kings of Midian. They slew Balaam.
God's overruling providence brought him thither, and their just
vengeance found him. Had he himself rightly believed what he had
said of the happy state of Israel, he would not have thus herded
with the enemies of Israel. The Midianites' wicked wiles were
Balaam's projects: it was just that he should perish with them,
#Ho 4:5|. They took the women and children captives. They burnt
their cities and castles, and returned to the camp.
#13-18 The sword of war should spare women and children; but the
sword of justice should know no distinction, but that of guilty
or not guilty. This war was the execution of a righteous
sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were the worst
criminals. The female children were spared, who, being brought
up among the Israelites, would not tempt them to idolatry. The
whole history shows the hatefulness of sin, and the guilt of
tempting others; it teaches us to avoid all occasions of evil,
and to give no quarter to inward lusts. The women and children
were not kept for sinful purposes, but for slaves, a custom
every where practised in former times, as to captives. In the
course of providence, when famine and plagues visit a nation for
sin, children suffer in the common calamity. In this case
parents are punished in their children; and for children dying
before actual sin, full provision is made as to their eternal
happiness, by the mercy of God in Christ.
#19-24 The Israelites had to purify themselves according to the
law, and to abide without the camp seven days, though they had
not contracted any moral guilt, the war being just and lawful,
and commanded by God. Thus God would preserve in their minds a
dread and detestation of shedding blood. The spoil had been used
by Midianites, and being now come into the possession of
Israelites, it was fit that it should be purified.
#25-47 Whatever we have, God justly claims a part. Out of the
people's share God required one in fifty, but out of the
soldiers' share only one in five hundred. The less opportunity
we have of honouring God with personal services, the more should
we give in money or value.
#48-54 The success of the Israelites had been very remarkable,
so small a company overcoming such multitudes, but it was still
more wonderful that not one was slain or missing. They presented
the gold they found among the spoils, as an offering to the
Lord. Thus they confessed, that instead of claiming a reward for
their service, they needed forgiveness of much that had been
amiss, and desired to be thankful for the preservation of their
lives, which might justly have been taken away.