Commentary on Numbers, Book · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
Chapter XXXI Verſe 1 Ver. 1. AND the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] Not long before his death, as appears from the next verſe.
Verſe 2 Ver. 2. Avenge the Children of Iſrael of the Midianites.] This had been commanded before, but no time ſet for it; which now is determined. The Moabites are not mentioned, becauſe the Midianites ſeem to have been the firſt or chief Contrivers of that Miſchief which befel the Iſraelites, by the enticements of their Women. See XXV. 17, 18.
Afterward ſhalt thou be gathered unto thy People.] When he had given a few other Directions, concerning their poſſeſſing the Countries already conquered, and the Land of Canaan, XXXII, XXXIV, XXXV. and providing for the Levites there, XXXVI. God had warned him to prepare for his death before this, XXVII. 12. but he firſt let him have the ſatisfaction of ſeeing the Midianites puniſhed; and gave him ſome time to ſettle the Publick Affairs; and to make alſo a long Exhortation to the Iſraelites, to obſerve all that he had commanded them.
Verſe 3 Ver. 3. And Moſes ſpake unto the People, ſaying.] He ſpeedily put this Command in Execution: which might poſſibly be in the ninth Month of the fortieth Year.
Arm ſome of your ſelves unto the War.] He doth not at firſt determine the number; but as many as pleaſed might offer themſelves voluntarily, to be ready to obey him.
And let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.] The LORD bad him avenge the Children of Iſrael, v. 2. but Moſes bids them avenge the LORD: for they had the ſame intereſt; and were both injured at the ſame time, and by the ſame means. And as God was ſo gracious as to reſent the evil done to Iſrael, ſo Moſes, in duty and gratitude to God, thought himſelf bound rather to conſider the diſhonour that was done to him. Whoſe War this was, not only becauſe undertaken by his command, but in his quarrel, (with thoſe who had drawn the Iſraelites to Idolatry) and for the ſake of his People.
Ver. 4. Of every Tribe a thouſand, throughout all the Verſe 4 Tribes of Iſrael, ſhall ye ſend to the War.] When a great many, perhaps all the People, appeared ready to go to War, he ordered that only a ſelect number ſhould be ſent, of a Thouſand out of each of the Twelve Tribes.
Ver. 5. So there were delivered out of the Thouſands Verſe 5 of Iſrael, a Thouſand of every Tribe.] Their Officers pickt out this number from among the reſt; or they were choſen by lot for this Service; or they ſtept out and offered themſelves Voluntiers (as we ſpeak) which the 27th verſe may ſeem to countenance, where they are called, thoſe that took the War upon them.
Twelve Thouſand armed for war.] This was but a ſmall number compared with the whole Nation of the Midianites, (who had five Kings, v. 8.) But God would have them rely more upon him, than upon the multitude of an Hoſt; and let them ſee by their Succeſs againſt this People, that they needed not fear the Conqueſt of Canaan.
Ver. 6. And Moſes ſent them to the war, a Thouſand of every Tribe.] He gave them their Commiſſion to fight the Midianites.
Verſe 6 Them, and Phinehas the Son of Eleazar the Priest.] Who was not their Commander in Chief, (or their General, as we now ſpeak) for it did not belong to the Prieſtly Office to conduct Armies: and it is ſaid expreſly in the words following, he went with the holy Inſtruments, &c. to be ready to perform all ſuch Sacred Offices, as ſhould be required by the General, who, it is moſt likely, was Joſhua. It is true indeed that Phineas was a Man of great Courage, and had lately performed a ſingular piece of Service, which had won him great Reputation. This hath made ſome think, he was the fitter to go and to avenge the LORD of Midian, as he had begun to do, XXV. 8. In after times alſo, in the days of the Maccabees, who were of the Family of the Prieſts, the Armies of Iſrael were led by them againſt their Enemies. But then it muſt be conſidered, that they were alſo the Supream Governours of the People, and there were no other.
With the holy Inſtruments.] By which Jonathan underſtands the Ʋrim and Thummim; which ſome think Phineas carried along with him, wherewith to conſult the Divine Majeſty, in caſe of any difficulty, that might ariſe about the management of the War. And to make out this, they ſuppoſe Eleazar to be old and crazy, or labouring under ſome Infirmity, which was the reaſon that Phineas his Son was ſubſtituted in his room to perform this Office. See our very learned Dr. Spencer, Diſſert. de Ʋrim & Thummim, cap. 6. ſect. 2. But this may be juſtly doubted, whether Phineas being only the Son of the High-Prieſt, and not yet capable of that Office, could be ſubſtituted to perform this great Charge, which belonged to the High-Prieſt alone. Nor do we find any warrant for conſulting the LORD by Ʋrim and Thummim, but only before the moſt holy Place, (See XXVII. 21.) And therefore it ſeems to me far more likely, that he means the Ark, which was wont to be carried, in following times, into the Field, when they went to fight with their Enemies, 1 Sam. IV. 4, 5. XIV. 18. 2 Sam. XI. 1. Yea, Joſhua himſelf, not long after this time, ordered the Ark to be carried, with Prieſts blowing the Trumpets before it, when he ſurrounded Jericho, VI Joſh. 4, 6, 7, &c. And therefore the holy Inſtruments being here joyned with the Trumpets to blow in his hand, it makes it the more probable, that the Ark may be here meant. There being alſo ſomething in this very Book, to countenance this Opinion. See XIV. 44. but eſpecially XXXII. 20, 22.
But it muſt be confeſſed, that it is never thus expreſſed in any other place of Holy Scripture, but always called the Ark of God, or of the Covenant, or the Teſtimony, or the like. And therefore, perhaps, they give the trueſt ſence of theſe words, who take the following words to be an Explication of them. That is, the Trumpets were the holy Inſtruments, which he carried in his hand.
And the Trumpets to blow, in his hand.] Which he delivered to the Prieſts who followed him, to ſound an Alarm, when they went to fight; according to the direction X. 8, 9. and as the practice was in future Ages, 2 Chron. XIII. 12.
Ver. 7. And they warred againſt the Midianites.] Verſe 7 It is not certain whether the Midianites came out of their Country, to give them battle; or they firſt broke into their Country, and then fought their Army.
As the LORD commanded Moſes.] One would think this meant no more, but that they obeyed the Commandment of God before-mentioned, v. 2. But the Jews think he hath reſpect to another particular Commandment, which they ſay was given by Moſes, when they went out to this War: That they ſhould not, when they beſieged any City, begirt it quite round, but only on three ſides; leaving one naked, that the beſieged might flee away if they pleaſed; by which means effuſion of Human Blood was prevented. So Guil. Schickart obſerves out of Siphri in his Miſchpat Hammelech, cap. 5. Theor. 18. and Mr. Selden ſince him, Lib. VI. de Jure Nat. & Gent. cap. 15. where he ſhows they underſtand this of all Wars, but thoſe againſt the ſeven Nations in Canaan and Amalek; towards whom this kindneſs was not ſhown, as appears by the Siege of Jericho. But the Laws about managing Wars, which are mentioned in the Book of Deuteronomy, do not ſeem to have been yet given; though the Jews fancy this Law was now given about Midian, and obſerved ever after.
And ſlew all the Males.] Who were in this fight, and did not ſave themſelves by flight.
Verſe 8 Ver. 8. And they ſlew the Kings of Midian.] Little Kings, called Princes XIII Joſh. 21. where they are ſaid to be Dukes of Sihon, i. e. great Men tributary to Sihon, while he continued King of the Amorites. But after the Iſraelites had conquered him, they took perhaps the Title of Kings.
Beſides the reſt of them that were ſlain.] They made not only a great ſlaughter of the People, but killed their chief Commanders, who led them on.
Namely Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, &c.] They are particularly named, that all their Neighbours might be ſatisfied of the truth of this Hiſtory. And he that is called Zur, is thought to have been the Father of Cozbi, whom Phineas ſlew.
Balaam alſo the Son of Beor they ſlew with the ſword.] He had ſeen ſuch good ſucceſs of his wicked Counſel (which he gave either as he went home, or returning again to them, See XXIV. ult.) that, preſuming the Iſraelites were forſaken of their God, he adventured to go along with the Midianites unto this Battle; hoping he might curſe the Iſraelites now that iniquity (i. e. Idolatry) was found among them; which he could not do while they were free from it. Thus he periſhed by his own wicked devices, and was ſo far from having his wiſh, that he might die the death of the righteous (that is, live long) that (as the Jews ſay) he was ſlain in the Thirty fourth year of his Age. The Doctors in the Gemara of the Sanhedrim, cap. 11. ſect. 11. ask what did he here? To which R. Johanan makes anſwer, he went to receive his Reward for the Death of the Twenty four thouſand Iſraelites, which he had procured, XXV. 9. And thus, ſaith another, it hapned unto him, according to the Proverb, The Camel went to deſire horns, and they cut off his ears.
Ver. 9. And the Children of Iſrael took all the Women Verſe 9 of Midian captive, and their little ones.] After they were Maſters of the Field (as we ſpeak) by the overthrow of their Armies, they fell upon their Cities; and, according to the ancient cuſtom in the moſt bloody Wars, they killed only the Men, but no Women, nor Children, XXXIV Gen. 25. 1 Kings XI. 16. And ſo the Law of God afterward required they ſhould do, when they took any City that did not belong to the Canaanites, XX Deut. 13, 14. who were utterly to be deſtroyed, v. 16, 17. where he ſaith, Thou ſhalt ſave nothing alive that breatheth.
And they took the ſpoil of all their Cattle, and all their Flocks, and all their Goods.] As belonging to them, by the right of Conqueſt, in a juſt War.
Verſe 10 Ver. 10. And they burnt all their Cities wherein they dwelt, and their goodly Caſtles with fire.] Made the Country deſolate, that they who fled might have no encouragement to return again; nor be able, without great hazzard, to ſettle themſelves there, where they had not a Fortreſs left to defend them. This was but a neceſſary care; notwithſtanding which they had peopled the Country again ſo well, in the ſpace of about Two hundred years, that they were able to oppreſs the Iſraelites, as we read VI Judg. 1.
Verſe 11 Ver. 11. And they took all the ſpoil, and all the prey, both of Men and of Beaſts.] They had poſſeſſed themſelves of them before, v. 9. but now they carried them away.
Verſe 12 Ver. 12. And they brought the Captives, and the Prey, and the Spoil.] Here are three different words to expreſs their Booty, which they brought to the Camp of Iſrael. The firſt of which ſignifies, the Women and Children that were taken: The ſecond, the Cattle and the Flocks (though ſometimes it includes in it, Men and Women) and the third, their Money and Goods.
Ʋnto Moſes and Eleazar the Priest, and unto the Congregation of the Children of Iſrael.] Unto the LXX. Elders, and Princes of the Tribes, who were aſſembled with them, (See XXIX. 1.) as it ſeems to be expounded in the next verſe.
Ʋnto the Camp at the plains of Moab, &c.] From whence they marched againſt Midian; and had been encamped there a great while, XXII. 1. XXVI. 3, 63.
Ver. 13. And Moſes and Eleazar the Priest, and all Verſe 13 the Princes of the Congregation went forth to meet them, without the Camp.] Hearing they were returned victorious, they went to congratulate them, before they came at the Camp: for which there was alſo another reaſon, mentioned v. 19. This ſhows that Eleazar was not ſo infirm, as ſome ſuppoſe; and affords an argument to ſtrengthen their Opinion, who think Joſhua was now General of the Hoſt: otherwiſe he would have been mentioned together with Moſes and Eleazar as going to meet them; being choſen his Co-adjutor, and therefore Superiour to all the Princes that are here joyned with them.
Ver. 14. And Moſes was wroth with the Officers of Verſe 14 the Host, with the Captains over Thouſands, and Captains over Hundreds, which came from the Battle.] Who were more to blame than the Soldiers; whoſe duty it was to obey, not to give orders; which they received, no doubt, from the Officers, to kill only the Men. Here now is an Argument to the contrary, that Joſhua did not Command in chief: but this being only a Detachment (as they now ſpeak) from the Hoſt of Iſrael, was led by ſome inferiour Officer. The firſt Captain of Thouſands, perhaps; for if Joſhua had been there, Moſes would have expoſtulated with him, or rather there would have been no cauſe for this Rebuke: he being a Man, in whom was the Spirit, XXVII. 18.
Ver. 15. And Moſes ſaid unto them, have ye ſaved all the Women alive.] Unleſs he had commanded them to be killed, one cannot ſee that they deſerved to be Verſe 15 chidden; becauſe they proceeded according to the Rules of all worthy Warriours, who killed only thoſe who could bear Arms againſt them. But either he had given ſome Directions who ſhould be killed, or he expected they ſhould have conſidered that the Women had killed more by their Blandiſhments, than their Husbands could do by their Arms, (for they had not killed one Man, v. 49.) and therefore ſhould have been deſtroyed, as the moſt miſchievous: for ſo it follows in the next verſe.
Verſe 16 Ver. 16. Behold.] Reflect upon what is lately paſt, and conſider.
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.] By theſe they had been inveigled into an heinous Sin, and made obnoxious to a very heavy Puniſhment, which God inflicted upon them on that account. For though the Moabitiſh Women had a great hand in it, XXV. 1. yet thoſe of Midian ſeem to have been the chief Seducers, v. 6, 17, 18. and perhaps, he feared, might be ſo again.
Verſe 17 Ver. 17. Now therefore kill every Male among the little ones.] That the Nation might be extirpated, as far as lay in their power.
And kill every Woman that hath known Man, by lying with him.] For theſe, it is to be ſuppoſed, had been the moſt inſtrumental in the Crime before-mentioned; either by proſtituting themſelves, or their Daughters, to the Luſt of the Iſraelites, and thereby drawing them to Idolatry. In which Sin they were ſo ſettled, that there was no hope of reclaiming them; but they might rather (if they had been ſaved alive) have inticed the Iſraelites to commit the ſame again.
Ver. 18. But all the Women-children that have not Verſe 18 known a Man by lying with him, keep alive.] Being young, there was ſome hope they might be brought off from Idolatry, and become Proſelytes to the true Religion.
For your ſelves.] To be ſold as Slaves to any other Nation; or to be kept as Servants; or taken to be their Wives, after ſuch preparation as the Law required, XXI Deut. 16, 17, &c. This was a peculiar Caſe, wherein a middle courſe was held, between thoſe that were of the Seven Nations of Canaan, and thoſe that were not. If they were not of thoſe Seven Nations, the Iſraelites might take the Women, and little Ones unto themſelves, XX Deut. 14, 15. If they were, every thing that breathed was to be deſtroyed, v. 16, 17. But here the Midianites being guilty of a very great Crime againſt the LORD, and againſt his People, are puniſhed more heavily than other Nations; though not ſo heavily as thoſe of Canaan were to be. For they killed all the Women that were not Virgins, as well as all the Males, both little and great; but ſpared the reſt, together with the Cattle, &c. Such an Execution was made, in after times, upon one of the Cities of Iſrael, upon an high Contempt of Publick Authority, in a very great Exigency, XXI Judges 11. There is a Rule in XX Deut. 10. that when they came to fight againſt any City, they ſhould proclaim Peace to it; and if they would accept it, they ſhould only make the Inhabitants Tributaries to them. From whence a Queſtion ariſing, whether this extended to the Seven Nations of Canaan? it is reſolved by Maimonides that it did: which he proves from XI Joſh. 19, 20. But ſo great was the Sin of this People, that they neither ſent offers of Peace to them now, nor were they to make any Peace with them hereafter, XXIII Deut. 6. And the reaſon is there given, becauſe they hired Balaam to curſe them: which is as true of the Midianites, as of the Moabites. Notwithſtanding which Maimonides determines, that though the Iſraelites did not ſend Meſſengers of Peace to them; yet if they of their own accord ſent to deſire Peace of the Iſraelites, they were not to reject them. See Cunaeus de Repub. Hebr. Lib. II. cap. 20.
Verſe 39 Ver. 19. And do ye abide without the Camp ſeven days.] As unclean Perſons. For though it was lawful to kill Men, in a juſt War againſt them, yet foreign (as Philo ſpeaks) becauſe of the moſt ancient and common Kindred between all Mankind, if was fit Men ſhould uſe ſome Purification, to cleanſe themſelves from that, which looks like a Crime, though it was none.
Whoſoever hath killed any Perſon, and whoſoever hath touched any ſlain, purifie both your ſelves.] The whole Army that went to the War, were to ſtay without the Camp ſeven days: and ſuch of them as had had their Hands in Blood, or had touched a dead Body, though killed by another, were to uſe a ſpecial Purification; which was made by the Water of Separation, mentioned XIX. 9, &c.
And your Captives.] Or the Prey that they had taken; of Garments, and other things, mentioned in the next verſe: and ſo the word is tranſlated v. 26. For we cannot think that the Perſons they had taken, being Gentiles, were to be purified with that Water, which was peculiar to the Jews.
On the third day, and on the ſeventh day.] So the Law was XIX. 11, 12. And ſuch Purifications were common among the Gentiles, eſpecially the Greeks, upon the like occaſions, as Mr. Selden obſerves, L. IV. de Jure Nat. & Gent. cap. ult. Grotius L. II. de Jure Belli & Pacis, cap. 24. n. 10. To whom add our late learned Dr. Spencer, L. III. Diſſert. 3. ſect. 1. where he takes this to have been a Cuſtom, derived from ancient time before the Law of Moſes (which may be queſtioned) and Bonfrerius, upon this place, hath alledged the very ſame Proofs, and ſeveral more; particularly this out of the Scholiaſt upon Sophocles in his Ajax Maſtigoph. foreign, &c. it was the Cuſtom among the Ancients, when they either killed a Man, or made any other ſlaughter, to waſh their Hands in Water, foreign, for the Purification of the Defilement.
Ver. 20. And purifie all your Raiment, and all that Verſe 20 is made of Skins, &c.] With the ſame Water of Separation (or elſe by waſhing them in running Water, as the manner was in other Caſes, XI Lev. 32, 33.) for they might all be ſuppoſed to be defiled by dead Bodies, and ſo come under the Law, XIX. 14.
Ver. 21. And Eleazar the Priest ſaid unto the Men of Verſe 21 War that went to the Battle, This is the Ordinance of the Law which the LORD commanded Moſes.] This Law was to be obſerved hereafter by thoſe who went to War: For though the Law before was, as I obſerved, that he who touched a dead Body, ſhould be purified with the Water of Separation; yet nothing is there ſaid of him that killed a Man in War, but did not perhaps touch his Body; which now is brought under the ſame Rule.
Ver. 22, 23. Only the Gold, and the Silver, the Braſs, Verſe 22, 23. &c. every thing that may abide the fire, ye ſhall make it go through the fire, &c.] All ſorts of Metals were to have this peculiar ſort of Purification; which the other things (mentioned v. 20.) would not endure. And the ſame Bonfrerius obſerves this was a way of Purification among the Gentiles, as old as Homer's time, but they uſed Sulphur with it. For ſo he makes Ʋlyſſes call to the old Women, to bring him Sulphur, and then Fire, that he might fume the Houſe wherein the Woers had been killed. Which is obſerved by Fort. Scacchus alſo, Myrothec. 2. cap. 30. where he alſo notes, that Ovid gives a long account why theſe two, Fire and Water, were choſen for the Inſtruments of Purification, Lib. IV. Faſtorum, where he ſaith particularly of Fire,
Omnia purgat edax ignis, vitiumque metalli
Excoquit.—
Nevertheleſs it ſhall be purified with the Water of Separation.] On the third day, I ſuppoſe, before it went through the Fire.
And all that abideth not the fire, ye ſhall make go through the Water.] All things that could abide the Fire were to be purified both by that, and by the Water of Separation. And ſuch things as could not abide it, were to be purified, not meetly by ſprinkling them with the Water of Separation, but by making them go through the Water.
Ver. 24. And ye ſhall waſh your Clothes on the ſeventh day, and ye ſhall be clean, &c.] Thus he that ſprinkled an unclean Perſon with the Water of Separation, was bound to purifie himſelf, XIX. 19. Verſe 24
Ver. 25. And the LORD ſpake unto Moſes, ſaying.] Verſe 25 After they were purified, and come into the Camp.
Ver. 26. Take the ſum of the prey that was taken.] Verſe 26 In the Hebrew the words are, Take the ſum of the prey of the Captivity: which, it is plain by what follows, ſignifies the Sum of the Prey, and of the Captives. For all that they took was of three kinds, v. 12. The Perſons, called Captives: the Beaſts, which are called the Prey: and Money and Goods (ſuch as are mentioned v. 20, 21.) which are called the Spoil.
Both of Man and Beast.] Here an account is ordered to be given of two parts of what had been taken; but nothing ſaid of the third (which was the Spoil) out of which they, who had it, made a voluntary Oblation, v. 50, 53.
Thou and Eleazar the Priest, and the chief of the Fathers.] The ſame perhaps with the Heads of the Tribes, XXX. 1.
Ver. 27. And divide the prey into two parts, between Verſe 27 them that took the War upon them, who went out to the Battle, and between all the Congregation.] By this Partition, a far larger ſhare was given to every one of the Warriours, who were but Twelve thouſand, than to any of their Brethren, who were near Six hundred thouſand. For they had hazarded themſelves, which the others had not; who notwithſtanding that, enjoyed ſome Fruit of their Labours; becauſe it was a common Cauſe in which they engaged, and the reſt ſeem to have been ready to fight, as well as they, v. 3. This Diviſion was made by a ſpecial Direction of God, but was not the Rule in after Ages, as appears from 1 Sam. XXX. 24, 25. nor had been in ancient Times, as the Jews interpret, XIV Gen. 24. See Selden, Lib. VI. de Jure Nat. & Gent. cap. 16. p. 747.
Verſe 28 Ver. 28. And levy a Tribute unto the LORD of the Men of War, &c.] The LORD was their Soveraign, and therefore had a Tribute due to him, out of that which they had taken in War; as a grateful Acknowledgment, that they owed their Succeſs to him.
One ſoul of five hundred, both of the perſons.] i. e. Of the Women, and the Children.
And of the Beeves, and of the Aſſes, and of the Sheep.] The Hebrew word tzon ſignifies Goats, as well as Sheep: and both being here intended, the LXX. expreſſes them both. Here is no mention of Camels, which it ſeems their Country was not ſtockt withal at this time. See v. 34, &c. what I have noted upon XXXVII Gen. 25. This Tribute to God was but a very ſmall proportion, in compariſon with what their Kings challenged in following times, if we may believe the Talmudiſts; who ſay, they had all the Gold and Silver, and ſuch rich things that were taken, and half of the reſt of the Prey, which was divided between them and the People. See Selden in the place above-named. But anciently they had only the tenth part. See XIV Gen. 20.
Verſe 29 Ver. 29. Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the Priest, for an Heave-offering unto the LORD.] For the maintenance of the Prieſts, among whom this part of the Tribute was divided. And it was juſt a tenth part of what the Levites had, as they had a tenth part of their Tithes, which was paid them for their conſtant ſupport. So the Law was, XVIII. 21, 24, 26, &c. which was obſerved in this Levy: which is called Trumah, as the Offering for the making of the Sanctuary is called XXV Exod. 2. where we tranſlate it, as here, a Heave-offering.
Ver. 30. And of the Children of Iſrael's half, thou Verſe 30 ſhalt take one portion of fifty, of the Perſons, of the Beeves, &c.] A far larger ſhare is demanded of the People (ten times as much as was paid by the Souldiers) becauſe they came more eaſily by it, without any pains or danger. And they pay it in a very juſt proportion to the number of thoſe who went to the War, and of thoſe who ſtaid at home, but were able to go to War; who were above Six hundred thouſand (XXVI. 2, 51.) of which Twelve thouſand, who were employed in this Expedition, were the fiftieth part.
And give them to the Levites.] Who were far more numerous than the Prieſts, and therefore had a greater proportion of the Tribute.
Which keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the LORD.] See I. 50. III. 6, 7, 8.
Ver. 31. And Moſes and Eleazar the Priest did as Verſe 31 the LORD commanded Moſes.] This Command is peculiarly to Moſes, v. 25. but Eleazar was to aſſiſt him in the execution of it, v. 26. and accordingly they took the Sum of the Prey both of Man and Beaſt, and divided them between the Souldiers and People; and levied a Tribute upon each for the LORD, who ordered them to his Miniſters.
Ver. 32. And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the Men of Iſrael had caught.] i. e. Beſides what was neceſſarily ſpent for their Subſiſtence, during the War; and while they lay out of the Camp, v. 19.
Was ſix hundred thouſand, and ſeventy thouſand, and five thouſand ſheep.] A vaſt ſtock; far exceeding the number of Men of War which were in Iſrael.
Verſe 33 Ver. 33. And threeſcore and twelve thouſand beeves.] It ſeems their Country had good Paſture in it, as well as Sheep-walks. For as Arabia Foelix, it is certain, had agros latiſſimos & fertiliſſimos (as Pliny ſpeaks, Lib. VI. cap. 28.) moſt ſpacious and Fertile Fields: ſo Arabia Petraea (in which Midian was) did not wholly want them.
Verſe 34 Ver. 34. And threeſcore and one thouſand Aſſes.] The Countries about Judea abounding with Camels alſo, particularly Arabia, in which Job had a great number, it may ſeem ſtrange that we read of none here; eſpecially ſince they had vaſt numbers in following times, VI Judges 5. VII. 12. and the Iſhmaelites (with whom they were Aſſociates in Trade) had them long before this time, XXXVII Gen. 27, 36. But it is likely they did not yet find it for their profit to feed Camels, (of which they learnt to make a Trafick afterward) no more than Mules, of which we read nothing here, nor indeed in Judea, till the times of David. It may be ſuppoſed that, if they had Camels, they were of that kind called Dromedaries, which were famous in this Country in after Ages, LX Iſa. 6. and that the People, who eſcaped the ſlaughter, fled away upon them. And that there were other Beaſts in this Country, beſides Beeves, and Aſſes, and Sheep, and Goats, ſeems to be plain from v. 30. where after the mention of theſe, he adds, of all manner of Beaſts, he ſhould take a Portion for the Levites. But of Camels or Dromedaries, I ſuppoſe, none were found.
Ver. 35. And thirty two thouſand perſons in all, of women that had not known Man, &c.] It appears by this to have been a very populous Country, in which were ſo many Virgins. Verſe 35
Ver. 36. And the half which was the portion of them Verſe 36 that went out to war, was in number three hundred and ſeven and thirty thouſand and five hundred Sheep.] There is no difficulty in this, or in the following verſes: this being exactly the half of the whole number of Sheep mentioned v. 32.
Ver. 37. And the LORD's Tribute of the Sheep, Verſe 37 was ſix hundred and threeſcore and fifteen.] Which is exactly one in five hundred, out of this half of the Booty, as God ordered v. 28.
Ver. 38. And the Beeves were thirty and ſix thouſand, Verſe 38 whereof the LORD's Tribute was threeſcore and twelve.] The very ſame proportions are obſerved here, as in the Sheep; which appears by comparing this verſe with v. 33. And the two next verſes (39, 40.) give the ſame account of the Aſſes and the Perſons; which were as exactly divided; and the LORD had the ſame portion of them, as v. 34, 35. compared with theſe, demonſtrate.
Ver. 41. And Moſes gave the Tribute which was the Verſe 41 LORD's Heave-offering unto Eleazar the Prieſt, &c.] This is recorded, to ſhow how faithful Moſes was, in performing obedience to God's Commands, (v. 29.) and far from deſiring the ſmalleſt Portion for himſelf, out of ſo great a Booty. Which if he had acted by his own private Spirit, he would ſcarce have avoided.
Ver. 42. And of the Children of Iſrael's half, which Verſe 42 Moſes divided from the Men that warred.] There is nothing here, nor in the following verſes to v. 48. but a Repetition of what was ſaid concerning the other half before-mentioned; to ſhow that the ſame exactneſs was obſerved both in the Diviſion of the Prey among the People, and in taking out of it ſuch a Portion as God aſſigned to the Levites; which was one out of fifty; as out of the Men of Wars part, one out of five hundred, v. 28, 30.
Verſe 48 Ver. 48. And the Officers which were over thouſands of the Host, the Captains of thouſands, and Captains of hundreds, came near unto Moſes.] The firſt words of this verſe ſeem to ſuppoſe, that there were other great Officers, as well as the General, who were above the Captains over thouſands, and the Captains over hundreds: which is very probable.
Verſe 49 Ver. 49. And they ſaid unto Moſes, thy Servants, &c.] The greateſt Men ſpeak with the greateſt Reverence to Moſes; who was in the place of God.
Have taken the ſum of the men of war which are under our charge.] Made a muſter of them (as we now ſpeak) at our return from the War.
And there lacketh not one man of us.] A wonderful Victory; which ſhows the War was the LORD's, (v. 3.) Who ſtruck ſuch a Terror into them, that one would think they turn'd their backs, and did not ſtrike a ſtroke againſt the Iſraelites.
Verſe 50 Ver. 50. We have therefore brought an Oblation for the LORD.] For the Uſes of the Sanctuary; either in purchaſing Sacrifices, or maintaining God's Miniſters, &c. For KORBAN ſignifies every thing that is given to God, though not ſacrificed upon the Altar.
What every man hath gotten.] All of them offered ſomething to the LORD, out of the Spoil he had gotten, according to the Piety of ancient Times, XIV Gen. 20. For we find no Precept in the Law for this; and yet it was conſtantly practiſed by David in after times, 2 Sam. VIII. 11, 12. and by the Officers of his Army, 1 Chron. XXVI. 26, 27. and by other Men, Samuel, Saul, Abner, &c. v. 28, &c.
Jewels of Gold.] Veſſels, as the Hebrew word ſignifies, or all manner of Ornaments, made of Gold: the Particulars of which follow viz. Chains, Bracelets, &c. But the Hieruſalem Ʋa…gum takes theſe Jewels (as we tranſlate it) to have been the golden Attire about the Heads of their Women.
Chains.] Theſe are commonly thought to have been the Ornaments or their Arms. But they may as well be thought to have been uſed about their Legs, or their Necks.
Bracelets.] Theſe, it is apparent, were Ornaments about their Wriſts or Hands, XXIV Gen. 47. XVI Ezek. 11.
Rings.] They were Ornaments of the Fingers, XLI Gen. 42. III Eſther 10.
Ear-rings.] Nothing more common in thoſe Countries, eſpecially among the Midianites and Iſhmaelites, as we find VIII Judges 24, 25, 26. where there is a different word uſed to expreſs this Ornament: yet the word Hagil, here uſed, certainly ſignifying ſomething round, and the Ornaments incompaſſing the Arms and other parts, being before-mentioned, it cannot well be thought to denote any thing, but Rings in their Ears. And ſo we tranſlate it XVI Ezek. 12.
And Tablets.] Some Ornaments about the Breaſts. See XXXV Exod. 22.
To make an Atonement for our Souls before the LORD.] For the Guilt of which Moſes accuſed them, v. 14. or any other, which they had contracted in the War.
Verſe 52 Ver. 52. And all the Gold of the Offering which they offered up to the LORD, &c. was ſixteen thouſand, ſeven hundred and fifty ſhekels.] It hath been obſerved before that Three thouſand Shekels made a Talent: and therefore their Offering amounted to above Five Talents and an half.
Verſe 53 Ver. 53. For the men of war had taken ſpoil, every man for himſelf.] Or rather, had taken the Spoil, mentioned v. 12. of which part of the Booty, no Diviſion was made between the Men of War and the People, v. 26. but they kept it intirely to themſelves, and now very gratefully made a Preſent of a conſiderable part of it to the LORD. See v. 12. where the word Spoil is uſed ſtrictly, for a part of the Booty, diſtinct from the other two, the Captives and the Prey: and ſo it ſignifies here.
Verſe 54 Ver. 54. And Moſes and Eleazar the Prieſt took the Gold.] This was ſaid before v. 51. and therefore the ſence here is, that, having received it as an Offering to the LORD, they brought it into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, as it here follows in the concluſion of this verſe.
Of the Captains of thouſands and of hundreds.] It was not their Oblation only, but the Oblation of every one of the Men of War, v. 50, 51. But the Commanders received it from the common Soldiers, and preſented it unto Moſes and Eleazar, from the whole Hoſt.
And brought it into the Tabernacle for a Memorial for the Children of Iſrael, before the LORD.] That God might be mindful of them, i. e. propitious to them; who were ſo grateful to him for his Benefits.
The Hieruſalem Targum upon v. 50. fancies theſe Officers to have repreſented to Moſes their great Chaſtity, when they made this Offering; ſaying, We broke into the Chambers and Cloſets of the Kings of Midian, and there we ſaw their beautiful and charming Daughters, from whom we took the golden Ornaments upon their Heads, and in their Ears, and on their Arms, their Fingers, and Breaſts; but did not caſt a wanton look upon one of them: And therefore they hoped this Oblation they made would riſe up for them, in the Day of the great Judgment, as a Reconciliation for their Souls before the LORD.