Numbers 31 2

Numbers 31:2 kjv

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

Numbers 31:2 nkjv

"Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."

Numbers 31:2 niv

"Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people."

Numbers 31:2 esv

"Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."

Numbers 31:2 nlt

"On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry. After that, you will die and join your ancestors."

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 2 Meaning

This verse conveys a direct divine command to Moses: Israel is to exact God's judgment against the Midianites, who had recently led Israel into idolatry and sexual sin (Numbers 25). This act is presented as a "vengeance" on behalf of the children of Israel, which functions as an act of divine justice and purification for the covenant community. Critically, God stipulates that this task must be completed before Moses will be "gathered unto his people," marking it as his final commanded mission and a prerequisite for his impending death and entrance into eternity.

Numbers 31 2 Context

Numbers 31:2 stands at a pivotal point in the wilderness narrative, immediately following the traumatic events of Numbers 25 where the Moabite and Midianite women, under Balaam's counsel, seduced Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality, leading to a severe plague that claimed 24,000 lives. This devastating plague underscored the immediate threat of spiritual defilement. Chapters 27 and 32 detail the preparation for entry into the Promised Land, including Moses' commissioning of Joshua as his successor, because God has informed Moses of his impending death, stemming from his earlier disobedience at Meribah. The command to execute judgment on the Midianites, therefore, is not a standalone act but a crucial act of divine purification necessary to cleanse Israel of their dangerous influence before the nation enters Canaan, and serves as Moses' final, mandated military action to uphold the covenant and protect the holiness of God's people.

Numbers 31 2 Word analysis

• Avenge (נְקֹם, nəqōm): This imperative verb signifies "take vengeance," "execute retribution," or "get justice." In this context, it is not a call for personal, vindictive revenge but a divinely commissioned act of holy war and judicial punishment. It reflects God's attribute of bringing justice against those who intentionally lead His people into grievous sin and violate His holiness. The retribution here is judicial and communal, not merely personal.
• children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, bənê Yiśrāʾēl): This term emphasizes the communal nature of both the offense (committed against God through Israel) and the ensuing action. The "vengeance" is for the sake of God's covenant people, ensuring their holiness and preserving their distinction from corrupting influences. It underscores God's commitment to His chosen nation.
• of the Midianites (מִדְיָנִים, miḏyānîm): The target is specific. The Midianites were targeted because they were instrumental, through Balaam's strategic evil counsel, in leading Israel to defilement at Baal Peor, tempting them into idolatry and sexual sin that violated the very core of their covenant relationship with God. This distinguishes them from other groups who simply opposed Israel militarily; Midian's sin was an insidious attack on Israel's spiritual integrity.
• afterward (אַחַר כֵּן, ʾaḥar kēn): This temporal adverb signals a strict divine sequence. The completion of this punitive expedition against Midian is a prerequisite or final condition before the next major event occurs, directly linking the success of this military action to Moses' fate.
• shalt thou be gathered (תֵּאָסֵף, tēʾāsēf): A common biblical idiom for death, implying joining one's ancestors or people in the realm of the dead. It suggests a peaceful, natural death, albeit at God's appointed time, rather than a violent end. It contrasts with "cutting off" or "perishing" and reflects an orderly passing, entering the unseen assembly of the righteous dead.
• unto thy people (אֶל עַמֶּיךָ, ʾel ʿammêḵā): Reinforces the euphemism of death. "Thy people" refers to Moses' deceased ancestors (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) who have already passed into the spiritual realm. It emphasizes continuity of existence beyond physical death within the framework of God's covenant.

Words-group analysis:

• "Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites": This phrase emphasizes God's direct command for divine judgment through human agency. It highlights God's justice in responding to an intentional act of spiritual warfare against His covenant people. It's a purification command, essential for the holiness of the camp.
• "afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people": This directly links the fulfillment of the divine command to Moses' mortality and the culmination of his life's mission. It indicates that God's plan and timing for Moses' death are conditioned upon the successful completion of this vital task, stressing the importance of complete obedience until the very end.

Numbers 31 2 Bonus section

The nature of the command in Numbers 31, a divine order for a punitive expedition, serves as a significant example of cherem (devotion to destruction) in the Old Testament, applied outside the strict parameters of the Canaanite conquest. This type of warfare, divinely initiated and meticulously commanded, aimed at eradicating profound evil and safeguarding the purity of the covenant community. It illustrates God's sovereign right to execute judgment on nations and groups whose sin has reached a point of no return, often in direct proportion to their specific acts of aggression against His covenant and people. This historical act of judgment contrasts sharply with personal human vengeance, emphasizing that God's justice is perfect, sovereign, and serves His ultimate purposes for holiness and righteousness within His creation.

Numbers 31 2 Commentary

Numbers 31:2 is a profound command that intertwines divine justice, covenant faithfulness, and the climax of Moses' leadership. The "vengeance" mandated here is not born of human malice but of God's holy indignation against the Midianites' cunning and severe spiritual assault on Israel (via Balaam's counsel) that had drawn them into apostasy and resulted in widespread death. This expedition serves as a necessary act of national purification and the removal of a potent spiritual cancer before Israel could inherit the Promised Land. For Moses, this command represents his ultimate earthly test and final mission. God's stipulation that Moses' death—his being "gathered to his people"—would occur after the successful completion of this punitive campaign underscores the divine expectation of obedience to the very end of one's service. It illustrates that God's leaders must fully discharge their appointed duties, even those demanding difficult action, to bring God's purposes to fruition before their final rest. It also confirms that Moses’ earlier disciplinary consequence (not entering Canaan) did not negate his continuing responsibility to execute God’s will, even the hardest tasks, for Israel’s corporate well-being.