Numbers 31:3 kjv
And 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.
Numbers 31:3 nkjv
So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the LORD on Midian.
Numbers 31:3 niv
So Moses said to the people, "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the LORD's vengeance on them.
Numbers 31:3 esv
So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian.
Numbers 31:3 nlt
So Moses said to the people, "Choose some men, and arm them to fight the LORD's war of revenge against Midian.
Numbers 31 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 25:17-18 | "Harass the Midianites and strike them; for they harassed you with their schemes... because of the mischief they did..." | LORD's explicit command against Midian |
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; In due time their foot will slip." | God claims vengeance as His own |
| Deut 32:41 | "If I sharpen My glittering sword, and My hand takes hold on judgment, I will render vengeance to My adversaries." | God executes His justice and vengeance |
| Nahum 1:2 | "The LORD is a jealous God and avenging... the LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries." | Character of God as avenger |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." | Divine vs. human vengeance in NT |
| Heb 10:30 | "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge His people.'" | Reiterates God's right to vengeance |
| Num 25:1-3 | "While Israel remained in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor." | Context of Midian's initial sin and Israel's fall |
| Num 25:6-8 | "...Phinehas... took a spear... and drove it through the Israelite and through the Midianite woman... So the plague was stopped." | Midianite involvement in the idolatry |
| Rev 2:14 | "But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel..." | Balaam's destructive counsel connected to Numbers 25 event |
| Deut 7:2 | "and when the LORD your God gives them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them..." | Precedent for divinely commanded destruction for wickedness |
| Josh 10:40 | "...utterly destroyed all who breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded." | Example of Israel executing God's destructive command |
| 1 Sam 15:3 | "Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that belongs to him. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman..." | Another divinely commanded 'holy war' with specific terms |
| Exod 34:7 | "...forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers..." | God's justice and refusal to clear the guilty |
| Psalm 94:1 | "O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth!" | Acknowledging God as the source of righteous vengeance |
| Exod 19:10 | "And the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow... for the third day the LORD will come down...'" | Principle of preparation and consecration for God's work |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the LORD your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." | God as the one who fights Israel's battles |
| Judges 7:3 | "Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.'" | Selection process for war, demonstrating divine involvement |
| Lev 11:44 | "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy..." | Foundation of Israel's call to holiness, which was compromised by Midian |
| 1 Cor 10:6-8 | "Now these things took place as examples for us... We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did... and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day." | New Testament warning against Numbers-like sin |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | "Therefore 'Come out from among them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will receive you.'" | Principle of separation from defiling influences |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" | New Testament reiteration of the call to holiness |
| Num 27:23 | "...and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses." | Example of Moses' faithful execution of divine commands |
| Deut 34:5 | "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD." | Moses' life characterized by obedience to the LORD's word |
| Heb 3:2 | "who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house." | New Testament affirmation of Moses' faithfulness to God's commands |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 3 Meaning
This verse details Moses' command to the Israelite people to prepare for a divine war against the Midianites. Following God's explicit instruction, a selection of men are to arm themselves to go and execute the LORD's direct vengeance upon Midian for their grave sin of enticing Israel into idolatry and immorality at Baal-Peor. The focus is on God's just retribution, carried out through His chosen people, rather than personal revenge or conquest.
Numbers 31 3 Context
Numbers chapter 31 occurs immediately after the climactic events of Numbers 25. In Numbers 25, the Israelites engaged in widespread idolatry and sexual immorality with the Moabite and Midianite women at Baal-Peor, leading to a severe plague that killed 24,000 people. Phinehas' swift, decisive action in stopping the plague demonstrated zeal for the LORD. Immediately following this, God specifically commanded Moses to "harass the Midianites and strike them" (Num 25:17) because of their instigation. Numbers 31, therefore, is the fulfillment of that divine command, representing God's righteous judgment against those who led His covenant people astray. Historically, it is one of the final significant acts under Moses' leadership before the entry into the Promised Land, serving as a powerful lesson on the severity of sin and the consequences of compromising with pagan influences.
Numbers 31 3 Word analysis
- So Moses spoke (וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ - Vaydabber Moshe): The verb "spoke" (דָּבַר - dabar) indicates an authoritative, official pronouncement, emphasizing that this is a command from God conveyed through His chosen leader, Moses, to the entire assembly of Israel. It highlights Moses' role as the mediator of God's will.
- to the people (אֶל־הָעָ֔ם - el-ha'am): This specifies that the command was not for a select few, but for the whole community to hear and participate in the preparation for this critical undertaking. It signifies collective responsibility.
- saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר - lemor): A standard Hebrew literary device used to introduce direct speech. It reinforces the verbatim nature of Moses' relayed message, originating from divine authority.
- Arm yourselves for war (הֵחָלְצ֨וּ מֵאִתְּכֶ֜ם אֲנָשִׁ֗ים לַצָּבָא֙ - Hichaltsu me'ittechem anashim latsava):
- Arm yourselves (הֵחָלְצ֨וּ - Hichaltsu): From the root חלץ (halats), meaning "to draw out," "to equip," or "to be ready." In the Hithpael form here, it conveys the sense of preparing oneself thoroughly for battle, gashing the loins for activity, indicating readiness, efficiency, and preparedness for military duty. It implies a conscious act of readiness by the men chosen.
- from among you, men (מֵאִתְּכֶ֜ם אֲנָשִׁ֗ים - me'ittechem anashim): Specifies that the fighting force is to be drawn by selection (literally 'from yourselves') from the general populace. The word "men" (אֲנָשִׁ֗ים - anashim) refers to male adults fit for military service, ready to participate actively.
- for war (לַצָּבָא֙ - latsava): Refers to the military expedition or campaign. This war is distinct from typical tribal conflicts, being specifically commanded by God as divine judgment.
- and let some of you go against Midian (וְיִהְי֣וּ עַל־מִדְיָ֗ן - veyihyu al-Midyan):
- and let some of you go (וְיִהְי֣וּ - veyihyu): Signifies the active deployment and direction of these selected men to their mission.
- against Midian (עַל־מִדְיָ֗ן - al-Midyan): Directly names the enemy target. The Midianites were geographically scattered tribes, but specific elements of them had proven hostile and destructive to Israel through their religious seduction.
- to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian (לָתֵ֤ת נִקְמַת־יְהוָה֙ בְּמִדְיָֽן׃ - latet niqmat-YHWH beMidyan):
- to execute/give (לָתֵ֤ת - latet): From the verb נתן (natan), "to give" or "to place." Here, it signifies the act of delivering or carrying out.
- the LORD's vengeance (נִקְמַת־יְהוָה֙ - niqmat-YHWH): This is the pivotal phrase. "Vengeance" (נקמה - neqamah) here is not human, vindictive revenge but righteous divine retribution. It underscores that the motivation and authority for this war are solely from God (YHWH), who is acting to defend His holiness and justice, and to punish severe transgressions against His covenant.
- on Midian (בְּמִדְיָֽן׃ - beMidyan): Re-emphasizes the target of this divine judgment, confirming it is specifically upon those who inflicted spiritual harm on Israel.
Words-group Analysis
- "Arm yourselves for war, and let some of you go": This phrase highlights the dual nature of Israel's responsibility: active preparation ("arm yourselves") and strategic deployment ("let some go"). It indicates a structured, disciplined military operation, not a spontaneous mob. The selection of "men" points to a military readiness by a specific contingent, implying a distinction from the entire camp, yet from within it.
- "to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian": This clause clarifies the divine mandate and purpose of the war. It elevates the conflict beyond typical human aggression or territorial ambition, firmly grounding it in God's sovereign judgment. The war's sole objective is the implementation of divine justice against a grave offense that attacked the spiritual integrity and covenant fidelity of His people. The phrase makes it clear this is not Israel's vengeance, but the LORD's, carried out by Israel as His instrument.
Numbers 31 3 Bonus section
This command reveals an aspect of God's character as both righteous and just. While He is merciful, He also does not leave sin unpunished, especially when it seeks to corrupt His chosen people and distort their worship. The use of human agents to carry out this divine "vengeance" illustrates the principle of delegated authority, where Israel, as God's covenant people, acts as an instrument of His sovereign will on earth. It foreshadows future judgments throughout the Old Testament where God uses various means to punish wickedness. Furthermore, it reinforces the ongoing spiritual battle that God's people face, where vigilance against external pagan influences and internal spiritual compromise is essential for maintaining covenant fidelity and communal purity. The limited scope and divine origin of this command also delineate it from human-driven acts of vengeance, underscoring that not all conflict is sanctioned by God as His "vengeance."
Numbers 31 3 Commentary
Numbers 31:3 initiates the punitive expedition against Midian, commanded by God due to their egregious sin at Baal-Peor. Moses' instruction is direct and authoritative, emphasizing the sacred nature of this mission as the execution of the "LORD's vengeance." This is crucial: the motivation is not human spite or territorial ambition, but God's righteous wrath against idolatry and seduction that nearly destroyed Israel's covenant relationship. It serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of spiritual adultery and the holy standard God requires of His people. The act is one of divine justice, ensuring that such insidious attempts to defile God's covenant nation are met with decisive retribution, maintaining Israel's distinctness and holiness.