Numbers 31 7

Numbers 31:7 kjv

And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.

Numbers 31:7 nkjv

And they warred against the Midianites, just as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed all the males.

Numbers 31:7 niv

They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man.

Numbers 31:7 esv

They warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every male.

Numbers 31:7 nlt

They attacked Midian as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 7 Meaning

Numbers 31:7 details the immediate and direct outcome of the Israelites' expedition against the Midianites: they waged war against them precisely as the Lord had commanded Moses, and in this engagement, they killed all the Midianite males. This verse describes the initial combat phase of the punitive campaign, underscoring the divine mandate and the Israelites' obedience in executing God's righteous judgment against a people who had led Israel into severe sin at Baal-peor.

Numbers 31 7 Context

Numbers 31:7 is situated within the aftermath of the Israelites' devastating sin at Baal-peor (Num 25), where they participated in idolatry and sexual immorality with the Midianite women, incurring a divine plague that killed 24,000. The Lord specifically commanded Moses to "harass the Midianites and attack them" (Num 25:17) and later to "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites" (Num 31:2). This war, therefore, was not one of conquest for territory or plunder initially, but a punitive expedition, an act of divinely commanded holy war (herem), against Midian for their role in corrupting Israel. It represents God's righteous judgment against severe apostasy and moral corruption, carried out through His people. The verse specifically details the first phase of the engagement: the actual fighting where the Midianite male combatants were slain.

Numbers 31 7 Word analysis

• So they warred (וַיִּצְבְּאוּ - vayitzb'u): From the Hebrew root צָבָא (tsava), meaning to wage war, serve in an army, or gather as an army. It often carries the connotation of military service or action as an organized, disciplined force. This emphasizes that Israel's action was not a chaotic mob attack but a deliberate, commanded military operation. The use of this term here highlights that this was a battle in the formal sense, involving military ranks and purpose, reflecting their status as "armies" or "hosts" of the Lord.
• against Midian (אֶל-מִדְיָן - el Midyan): Midian (מִדְיָן - Midyan) refers to the descendants of Abraham and Keturah (Gen 25:2). They were semi-nomadic people inhabiting the region east of the Gulf of Aqaba. Their historical association with Israel includes positive encounters (e.g., Jethro, Moses' father-in-law) but later deteriorated significantly through their entanglement in the Baal-peor incident. The target being explicitly named signifies a specific, rather than general, divine judgment. This particular judgment targets them due to their spiritual warfare against Israel through enticement to idolatry and harlotry.
• as the Lord commanded Moses (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה - ka'asher tzivah YHVH et-Moshe): This phrase is critical.
  • "commanded" (צִוָּה - tzivah): from the root צָוָה (tzavah), meaning to command, order, direct. It denotes an authoritative, binding instruction.
  • "the Lord" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His supreme authority as their King and Lawgiver. This underscores that the war's justification, mandate, and specific instructions came directly from the sovereign God, not from human desire for revenge, conquest, or wealth. This sets the Israelites' actions apart from the motivations typical of ancient warfare, emphasizing divine justice. It served as a polemic against pagan deities, who were often depicted as capricious; YHWH's command here is rooted in His justice against grievous sin.
  • "Moses" (מֹשֶׁה - Moshe): Moses served as the mediator of God's commands to the people, ensuring direct divine authorization for this severe action.
• and slew (וַיַּהַרְגוּ - vayahargu): From the root הָרַג (harag), meaning to kill, slay, murder. It's a direct and unambiguous term for taking life. In this context, it describes the precise execution of the military command.
• all the males (כָּל-זָכָר - kol zakar):
  • "all" (כָּל - kol): Meaning every, all, the whole. Indicates a comprehensive elimination of the specified group within the context of the battle.
  • "males" (זָכָר - zakar): Refers specifically to males. In ancient warfare, especially when applied to military actions, this often implied male combatants. The immediate focus of this verse (31:7) is on the battle itself, suggesting that the initial engagement primarily targeted Midianite men who were armed or combat-capable. Later verses (Num 31:17) introduce further commands regarding women and children, but the scope of verse 7 is the initial slaughter of males during the primary battle.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "So they warred against Midian": This phrase emphasizes the commencement of military action directly targeted at Midian, signifying an active, obedient response to God's earlier command (Num 25:16-18). It indicates a full-scale armed engagement.
  • "as the Lord commanded Moses": This pivotal phrase establishes the theological foundation for the entire event. It elevates the conflict from mere human vengeance or territorial ambition to a divinely sanctioned act of judgment. This distinguishes Israelite holy war from other contemporaneous conflicts and highlights God's authority and specific instructions.
  • "and slew all the males": This concludes the report of the initial battle outcome, precisely defining the scope and nature of the immediate victory—the elimination of the Midianite male population engaged in the war.

Numbers 31 7 Bonus section

This verse (Num 31:7) captures the direct military engagement and the killing of the male combatants. It is essential to distinguish this from the later, expanded command in Numbers 31:17-18, which addresses the fate of Midianite women and male children post-battle, often cited in discussions of the cherem (devotion to destruction) command. While this verse's immediate scope focuses on the battle's male casualties, the larger chapter illustrates the holistic nature of God's judgment where necessary, extending beyond direct combatants when the root of the spiritual threat needed total eradication. Scholars note that the actions here, while morally challenging to modern sensibilities, must be understood within the ancient Near Eastern context of holy war and covenant integrity. God, as sovereign and just, exercised His right to judge those who actively corrupted His people and defied His holiness, establishing boundaries for His covenant nation.

Numbers 31 7 Commentary

Numbers 31:7 serves as a stark testament to the consequences of sin and the unyielding nature of divine justice. It portrays Israel as an instrument of God's vengeance against Midian for their seductive influence that led to widespread apostasy and idolatry among the Israelites at Baal-peor. The emphasis on "as the Lord commanded Moses" is crucial; it elevates this brutal act above mere human aggression, rooting it firmly in God's specific decree. This was a holy war (often connected to cherem), commanded not out of cruelty, but as a severe, purifying judgment essential to preserving the spiritual purity and holiness of the covenant community, demonstrating God's zero-tolerance for pagan corruption that threatened His people. The severity of the action reflects the profound seriousness of leading God's people astray.