Numbers 30-31
What I Noticed Today (Numbers 30-31)
Numbers 30
Numbers 30 deals with vows and pledges.
Note: In English, we often use the words “vow” and “pledge” interchangeably, but they are two different words in Hebrew with distinct meanings. The word “vow” (ned̠er) is a promise to do something while the word “pledge” (ʾissār) is a promise not to do something.
Note: The point of this chapter is that vows and pledges made to God were serious business. They were promises that, once made, must be kept. It was better not to make such a promise than to make the promise and not keep it.
In verses 1-8, Moses spoke to the leaders of the Israelites, saying the Lord commanded them to honor any vow or oath (pledge) they made. They must do whatever they have promised.
- If a young woman living at home made a pledge or a vow, her vow could be canceled by her father if he did so on the day he heard about it. If he did nothing, the vow would stand.
- The same rule applied to a woman who marries while her vow or pledge is in effect; her husband could cancel her vow or pledge on the day he heard about it. If he did nothing, the vow would stand.
In verses 9-16, Moses explains the regulations for vows made by a widow or divorced woman, and repeats the regulations for vows made by a married woman:
- A widow or divorced woman who made a vow or pledge must stand by her vow. She is no longer under the authority of a husband or father.
- If a married woman made a pledge or a vow, her vow or pledge could be cancelled by her father if he did so on the day he heard about it. If he did nothing, the vow or pledge would stand.
- If a husband cancelled the vow or pledge sometime after hearing about it, he would bear the guilt associated with cancelling it.
Numbers 31
Numbers 31 describes the Holy war directed by God between Israel and Midian.
In verses 1-6, the Lord told Moses to execute vengeance for the Israelites against the Midianites. This would be Moses’ last campaign; afterward, he would die.
- Moses ordered 1,000 men from each tribe, 12,000 total to prepare for war.
- The soldiers went with Phineas, son of Eleazar, who had the Lord’s holy objects and signal trumpets.
Note: The army was led into battle by Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the priest, and vessels from the sanctuary. In this way the Lord was going in front, leading the army into battle.
In verses 7-12, the men engaged in battle with the Midianites:
- 1,000 men from each tribe went up against the Midianites and conquered them all.
- Along with the list of kings that were killed, Balaam, the prophet, was singled out. Balaam, the man who had just a short time before had God speak through him, had ultimately made the decision to reject God!
- The Israelites took the Midianite women and children captive, plundered their flocks and property, and burned all the cities.
In verses 13-18, Moses and Eleazar went to meet the returning Israelite soldiers:
- Moses was angry with the commanders of the army because they let the Midianite women live.
- He reminded them that it was the Midianite women who had acted treacherously and led many of their men away from God. This had brought God’s judgment in the form of the plague that killed 24,000 people (Numbers 23-24).
- Moses ordered all the male children and women who had had sexual relations killed. The young virgin women were allowed to live.
In verses 19-24, the men and spoils of war had to be cleansed:
- All of the men who had killed a person or touched a dead body were ceremonially unclean and must remain outside the camp for seven days and be purified. All their garments, leather, and articles of wood also had to be purified before they could be allowed back inside the camp.
- Eleazar instructed the soldiers to pass all the metals (gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead through the fire, and it would be clean. It was then to be purified with the purification water.
- Anything that cannot withstand the fire must be washed, and it will be clean.
In verses 25-47, the spoils of war are distributed amongst the tribes:
- The spoils of war were divided up according to a precise formula determined by the Lord.
- Half of the spoils were to go to the army and half to the people.
- From the army, one in every 500 animals and people were to be the Lord’s, and from the people’s share, one in 50 were to be the Lord’s.
In verses 48-54, when the commanders realized not one of the Israelites had been killed in the battle, they recognized God’s protection and brought a freewill offering of gold and other jewelry.
- Moses and Eleazar received the offering, and it amounted to 420 pounds of gold.
- They brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial before the Lord for His faithfulness and blessing upon the Israelites.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- There are those that no matter what we do or say will reject God. Balaam witnessed his donkey speaking, saw the angel of the Lord, and had God himself speak through him, yet he remained resolute in his unbelief. We cannot control someone else’s decision to believe in and follow our Lord and Savior. We can, however, make sure they hear the Word and have the opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of Christ!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.