For personal study, i suggest you start at the beginning of a chapter or book. Jun 14, 2018 the book of numbers continues the history of the people of israel after they escaped from egypt, and it tells what happened during the forty years when the israelites lived in the desert on their journey from mount sinai to canaan, this book is named numbers because it begins with moses counting the israelites to find out the number of people in each of israels twelve tribes. Numbers 31 commentary peter petts commentary on the bible. Moses said unto the children of gad and to the children of reuben, shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here their language was ambiguous. In numbers, israel travels through the wilderness on. Numbers 31 nasb the slaughter of midian bible gateway. The 2011 edition of the niv mistakenly states that the drink will cause miscarriage in numbers 5. Numbers 21 to 36 free bible commentary in easy english. Moses is the central figure within the book, and in at least two instances numbers mentions him recording events by the lords commands numbers 33. Jan 22, 2011 31 god commands israel to take revenge war against the midianites for corrupting israel in numbers 25. But these lists are not the most important part of the book. Numbers, chapter 31 united states conference of catholic bishops. If you dont have already, it will be a great help to you, to get a strongs concordance, and a good hardbound websters collegiate dictionary.
And yet here, in verse 16, balaam is blamed for it. Study numbers 31 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Now balak the son of zippor saw all that israel had done to the amorites. It might, too, be called the book of murmurings because from beginning to end it is filled with the spirit of rebellion against god.
In numbers, israel travels through the wilderness on the way to the land. As it does for the rest of the pentateuch, universal jewish and christian tradition attributes the authorship of the book of numbers to moses. Watch our overview video on the book of numbers, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Go to the bottom of that page to see the index chapters, which are hot links. My title is the benefits and risks of being either a man or woman. Longacre, writing in abingdons one volume commentary on the bible, referred to numbers as a late book, dating from postexilic times, giving many references to the imaginary documents so frequently mentioned by the critics. The less opportunity we have of honouring god with personal services, the more should we give in money or value. On the other hand, it would hinder the cruel treatment such suspicions might occasion. David guzik commentary on numbers 31, where god commands israel to take. But how can we explain the destruction of the young boys. The israelites disobedience and lack of faith caused god to make them wander in the desert until all the people of that generation had diedwith a few important exceptions. Read your own bible, the bible as quoted on this site, and my comments. Balam had nothing to do with it, according to the bible story itself.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. For this reason it says, concerning the midianite kings, upon their slain verse 8, for they fell from the air on top of those slain. The book draws its name from the census made of the people, a necessary step toward their organization and future government. This chapter records the war of extermination commanded by god against midian. The directions he gave them for the purifying of themselves and their effects, numbers 31. This book is actually a gold mine of spiritual truths. Numbers with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Pray and ask the holy spirit to guide and open you heart to the true understanding as god intended it to be. Out of the peoples share god required one in fifty, but out of the soldiers share only one in five hundred. The distribution of the spoil they had taken, one half to the soldiers, the other to the congregation, and a tribute to the lord out of each, numbers 31.
While many christians may have given up on reading through the ot by the time they get to leviticus and numbers, perseverance is vital. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives. The book has a long and complex history, but its final form is probably due to a priestly redaction i. The sons of aaron, the levites taken instead of the firstborn. Bible explained bible commentary study of each verse in. Numbers 14 the people rebel that night all the bible. Now there is a title that will get me in trouble no matter what else i write.
Numbers 31, new american standard bible nasb the bible app. It is the history of a holy war, a war with midian. Numbers 31 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Read numbers 31 commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible concise. Numbers chapter 31 verse by verse bible commentary. Numbers 14 new international version niv the people rebel. The bible book of numbers, chapter 1 bible explained.
The first five books of the bible are full of stories of the conquest of caanan. How much more diligent men are in collecting the meat that perishes, than in labouring for meat which endures to everlasting life. God responds with shortterm severity and longterm generosity as he leads them into the promised land. But one story that sometimes stands out in the minds of skeptics is the one found in numbers 31, where god seemingly gives no reason for killing defenseless women and male children. It would also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from coming under just suspicion. The book of numbers itself refers to the writing of moses in 33. Moses orders soldiers to kill all males adult and child and adult females. It was not a war of personal vengeance, but a war of execution of the wrath of a just god against a people who deliberately became gods enemies and sought by every device they knew to frustrate the divine purpose with regard to israel. Numbers 30 vows moses said to the heads of the bible. Verses 16 all who, without commission from god, dare to execute private revenge, and who, from ambition, covetousness, or resentment, wage war and desolate kingdoms, must one day answer for it.
And replied all of them as one man, as jarchi expresses it. Then the children of israel moved, and camped in the plains of moab on the side of the jordan across from jericho. Take vengeance on the midianites for the children of israel. The command to destroy the midianites and its fulfillment. For a broader view look at the comments in the right column. 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. The book of leviticus as well as the book of numbers follow immediately after the book of exodus. Since the text and audio content provided by blb represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not. There are numerous spiritual lessons to be learned from the fourth book of the old testament. It continues the story of that journey begun in exodus, and describes briefly the experiences of the israelites for a period of thirtyeight years, from the end of their. Feb 05, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of numbers, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
When a chapter or section is finished, you will see at the bottom of the page. Books of the bible explained scripture by scripture. An easyenglish bible version and commentary 2800 word vocabulary on numbers chapters 21 to 36. The female children who have not known man are kept alive. The levites numbered by their families, their duties. Numbers is also called the book of the march and the roll call numbers 33. Irene allen on numbers 31 reading the bible is serious matter, just as taking god at his word. Numbers 2 commentary james burton coffman commentaries. Numbers 31 niv vengeance on the midianites the lord bible. The word is in the singular number, and shows their unanimity. Numbers in the picture study bible the book of numbers. The book of numbers derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of the journey in the wilderness chaps. It will commence with the numbering of israel, a sign.
Book of numbers overview insight for living ministries. The blue letter bible ministry and the blb institute hold to the historical, conservative christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of scripture. The first 5 book of the bible, called the law, of which numbers is the fourth, are ascribed to moses throughout scripture joshua 8. Recommended sites bible info questions with answers in major world languages. This chapter belongs to the book of the wars of the lord, in which it is probable it was inserted. The snake was a symbol of all that repelled the people of israel. Click on a book listed below which will take you to its introduction page. If a mans wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him so that another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected since there is no witness against her and she has not. The most widely questioned section of numbers 31 is verses 1718. But numbers and the rest of the pentateuch were cast in the form of a unified, fivevolume book sometime between the days of joshua and the elders of israel josh.
Study the bible online using commentary on numbers 31 and more. This is the exact same place where the israelites have been hanging out since god freed them from slavery back in exodus. This is the thing which the lord hath commandedthe subject of this chapter relates to vowing, which seems to have been an ancient usage, allowed by the law to remain, and by which some people declared their intention of offering some gift on the altar or abstaining from particular articles of meat or drink, of observing a private fast. Numbers 31, new international version niv the bible app. Numbers 31 new american standard bible nasb the slaughter of midian. Through the counsel of balaam balaams isnt mentioned anywhere in the entire chapter which tells the story about the matter of peor. Numbers 1 commentary james burton coffman commentaries. Revenge first the children of israel on the madianites, and so thou shalt be gathered to thy people. Essentially, the husband and wife would come to the priest, the priest would then. And after the sum of the people was taken in the plains of moab, and various laws given or repeated, and a little before the death of moses. This commentary has been through advanced checking. The madianites are slain for having drawn the people of israel into sin. Commentary on the book of numbers by matthew henry old.
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