Numbers 31-33

Numbers 31: God’s judgment on the Midianites

Numbers 25:1-9 – The reason God commanded vengeance on the Midianites.
Numbers 31:6 – Phineas was going with the men to war, which must have been a great encouragement.
Numbers 31:8, 16 – Balaam was killed for his part.
Numbers 31:15-18 – They were specifically to kill the women who had caused Israel to sin.
- The morality of this killing
  - God is sovereign as Creator.
    - Isaiah 45:9
  - God killed for certain reasons, not arbitrarily.
    - Deuteronomy 9:4; 12:31
  - God’s first desire was for people to repent.
    - Jonah 3:4; 4:11
  - God knows what’s best for innocent children.
    - Numbers 31:17
Numbers 31:25-47 – God instructs them on how to allocate the plunder.
Numbers 31:49 – Not a man was missing after the battle.

Numbers 32:5-18 – Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh settle, but promise to carry on fighting with Israel until the fighting it completed.