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 31: Reuben and Gad settle in the land

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

Numbers 33: Israel’s journey recounted

• We no longer know precise locations for many of the places listed here.
• Numbers 33:38 – Aaron dies.