In Numbers 25 Moses recorded an incident where Israel was seduced by the women of Moab to participate in sacrifices to their gods, which would have included sexually immoral actions. Because Israel had joined themselves in worship of other gods, they were judged by a plague that spread throughout the camp killing 24,000 people. God commanded Moses to attack the Midianites, the group of people who led Israel to worship other gods (Numbers 25:17-18). The details of this attack are documented in Numbers 31:1-24. God spoke to Moses saying, “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people” (31:1-2), which meant that Moses would die following the attack of the Midianites. Moses gathered up 12,000 soldiers to war against the Midianites and also sent Phineas, the priest (31:3-6). The Israelite army killed all the males (31:7-8), took the women and children captive (31:9a), gathered the spoil (31:9b, 11), and burned the cities (31:10). The soldiers brought the women, children, and the spoil to Moses and Eleazar, the priest (31:12-13); however, Moses was angry with them for bringing back the women alive (31:14-16). Since these women were responsible for leading Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality, Moses demanded that every captive be killed except the virgin women (31:17-18). Although this demand from Moses may seem harsh, it would guarantee the extinction of the Midianites so that they could never lead Israel astray again. Moses then also commanded that any soldier who had killed a man or touched a dead body should remain outside the camp seven days and purify themselves on the third and seventh day (31:19). Any made of leather, goat hair, or wood should also remain outside the camp and be purified (31:20). Eleazar added that the gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead spoils should be put through fire and then the water of purification to be cleansed (31:21-23a); however, any spoils that could not endure fire should be cleansed with water only (31:23b). On the seventh day those who were unclean were to wash their clothes and then they were permitted to come into the camp (31:24). The Lord then gave Moses specific instructions on dividing the spoils evenly among Israel (31:25-47). An account of the soldiers who went to war was taken and there was not one missing (31:48-49). This brought joy to the men and they expressed their thankfulness by giving an offering of their spoils to God (31:48-54).
After conquering the Midianites, the tribes of Reuben and Gad looked upon the land and saw that it was a good place for their livestock so they requested to establish themselves east of the Jordan River outside of Canaan (32:1-5). Moses was initially discouraged by their request because he believed that their settling outside of Canaan would compromise the morale of the other tribes and cause them to also want to establish themselves outside of Canaan (32:6-7). Moses also reminded them of the sins of their fathers who had refused to conquer Canaan 38 years before, which aroused the anger of the Lord against Israel and caused Him to prohibit them from inhabiting Canaan (32:8-15). Upon hearing the concerns of Moses, the two tribes assured Moses that although they were settling outside Canaan their soldiers would accompany the rest of the tribes until they had conquered the inhabitants of Canaan (32:16-19). When Moses heard their plans, he agreed to it and established their promise in the hearing of Eleazar, Joshua, and the fathers of the tribes of Israel (32:16-32). Moses then allocated the land outside Canaan to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, who were probably latecomers to the agreement (32:33-42).
Israel was poised to overtake Canaan, but first God commanded Moses to document a list of Israel’s encampments during their 40 year journey in the wilderness (33:1-49). Reviewing Israel’s journey would highlight God’s faithfulness to them in the wilderness and provide confidence that He was also able to lead them into Canaan. The Lord then spoke to Moses and gave him the following instructions for the conquest of Canaan, “When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess” (33:50-53). When Israel had done these things they were to divide the land according to size of family and the size of the land (33:54). God also gave the Israelites a stern warning. If they failed to drive out all of the Canaanites, they would be constant trouble for them, which would eventually end in Israel losing their inheritance (33:55-56). Israel needed to make sure that they followed God’s commands so they would not experience His judgment.
Dear God, give me ears to hear and a will to obey.
