Font Size
Moses received a general directive from God to take vengeance on the Midianites (v.1). This repeats God’s command to Moses to “treat the Midianites as enemies, and kill them, because they treated you as enemies. . .” (25:17-18). To expedite that order, Moses sent 12,000 soldiers along with Phinehas the priest into battle. This was the second generation’s first encounter with an enemy, and they anticipated an even more potent enemy ahead, the Canaanites.
Interestingly, little of the chapter describes the actual combat, only six verses (vv.7-12) out of fifty-four. Vv.1-6 are preparatory, and vv.13-54 are the sequel. The sequel comprises the lengthiest segment of the chapter and the one that interests us.
Four items emerge in this sequel. First, Moses was displeased that the soldiers had allowed the real villains of the Midianites to live, i.e., their seducing women (vv.13-18). Second, strict purification procedures were implemented both for the soldiers who fought and for the objects that were captured (cleansing by fire and water) (vv.19-24). Third, the war spoils (captives and beasts) were to be divided equally among the soldiery and among the general citizenry. The soldiers presented .02 percent of their share (1/50) to the Levites (vv.25-47). Fourth, an offering of golden jewelry was given to the Lord as a memorial (vv.48-53).
So the real areas itemized in this holy war event were (1) total obedience to God’s will and no second-guessing or editing of that will, (2) cleansing and purification over against defilement, (3) tithing and support of those in positions of religious leadership, and (4) the need for God’s people to be continually generous with their possessions and their need to be constantly reminded of that.