Numbers 31:1-20 - The Destruction Of The Midianites
In reading such a chapter as this we must remember that the Bible is the history of the slow advance of a nation toward the knowledge of God, and its preparation to become one of the greatest of spiritual forces. That process could only be a prolonged one. Only by slow degrees could the grossness of the period be eliminated. Our Lord distinctly said that certain things were allowed for a time because of the hardness of their hearts. See Matthew 19:8. Many times He made the clear distinction between what "they of old" had said and what He said. See Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33; Matthew 5:38; Matthew 5:43. The highest law for dealing with our enemies is found in his teachings.
The first steps of purification had to do with the women who might introduce heathen vices into Israelite homes, and the leisurely dealing with spoils and captives, so that passion might have time to cool. [source]
Chapter Summary: Numbers 31
1The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain 13Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive 19How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified 25The proportion in which the prey is to be divided 48The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord
What do the individual words in Numbers 31:10 mean?
And alsoallthe citieswhere they dweltandtheir fortsthey burnedwith fire
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.