The Meaning of Numbers 31:2 Explained

Numbers 31:2

KJV: Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

YLT: Execute the vengeance of the sons of Israel against the Midianites -- afterwards thou art gathered unto thy people.'

Darby: Avenge the children of Israel upon the Midianites; afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy peoples.

ASV: Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Avenge  the children  of Israel  of the Midianites:  afterward  shalt thou be gathered  unto thy people. 

What does Numbers 31:2 Mean?

Context Summary

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

1  The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain
13  Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive
19  How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified
25  The proportion in which the prey is to be divided
48  The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord

What do the individual words in Numbers 31:2 mean?

take vengeance full for the sons of Israel on the Midianites afterward you shall be gathered to your people
נְקֹ֗ם נִקְמַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵאֵ֖ת הַמִּדְיָנִ֑ים אַחַ֖ר תֵּאָסֵ֥ף אֶל־ עַמֶּֽיךָ

נְקֹ֗ם  take  vengeance 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: נָקַם  
Sense: to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, avenge oneself, be avenged, be punished.
נִקְמַת֙  full 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: נְקָמָה  
Sense: vengeance.
בְּנֵ֣י  for  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
הַמִּדְיָנִ֑ים  the  Midianites 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: מִדְיָנִי  
Sense: a member of the tribe of Midian.
אַחַ֖ר  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
תֵּאָסֵ֥ף  you  shall  be  gathered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
עַמֶּֽיךָ  your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.