DBG - February 26 - Numbers 30-31

This chapter deals with regulations regarding vows.  Our modern mind may balk at the way it treats women, placing them under authority of father or husband.  But in reality, it gives them a higher value that is protected in ways that a man making a vow is not.

vs. 1-2 – With vows for men it is straightforward: if they vow it, they must do it.

vs. 3-5 – In the case of an unmarried and likely underage woman, the father can exercise his authority and stop the vow.

vs. 6-8 - In the case of a married woman, the husband can exercise his authority and stop the vow.

vs. 9-12 - In the case of a divorced or widowed woman, if her former husband did not exercise his authority and stop the vow then it is still binding.

vs. 13-15 – Here is the case where a woman takes a vow to fast or otherwise abstain from things, the husband can exercise his authority and stop the vow.

This chapter tells of the campaign against the Midianites and the distribution of its spoils.

vs. 1-6 – Moses is commanded to attack the Midianites in return for their actions to corrupt Israel in Chapter 25.  1,000 men from each tribe (except Levi) make up the Israelite force.  Phinehas the priest as at their head.

vs. 7-11 – Israel is victorious, slaying all the men of Midian and their kings.  They spoiled the livestock and goods, and they burned the cities.  The only issue is they kept the women alive.

vs. 12-16 – Moses is shocked that they women had been spared because of how they were used to seduce Israel in Chapter 25.

vs. 17-20 – Moses directs the soldiers to kill every male captive, even if a child, and the women that were not virgins.  This extreme act protected Israel from corruption and retaliation.  The soldiers were to remain outside the camp and cleanse themselves seven days before reentering society.

vs. 21-24 – Eleazar the High Priest gives instruction for cleansing the spoils taken in battle.  What can be passed through fire is sanitized by flames and what cannot be is washed in water.

vs. 25-30 – The captives and livestock are gathered and divided into two groups, one for the fighting men and one for the congregation.  The Lord claimed a portion of both.  From the soldier’s half, it is one out of every 500.  From the congregation’s half, it is one out of every 500.

vs. 31-35 – The total of the captives and livestock are: 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 women captives.

vs. 36-41 – The portion of the soldiers was 337,500 sheep, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000  women captives, of which were given to the Lord 675 sheep, 72 cattle, 61 donkeys, and 32 women captives.  This appears to go to the priests.

vs. 42-47 - The portion of the congregation was 337,500 sheep, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000  women captives, the same as the soldiers’ portion.  The numbers are not given but 1 out of every 50 went to the Levites, which would be 6,750 sheep, 720 cattle, 610 donkeys, and 320 women captives.

vs. 48-54 – The officers take roll and find that they have not lost a single man.  To honor God and HIs protection, they give gold and jewels from the spoils and presented them to the Lord.  The total of the gold is 16,750 shekels, which is about 6,750 ounces and worthy about $35,000,000.

The ancient world, and especially its conquests, can often seem brutal to us today.  However, they understood that to leave an enemy alive meant that you had an enemy to face later.  In the story of the campaign against Midian, this is highlighted in the safeguards put in place to not pollute or corrupt the camp of Israel.  May we be so thorough in purging the things we allow to influence us and keep sin out of our hearts!

Our hymn today is based on Psalm 83 and was written by Francis Hopkinson.  It was part of Tate and Brady’s Psalter published in 1767.  I have chosen it because it mentions Midian, though that reference may be more for some events to come in the Book of Judges.  Regardless, it’s the best I can do for today.

Hold not thy Peace, O LORD, our GOD!
Do thou no longer silent be;
Nor with consenting quiet Looks
Our dreadful Ruin calmly see.
For lo! the Tumults of thy Foes
P'er all the Land begin to spread;
And those who hate thy Saints and thee,
Lift up with Joy their threat'ning Head.

Against thy zealous People LORD!
They all, with Treachery, combine;
And to destroy thy chosen Race
In secret lay, their close Design.
"Come let us cut them off, they say,
"Let us their Nation quite deface;
"That no Remembrance, may henceforth
"Remain of Isr'el's hated Race."

Against thee, and thy Peoples Peace,
Thus they consult with one Consent,
And different Nations jointly leagu'd,
Their common Spite and Malice vent.
The Ishmaelites that dwell in Tents,
With warlike Edom's Forces join'd,
And Moab's Sons, our Ruin seek
With Hagar's num'rous Race combin'd.

Proud Ammon's Offspring, Gebal too
With daring Amalek conspire:
The LORDs of Palestine, and all
The haughty Sons of wealthy Tyre.
All those for their secure Ally,
The strong Assyrian King have got;
Who with a powerful Army, means
To aid th'incestuous Race of Lot.

Part II

But let such Vengeance come to them,
As once to wicked Midian came,
To Jabin and proud Sisera,
At bloody Kishon's fatal Stream:
When thy Right-Hand their num'rous Host,
Near Endor, did with Fear confound,
And left their mangled Carcasses,
Like Dung, to feed the hungry Ground.

Let all their mighty Men the Fate
Of hapless Zeb and Oreb share;
Of Zeba and Samana, so
Let all their boasting Princes fare;
Who with the same Design inspir'd,
Thus with a vain Assurance spake,
"In firm Possession, for ourselves,
"Let us by Force GOD's Houses take."

To Ruin let them hasten on,
Like Wheels which downward swiftly move;
Or, like the Chaff, before the Wind,
Let all their scatter'd Forces prove:
As Flames consume the Wood, or Heath
That on the parched Mountains grows;
So let thy fierce devouring Wrath,
With Terror strike thy haughty Foes.

LORD, shroud their Faces with Disgrace,
And make them own thy glorious Name,
Or else confound those harden'd Hearts,
Which, gentler Means will not reclaim.
So shall the World, with one Consent
Confess that thou, whose Name alone,
Jehovah is, o'er all the Earth,
Hast rais'd thy just and lofty Throne.