Chapter 31: 1-2, 6-7, 9-12, 14-18

(Note: Earlier, in chapter 25, we read how the Israelites were tempted by those living in Moab to worship a false god. The Lord ordered them then to treat the Midianites as enemies. Moab's population consisted of both Moabites [descendants of Lot and his daughter, who had an incestuous relationship, and a son named Moab] and the Midianites [descendants of Abraham and his third "wife"...one of their six sons was named Midian, who was the founder of this tribe].)

(1-2) The Lord said to Moses, "Avenge the Israelites on the Midianites, and then you shall be taken to your people."

(6-7) Moses sent them out on the campaign, a thousand from each tribe, with Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest for the campaign, who had with him the sacred vessels and the trumpets for sounding the alarm. They waged war against the Midianites, as the Lord had commanded Moses, and killed every male among them.

(9-12) But the Israelites kept the women of the Midianites with their little ones as captives, and all their herds and flocks and wealth as spoil, while they set on fire all the towns where they had settled and all their encampments. Then they took all the booty, with the people and beasts they had captured, and brought the captives, together with the spoils and booty, to Moses and the priest Eleazar and to the Israelites community at their camp on the plains of Moab, along the Jericho stretch of the Jordan.

(14-18) Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the clan, and company commanders, who were returning from combat. "So you have spared all the women!" he exclaimed. "Why, they are the very ones who on Balaam's advice prompted the unfaithfulness of the Israelites toward the Lord in the Peor affair, which began the slaughter of the Lord's community. Sly, therefore, every male child and every woman who has had intercourse with a man. But you may spare and keep for yourselves all girls who had no intercourse with a man."