Nombres - Caput 31

Nombres 31.1 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens Nombres 31.2 ulciscere prius filios Israhel de Madianitis et sic colligeris ad populum tuum Nombres 31.3 statimque Moses armate inquit ex vobis viros ad pugnam qui possint ultionem Domini expetere de Madianitis Nombres 31.4 mille viri de singulis tribubus eligantur Israhel qui mittantur ad bellum Nombres 31.5 dederuntque millenos de cunctis tribubus id est duodecim milia expeditorum ad pugnam Nombres 31.6 quos misit Moses cum Finees filio Eleazari sacerdotis vasa quoque sancta et tubas ad clangendum tradidit ei Nombres 31.7 cumque pugnassent contra Madianitas atque vicissent omnes mares occiderunt Nombres 31.8 et reges eorum Evi et Recem et Sur et Ur et Rebe quinque principes gentis Balaam quoque filium Beor interfecerunt gladio Nombres 31.9 ceperuntque mulieres eorum et parvulos omniaque pecora et cunctam supellectilem quicquid habere potuerant depopulati sunt Nombres 31.10 tam urbes quam viculos et castella flamma consumpsit Nombres 31.11 et tulerunt praedam et universa quae ceperant tam ex hominibus quam ex iumentis Nombres 31.12 et adduxerunt ad Mosen et Eleazarum sacerdotem et ad omnem multitudinem filiorum Israhel reliqua etiam utensilia portaverunt ad castra in campestribus Moab iuxta Iordanem contra Hiericho Nombres 31.13 egressi sunt autem Moses et Eleazar sacerdos et omnes principes synagogae in occursum eorum extra castra Nombres 31.14 iratusque Moses principibus exercitus tribunis et centurionibus qui venerant de bello Nombres 31.15 ait cur feminas reservastis Nombres 31.16 nonne istae sunt quae deceperunt filios Israhel ad suggestionem Balaam et praevaricari vos fecerunt in Domino super peccato Phogor unde et percussus est populus Nombres 31.17 ergo cunctos interficite quicquid est generis masculini etiam in parvulis et mulieres quae noverunt viros in coitu iugulate Nombres 31.18 puellas autem et omnes feminas virgines reservate vobis Nombres 31.19 et manete extra castra septem diebus qui occiderit hominem vel occisum tetigerit lustrabitur die tertio et septimo Nombres 31.20 et de omni praeda sive vestimentum fuerit sive vas et aliquid in utensilia praeparatum de caprarum pellibus et pilis et ligno expiabitur Nombres 31.21 Eleazar quoque sacerdos ad viros exercitus qui pugnaverant sic locutus est hoc est praeceptum legis quod mandavit Dominus Mosi Nombres 31.22 aurum et argentum et aes et ferrum et stagnum et plumbum Nombres 31.23 et omne quod potest transire per flammas igne purgabitur quicquid autem ignem non potest sustinere aqua expiationis sanctificabitur Nombres 31.24 et lavabitis vestimenta vestra die septimo et purificati postea castra intrabitis Nombres 31.25 dixitque Dominus ad Mosen Nombres 31.26 tollite summam eorum quae capta sunt ab homine usque ad pecus tu et Eleazar sacerdos et principes vulgi Nombres 31.27 dividesque ex aequo praedam inter eos qui pugnaverunt et egressi sunt ad bellum et inter omnem reliquam multitudinem Nombres 31.28 et separabis partem Domino ab his qui pugnaverunt et fuerunt in bello unam animam de quingentis tam ex hominibus quam ex bubus et asinis et ovibus Nombres 31.29 et dabis eam Eleazaro sacerdoti quia primitiae Domini sunt Nombres 31.30 ex media quoque parte filiorum Israhel accipies quinquagesimum caput hominum et boum et asinorum et ovium cunctarumque animantium et dabis ea Levitis qui excubant in custodiis tabernaculi Domini Nombres 31.31 feceruntque Moses et Eleazar sicut praeceperat Dominus Nombres 31.32 fuit autem praeda quam exercitus ceperat ovium sescenta septuaginta quinque milia Nombres 31.33 boum septuaginta duo milia Nombres 31.34 asinorum sexaginta milia et mille Nombres 31.35 animae hominum sexus feminei quae non cognoverant viros triginta duo milia Nombres 31.36 dataque est media pars his qui in proelio fuerant ovium trecenta triginta septem milia quingenta Nombres 31.37 e quibus in partem Domini supputatae sunt oves sescentae septuaginta quinque Nombres 31.38 et de bubus triginta sex milibus boves septuaginta duo Nombres 31.39 de asinis triginta milibus quingentis asini sexaginta unus Nombres 31.40 de animabus hominum sedecim milibus cesserunt in partem Domini triginta duae animae Nombres 31.41 tradiditque Moses numerum primitiarum Domini Eleazaro sacerdoti sicut ei fuerat imperatum Nombres 31.42 ex media parte filiorum Israhel quam separaverat his qui in proelio fuerant Nombres 31.43 de media vero parte quae contigerat reliquae multitudini id est de ovium trecentis triginta septem milibus quingentis Nombres 31.44 et de bubus triginta sex milibus Nombres 31.45 et de asinis triginta milibus quingentis Nombres 31.46 et de hominibus sedecim milibus Nombres 31.47 tulit Moses quinquagesimum caput et dedit Levitis qui excubant in tabernaculo Domini sicut praeceperat Dominus Nombres 31.48 cumque accessissent principes exercitus ad Mosen et tribuni centurionesque dixerunt Nombres 31.49 nos servi tui recensuimus numerum pugnatorum quos habuimus sub manu nostra et ne unus quidem defuit Nombres 31.50 ob hanc causam offerimus in donariis Domini singuli quod in praeda auri potuimus invenire periscelides et armillas anulos et dextralia ac murenulas ut depreceris pro nobis Dominum Nombres 31.51 susceperuntque Moses et Eleazar sacerdos omne aurum in diversis speciebus Nombres 31.52 pondo sedecim milia septingentos quinquaginta siclos a tribunis et centurionibus Nombres 31.53 unusquisque enim quod in praeda rapuerat suum erat Nombres 31.54 et susceptum intulerunt in tabernaculum testimonii in monumentum filiorum Israhel coram Domino

Nombres : Caput 31

The War Against Midian according to Numbers 31

Chapter 31 of the book of Numbers evokes the war against Midian, a powerful narrative that raises questions about how God deals with those who corrupt His people. This intense text describes a military campaign of vengeance against the Midianites, addressing major themes such as divine justice, ritual purity, and the distribution of spoils.

Purification after the Battle

Numbers 31 also provides specific instructions for purification after the battle, emphasizing the importance of holiness even in times of conflict. This chapter invites us to investigate the complex principles it contains, often considered controversial.

Enlightening Bible Passages

To better understand these themes, let's examine five Bible passages that shed additional light on this chapter.

Deuteronomy 20:16-18

"But in the cities of the peoples whom the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, leave no living soul alive. Destroy them completely: the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to imitate all the detestable things they do." when they worship their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God."

This passage provides valuable context for the war against Midian, explaining the logic behind the total destruction of Israel's enemies.

1 Samuel 15:2-3

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they attacked them as they came out of Egypt. Now go attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy everything they have. Do not spare them; kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys."

This passage reveals a situation similar to that described in Numbers 31, where God also commands the total destruction of an enemy people.

Joshua 6:17-19

"The city and everything in it shall be consecrated to the Lord. Only the prostitute Rahab and all the inhabitants of her house should be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. [...] All the silver and gold, and all the vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord and must go into his treasury."

This account of the conquest of Jericho reflects practices similar to those in Numbers 31, including the total destruction of the city and the consecration of the spoils to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:8

"Let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand died in one day."

In this verse, Paul refers to the incident with the Midianites mentioned in Numbers 25, serving as a warning against sexual immorality and highlighting the tragic consequences of disobedience to God.

Revelation 2:14

"However, I have a few things against you: You have some there who cling to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to lie in wait for the Israelites, enticing them to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality."

This passage refers to the incident with Balaam and the Midianites, showing the continuing relevance of this event in New Testament theology and the warning it represents for the Church.

Conclusion

Numbers chapter 31, in conjunction with these passages, warns us of the dangers of corruption and calls us to spiritual vigilance. It reminds us that purity and holiness are essential in our relationship with God, even in times of conflict and struggle.