Review & Intro: This war against Midian had been commanded before (Numbers 25:16-18), the execution had been delayed. It was now to be carried out and the Midianites were to suffer for the wicked thing they had done to Israel by seducing them to the idolatrous worship of Baal Peor. Remember that it involved sexual pervsion that led to spiritual idolatry as it turned them to worship their god and forsake the God of Israel. 
Numbers Chapter 31 - Observation Questions
1. What were the sons of Israel to take on the Midianites? vs. 1,2
2. What are we told about His vengeance as New Testament believers today?
- Rom. 12:17-21 -
- Hebrews 10:30 –
3. Why was God's wrath on the Midianites? Comment on the following verses:
- Numbers 24:10 -
- Numbers 25:1-3 -
- Numbers 31:15-16 -
4. Why will God pour out His wrath upon unbelievers and the wicked in the last days? Comment on these verses:
- John 3:36 -
- Romans 1:18 -
- Romans 2:5 -
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 -
- Revelation 6:17 -
- Revelation 11:18 -
- Revelation 14:10 -
- Revelation 14:19 -
- Revelation 15:1 -
5. Back to Numbers 31. What command did Moses give to the people? vs. 3
6. How many warriors went to war from each of the 12 tribes of Israel? vs. 4
7. Therefore, what was the total number of the Israeli soldiers in the war against the Midianites? vs. 5
8. Who accompanied the warriors with the holy vessels and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand? vs. 6
9. Who was killed in the war against the Midianites? vs. 7
10. What were the names of the 5 kings of Midian that were killed in this war? vs. 8
11. What other significant person is mentioned that was killed in this war? vs. 8
12. What was he responsible for? Comment on the following verses:
- Numbers 31:15-16 -
- 2 Peter 2:12-16 -
- Jude 1:10,11 -
- Revelation 2:14 -
13. The sons of Israel captured the women of Midian and their little ones. They took all the cattle, flocks, and goods for plunder. (vs. 9) ... They burned their cities and their camps with fire. (vs.10) ... They took all the spoil and all the prey, of mankind and beast. (vs.11) ... Who did they take all of this to? vs. 12
14. Where did they take all of the captives and spoils of war? vs. 12
15. Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet the soldiers outside the camp. (vs.13) ... Why was Moses angry with the officers of the army who had come back from the service of this war? vs. 14-16
16. Review the lesson for Chapter 25 > HERE < if you need to be reminded about what went on with Balaam and Balak, king of Midian, and why the Israelites were judged by God. Again, who was responsible for the plague being put in check? It's interesting that he is the one that went to war with them, isn't it?
Note: Balaam wanted the fees he had been offered for divination so he tried 3 times to curse Israel for hire as King Barak of Midian had asked him to do. God would put a blessing in his mouth everytime so he could not curse them. Instead, he gave advice to the Moabites and the Midianites, telling them to send their idolatrous and immoral women over to the Israelite camp to tempt them into sin.The advice worked, the plan succeeded. The Israelites fell into the trap, and God judged them for it, killing 24,000 of the Israelites. Certainly, they had sinned knowingly and willingly against God. However, after the Israelites have been judged for their sin, God turns His attention to the Midianites, telling Moses, "Take full vengeance on the Midianites."
17. Who did the Lord have them to kill of those they had brought back as spoil from the war? vs.17-18
18. Who did they not kill? vs. 18
Note: The verses above are so hard to deal with. We can see why the women deserved to die since they seduced the Israeli men to serve their gods with such sexual perversion. ... Yes ...we don't understand why children had to die (the males obviously because they would be the ones to rebel and war against them in the future) ... I don't understand why children died in the worldwide flood, the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, the wars, the natural disasters, etc. ... I do know that God sees death differently than we do and that He is altogether just and holy and righteous and fair. I know that about His character. When my baby boy died in the womb, I thought of the evil that God took him out of and tried to focus on the fact that he was in heaven being comforted, and like David said about his baby boy that died, " He cannot come back to me, but one day I will go to him." (2 Samuel 12:23)
19. Every soldier that had killed anyone or any soldier and/or captive who had touched a slain person had to be purified. They were purified on the 3rd and 7th day. (vs.19) ... What else had to be purified? vs. 20
20. Eleazar the priest spoke to the men of war who had gone to battle. (vs.21) What were the things that needed to pass through the fire for cleansing? vs. 22,23 - Name 6 things mentioned
21. How were they to purify things that could not stand up to the fire without being destroyed? vs. 23
22. They were to wash their clothes on the 7th day and they would be clean on the 7th day. They could then enter the camp. (vs.24) ... What did the Lord have Moses and Eleazar do after that? vs. 26 -
23. Who were they to divide the "booty" between? vs. 27
24. They were also to levy a "tax for the Lord" from the men of war who went out to battle. (vs.28,29) ... Who were they to give the tax to as an offering to the Lord? vs. 29
25. Who were they to give the levy of "tax" from the congregation's half of the booty to? vs. 30
26. A list is given of the booty that remained from the spoil ... of sheep, cattle, donkeys, and human beings, and the women who had not known man intimately. (vs.32-35) ... half of that went to the ones who went out to war (vs.36-40) ... Who did Moses give the levy of tax to for the Lord? vs. 41 -
27. The other half went to the congregation of the sons of Israel (vs.42-46)... Who did Moses give the levy of tax to for the Lord from their half ? vs. 47 -
28. The officers who were over the thousands of the army and the captains of thousands and hundreds approached Moses to let him know they had taken a census after the war of all the men who had gone to war. What was the good news they had to report? vs.48,49 -
29. As an offering of gratitude for the Lord's protection, the captains gave all the gold from armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces brought back from the war to make atonement for themselves before the Lord. (vs.50) ... Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold and offered it up to the Lord. What was the weight of it all? vs. 52 -
30. The men of war took booty for themselves. (vs.53). What did Moses and Eleazar the priest do with the gold from the captains of thousands and hundreds given them? vs. 54
Application:
31. This is a difficult chapter. We must look at God's justice and wrath on sin and unbelief full-face. It is fearful to fall into the hands of the "living God". (Hebrews 10:31) ... How do we escape the wrath of God? Comment on the following verses:
- Romans 5:9 -
- Ephesians 2:1-10 -
- 1 Thessalonians 1:9,10 -
32. Summarize the chapter and post a prayer if you would like.
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