Bilangan 22:4

22:4 So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “Now this mass of people ¹  will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time.

Bilangan 25:17-18

25:17 “Bring trouble ²  to the Midianites, and destroy them, 25:18 because they bring trouble to you by their treachery with which they have deceived ³  you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, ⁴  their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague that happened as a result of Peor.”

Bilangan 31:2

31:2 “Exact vengeance ⁵  for the Israelites on the Midianites ⁶  – after that you will be gathered to your people.” ⁷ 

Bilangan 31:8

31:8 They killed the kings of Midian in addition to those slain – Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba – five Midianite kings. ⁸  They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. ⁹ 

[22:4]  ¹ tn The word is simply “company,” but in the context he must mean a vast company – a horde of people.

[25:17]  ² tn The form is the infinitive absolute used in place of a verb here; it clearly is meant to be an instruction for Israel. The idea is that of causing trouble, harassing, vexing Midian. The verb is repeated as the active participle in the line, and so the punishment is talionic.

[25:18]  ³ tn This is the same word as that translated “treachery.”

[25:18]  ⁴ sn Cozbi’s father, Zur, was one of five Midianite kings who eventually succumbed to Israel (Num 31:8). When the text gives the name and family of a woman, it is asserting that she is important, at least for social reasons, among her people.

[31:2]  ⁵ tn The imperative is followed by its cognate accusative to stress this vengeance. The Midianites had attempted to destroy Israel with their corrupt pagan practices, and now will be judged. The accounts indicate that the effort by Midian was calculated and evil.

[31:2]  ⁶ sn The war was commanded by the Lord and was to be divine vengeance on the Midianites. So it was holy war. No Israelites then could take spoils in this – it was not a time for plunder and aggrandizement. It was part of the judgment of God upon those who would destroy or pervert his plan and his people.

[31:2]  ⁷ sn This would be the last major enterprise that Moses would have to undertake. He would soon die and “be gathered to his people” as Aaron was.

[31:8]  ⁸ sn Here again we see that there was no unified empire, but Midianite tribal groups.

[31:8]  ⁹ sn And what was Balaam doing among the Midianites? The implication is strong. This pagan diviner had to submit to the revealed will of God in the oracles, but he nonetheless could be hired. He had been a part of the attempt to destroy Israel that failed; he then apparently became part of the plan, if not the adviser, to destroy them with sexual immorality and pagan ritual.