Video

Numbers Chapter Thirty

1. The new generation is given reminders concerning vows, and how seriously the Lord takes every vow (Num. 30:1,2).
2. A father has a veto over his daughter’s vow (Num. 30:3-5).
3. A groom has a veto over his bride’s pre-marital vow (Num. 30:6-8).
4. A widow and a divorced woman has no spiritual protection in the form of a veto (Num. 30:9).
5. A husband has a veto over his wife’s vow (Num. 30:10-12).
6. The father’s, groom’s, or husband’s veto must be expressly declared in order to annul the vow.  Silence = confirmation of the vow (Num. 30:13-16).

Numbers Chapter Thirty-One

1. Moses’ final work-assignment as the national leader of Israel is to take vengeance upon the Midianites (Num. 31:1,2) for the Baal-Peor incident (Num. 25).
2. The military expedition was a select force of 12,000 soldiers (Num. 31:3-6).
   1. They were led by Phinehas the priest.
   2. They had the holy vessels and trumpets among them.
   3. The holy vessels were not a magical guarantee of military victory, as a subsequent Phinehas will learn (1st Sam. 4:3-11).
3. The war against Midian is a total victory for Israel.
   1. Every male Midianite soldier is killed (Num. 31:7).
   2. The five kings of Midian are slain (Num. 31:8a).
   3. Balaam the Gentile Prophet is also killed (Num. 31:8b).
   4. Women, children, cattle, flocks, and goods were plundered (Num. 31:9,11,12).
   5. Civilian cities & military encampments were destroyed (Num. 31:10).
4. Moses’ after-action debriefing was not a pleasant one (Num. 31:13-18).
5. Moses & Eleazar provided instructions for Israel’s ritual cleansing from the defilements of war (Num. 31:19-24).
6. The Lord gave instructions for the division of booty (Num. 31:25-31).
   1. The military forces receive 50% and the civilian congregation receives 50% (Num. 31:27).
   2. The Lord’s “booty tax” was .2% for the military forces who captured the booty (Num. 31:28,29).
   3. The Lord’s “booty tax” was 2% for the civilian congregation’s share (Num. 31:30).
   4. Thus, the Lord’s total booty tax = 1.1%, of which the civilian congregation pays the 1% portion, and the military forces pay the .1% portion of the tax.
7. The total booty of the Israel/Midianite War is then detailed (Num. 31:32-47).
   1. 675,000 sheep
      1. 337,500 to Israel minus the booty tax of 6,750 sheep (Num. 31:47).
      2. 337,500 to the military forces minus the booty tax of 675 sheep (Num. 31:37).
   2. 72,000 cattle
      1. 36,000 to Israel minus the booty tax of 720 cattle (Num. 31:47).
      2. 36,000 to the military forces minus the booty tax of 72 cattle (Num. 31:38).
   3. 61,000 donkeys
      1. 30,500 to Israel minus the booty tax of 610 donkeys (Num. 31:47).
      2. 30,500 to the military forces minus the booty tax of 61 donkeys (Num. 31:39).
   4. 32,000 virgins
      1. 16,000 to Israel minus the booty tax of 320 virgins (Num. 31:47).
      2. 16,000 to the military forces minus the booty tax of 32 virgins (Num. 40).
8. The military also kept their “cash bonuses” without the 50% sharing agreement with Israel, and brought a freewill grace gift offering to the Lord (Num. 31:48-54).