Vengeance on Midian: Moses' Decisive Actions

4. Vengeance on Midian (chapter 31) • God was provoked to vengeance on the Midianites because they had seduced Israel to Idolatry (v. 16; chapter 25) • The war seems to focus specifically on Midianites involved with corrupting Israel, not the entire Nation. • Midianites – the nationality of Moses’ wife and her family.

6. Vengeance on Midian • Killed every male • Killed the FIVE Kings of Midian • Killed Balaam the son of Beor • Took captive the women of Midian and their children • They plundered all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods. • They destroyed by fire their cities and villages.

8. Moses’ Concern • Moses is concerned about the assimilation of the women and the boys because the Midianites had specifically sought to corrupt Israel. • Moses believes the Midianites are adulterous people who deserve death • Therefore he interprets God’s command to “avenge” with his decision to also execute the women who have been sexually active.

9. The Destruction of Idolatry • Moses final assignment is to oversee the destruction of a group of Midianites who had tempted Israel to idolatry and brought a plague among them. • God acts forcefully to protect His people from falling away. • The victory secures the east bank of the Jordan, from which the Israelites will conquer Canaan.

13. Reuben and Gad Settle in Gilead(chapter 32)

15. Reuben and Gad • Both Reuben and Gad like what they saw in Gilead • If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan. (v. 5) • Moses Question: What you are going to do while we go to war?

16. Recounting Israel’s Journey (ch. 33) • Israel’s journey under Moses’ leadership had come to an end. • Having brought his people within striking distance of their ultimate goal, Moses compiled a list of their encampments. • Chapter 33 is basically a roadmap of all the places they stopped along the way to get to the promise land.

17. God’s Battle Commands When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess…but if you don’t drive out the inhabitants of the land they shall be thorns in your sides and barbs in your eyes, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. (33:50 – 56)

18. The Influence of Pagan Culture • God does not want the pagan culture of Canaan to influence the Israelites or to lead them astray as did the Midianites. • God’s people today should avoid all syncretism with other religions, lest the teaching of God’s Word be corrupted. • As you interact with others who do not know or believe in Christ, pray for their deliverance, life, and salvation.

23. Boundaries of the Land (ch. 34) • South – Wilderness of Zin and Edom • West – Mediterranean Sea • North – Land of the Hittites • East – Ammon and Moab

25. Levite Cities • Levite Inheritance will be among the 12 tribes. • 6 Cities of Refuge • 42 Additional cities • See Joshua 20-21

26. Cities of Refuge

27. Cities of Refuge • Cities of refuge would protect individuals accused of accidental killings. • These six cities were set aside for the common good in the maintenance of social order. • One who unintentionally or without malicious forethought had caused death of another could find safety from the avenger in a city of refuge

28. Marriage of Female Heirs (ch. 36) • Moses had ruled that daughters were entitled to inherit their father’s portion if the had no sons. • The leaders of the tribe of Manasseh, to whom the litigant women belonged, foresaw that an unrestricted application of this provision could destroy the established tribal borders. If such an heiress married a member of another tribe, her husband would become the owner of the land within another tribes’ inheritance