Read Numbers 31 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
31:1-12 {s} Defeat of Midian
31:13-20 {s} Purification following battle
31:21-24 {s} Purification of metals
31:25-54 {p} Division of the plunder
Numbers 31:1-54 Chiastic Structure:
And YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the children of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered to your people.” And Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute YHVH’S vengeance on Midian.” Num 31:1-3
Christine, when the world says YHVH is vengeful, wrathful, angry, and judgmental, doesn’t this passage prove their point?
I will grant that YHVH is angry, but only with the wicked.
God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Psa 7:11
Wicked is Strong’s H7563, rasha, an adjective, from Strong’s H7561, רשע rasha, a primitive verb meaning, “to be wicked or act wickedly.” The 3-letter root is resh + shin + ayin.
resh ר = the head of man, thus head, first, top, beginning, man
shin ש = two front teeth, thus sharp, press, eat, two, again
ayin ע = the eye, thus watch, know, shade
The parable being told by the Hebrew Root Word: That which was from the beginning (resh), rejected again (shin) with malice aforethought (ayin). Thus, to depart from the ways of God. Adam departed from His ways the first time, perhaps unthinkingly; all the wicked since then depart from His ways the second time, knowing what they are doing.
When He executes vengeance against the wicked, He is judging justly. Why is His judgment just?
Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. Psa 7:14-16
The wicked initiate God’s judgment on them by their own choice, by creating trouble and dealing violently with the innocent. All God’s wrath against wickedness and sin is on behalf of the innocent victims of that wickedness.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Resha, “Wickedness,” Strong’s H7562 – Christine Miller
God’s judgments are just – Scripture Pictures
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