spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

Avenge. Hebrew revenge the revengement. Figure of speech Polyptoton ( App-6 ). = execute due vengeance.
children = sons.
afterward. Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "and afterward".
be gathered, &c. Compare Numbers 27:13 .

avenge the LORD of Midian = render the vengeance of Jehovah upon Midian. Compare Ch. Numbers 25:17 .

armed = assigned to or for, &c.

Phinehas. Compare Numbers 25:7-15 .
instruments = vessels.
trumpets = alarm trumpets, which were also prayer trumpets. Compare Numbers 10:9 , Numbers 10:10 .

as = according as.

Evi. Compare Joshua 13:21 .
five kings: called princes or dukes of Sihon, Joshua 13:21 .
Balaam. Compare Joshua 13:22 .
slew. Balaam thus did not "die the death of the righteous". Compare Numbers 23:10 .

burnt = burnt up, or down. Hebrew. saraph. App-43 . The same judgment is in store for spiritual fornication. Revelation 17:16 ; Revelation 18:8 .
castles = fortified places.

prey = booty. Hebrew. malkoah. First occurrence. Always used of animated prey. Compare Numbers 31:32 .

captives. Hebrew captivity.
the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "all the".

meet them: as Melchizedek met Abram (Genesis 14:17 ).

wroth. Moses meek in his own matters, but not in Jehovah's. In these there was a "godly jealousy".
battle. Hebrew battle of the war = "the [battle] array (or host) of the war", or martial host.

these. Compare Numbers 25:2 .
counsel = word, or doctrine (Revelation 2:14 ).
trespass = Hebrew. ma'al. Compare App-44 .

him = male.

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh ( App-13 ).

went = came, or had come
ordinance = statute.

the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and the" in each of these three instances, making the Figure of speech Polysyndeton .
iron. Found in Egypt as early as 2800 B.C.

water of separation. See Numbers 19 .

spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .

tribute = computed value, assigned to Jehovah. Hebrew. mekes. Occurs only in this chapter.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh.
persons = men. Hebrew. 'adam.

give it. An extra portion in addition to Deuteronomy 18:1 , Deuteronomy 18:2 and Numbers 18:19 . So Abram, Genesis 14:20 .

of the. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and of the".
tabernacle = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 .

as = according as.

beeves. Old English (from the French), for oxen.

persons. Hebrew, plural of nephesh.
man = male.

to war = to, or, for the host.

And the persons. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6 .
persons = souls. Hebrew. nephesh (plural) App-13 . Literally soul of man.

gave them. See 1 Chronicles 9:2 . Hebrew. nathan, to give. Hence their name, "Nethinim. "

oblation. This was voluntary. The levy in Numbers 31:25 , &c, was commanded. See Leviticus 2:4 .
jewels = instruments or vessels.
atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33 .
souls. Hebrew, plural of nephesh. App-13 .

offering = heave offering. See App-43 , and note on Exodus 29:27 .
offered up = heaved.
shekels. See App-51 .

tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel . See App-40 .