The Wiliness of Midian: the Reason Why Moses Slew the Midianite Boys

By John Townsend

Moses gave the order for the warriors to commit to the slaughter of the captive boys - in cold blood. This treatise explains the reason why and how Moses was justified and God remained righteous.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Townsend
• Release date: Feb 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463147597

John Townsend

Dr. John Townsend is a nationally known leadership consultant, psychologist, and author, selling over 10 million books, including the New York Times bestselling Boundaries series. John founded the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling and the Townsend Leadership Program. Dr. Townsend travels extensively for corporate consulting, speaking events, and to help develop leaders, their teams, and their families. John and his family live in Southern California and Texas. Visit DrTownsend.com.

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The Wiliness of Midian

By John Edgar Townsend

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2020 John Edgar Townsend

The author permits the selling on, lending or giving away of a bought copy of this ebook

This is a Bible Exposition on Numbers 22-25 and 31. There is a video of this treatise found here: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/soejet/

Introduction:

Welcome to this dissertation concerning the Midianites and why their boys were killed in cold blood at the order of Moses. Be advised that we are going to learn a lot more than the answering of this question. This dissertation presupposes that you have read certain chapters of the Book of Numbers; namely 22-25 and 31, those concerning this prophet/diviner-for-hire Balaam, King Balak of the Moabites and concerning the Midianites.

Who were the Midianites?

So who were the Midianites? The Midianites were the descendants of the 4th son of Abraham (Genesis 25:2), namely Midian, one of Abraham's six sons born to Keturah (Genesis 25:4, 1 Chronicles 1:32). Of the six sons of Keturah Midian appear to have been the most established seeing as his sons became notable (1 Chronicles 1:33). Now, Keturah is of unknown origin. She is called a wife (Genesis 25:1), yet she is also called a concubine (1 Chronicles 1:32); therefore she was of lesser status than Sarah. A concubinish wife, if you will. The Midianites were renowned merchants (Genesis 37:28, 37:36). They were tent-dwelling nomads (Judges 6:4-5), yet they did remain at length in an area, which appears to have moved over time, known as the land of Midian (Exodus 2:15, Habakkuk 3:7). And their land at one time was an enclave or annexation of Moabite territory (Genesis 36:35, Numbers 22:4), having, seemingly, a great degree of autonomy (Numbers 22:4), and afterwards was in vassalage to the Amorites (Joshua 13:21) when King Sihon took vast Moabite territories, including the land of Midian, to himself (Numbers 21:26, Jeremiah 48:45).

The Midianites were ruled by a plurality of monarchy (Numbers 31:8, Joshua 13:21); each of their five kings being a chief over a house (Numbers 25:15). They ruled yet as vassals before the Amorites (Joshua 13:21); overruled by King Sihon. They were overruled by the Moabite king when classed under his dominions. The Midianites owned cities and goodly castles (Numbers 31:10). They probably didn't build them though, because, as we have already seen, they preferred to live in tents (Judges 6:4-5, Habakkuk 3:7). They most probably bartered for them or bought them. They were certainly astute tradesmen, for they had plenty of wealth (Numbers 31:22). And they could certainly live contiguously with another people; with the Moabites (Genesis 36:35), with the Amorites (Joshua 13:21) and possibly with the Cushites (Habakkuk 3:7).

Although Moses annihilated the Midianites (Numbers 31:7) and devastated their land (Numbers 31:10) some survived somewhere, perhaps those close to Horeb (Exodus 2:15, 3:1), those that appreciated Jehovah as per the testimony of Jethro the priest Moses father-in-law (Exodus 18:9-12). Wherever they survived they lived on to become a very great people again (Judges 7:12). Which later oppressively ruled over Israel seven years, owing to Israel's disobedience (Judges 6:1). But God eventually delivered Israel by the hand of Gideon (Judges 8:22).

What Occasioned the Killing of the Boys?

Now that we are somewhat more familiar with the Midianites, let's understand what occasion the killing of the Midianite boys. Towards the end of Moses' life he was told by God to avenge the Israelites of the Midianites:

Numbers 31:2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

In the war all the Midianite men were slain (Numbers 31:7), and the women and children taken captive (Numbers 31:9). On their victorious return Moses upbraids the warriors in disbelief, saying, Have ye saved all the women alive (Numbers 31:15)? Moses was incredulous owing to the fact that the Midianite women had beguiled the Israelites in the matter of Peor and the matter of Cozbi (Numbers 25:18), which culminated in the loss of 24,000 lives to Israel by plague (Numbers 25:9) – 23,000 in one day (1 Corinthians 10:8). After the scolding the Midianite women were duly executed in cold blood (Numbers 31:17). The Midianite girls and maidens, however, were not executed (Numbers 31:18). And then that what we find hard to digest – the Midianite boys were promptly put to the sword. Moses commanding:

Numbers 31:17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones...

Why so? We understand why the Midianite women were killed, for Moses says that this was most definitely because of their part in the matter of Peor (Numbers 31:16). But why were the boys killed?

Before this time the Israelites had been give war-commands concerning conquered tribespeople. Should Israel war against