Numbers 31:1-8 ▼

1 The LORD said to Moses:

2 Avenge the Israelites on the Midianites, and then you will be gathered to your people.

3 So Moses told the people, “Arm some men among you for the campaign, to attack Midian and to execute the LORD’s vengeance on Midian.

4 From each of the tribes of Israel you will send a thousand men to the campaign.”

5 From the contingents of Israel, therefore, a thousand men of each tribe were levied, so that there were twelve thousand men armed for war.

6 Moses sent them out on the campaign, a thousand from each tribe, with Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest for the campaign, who had with him the sacred vessels and the trumpets for sounding the alarm.

7 They waged war against the Midianites, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and killed every male.

8 Besides those slain in battle, they killed the kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; and they also killed Balaam, son of Beor, with the sword.