Numbers 31:1-9 ▼

1 The LORD spoke to Moses:

2 Exact vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites--after that you will be gathered to your people.|

3 So Moses spoke to the people: |Arm men from among you for the war, to attack the Midianites and to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian.

4 You must send to the battle a thousand men from every tribe throughout all the tribes of Israel.|

5 So a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for battle in all, were provided out of the thousands of Israel.

6 So Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from every tribe, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who was in charge of the holy articles and the signal trumpets.

7 They fought against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed every male.

8 They killed the kings of Midian in addition to those slain--Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba--five Midianite kings. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.

9 The Israelites took the women of Midian captives along with their little ones, and took all their herds, all their flocks, and all their goods as plunder.