Numbers 31:8 - They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Numbers 31:8" mean?
Numbers 31:8 describes the Israelite's victory over the Midianites and details the death of specific individuals in the battle. Let's break down the meaning:
"They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain:" This establishes the context of a battle where the Israelites were victorious and killed many Midianites. More specifically, they killed the ruling class of the Midianites (the kings).
"Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian." This names the five kings of Midian who were killed in the battle. Listing them emphasizes the completeness of the victory and highlights the importance of these figures.
"They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword." This is a significant inclusion. Balaam was not a Midianite king, but a prophet or diviner (from Pethor in Mesopotamia). He was infamous for being hired by Balak, the King of Moab, to curse the Israelites (as recounted in Numbers 22-24). Though he was unable to directly curse Israel, he later advised the Midianites on how to entice the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality, which brought a plague upon them (Numbers 25). His presence alongside the Midianite kings suggests he was actively involved in their plan to harm Israel and he likely was with them during the battle, presumably to provide strategic advice.
In summary, the verse signifies:
Complete victory: The Israelites annihilated the Midianite leadership.
Divine justice: Balaam, who had attempted to harm Israel spiritually, met his end alongside those who acted against them physically. His death highlights the consequences of opposing God's chosen people.
A warning: The verse serves as a reminder of the dangers of false prophecy, the allure of idolatry, and the importance of remaining faithful to God.
The inclusion of Balaam's death is particularly important because it ties the physical battle against the Midianites to the earlier spiritual and moral challenges posed by Balaam's counsel. His death symbolizes the defeat of the spiritual threat he represented.
Numbers 31:8 - They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
What does "Numbers 31:8" mean?
Numbers 31:8 describes the Israelite's victory over the Midianites and details the death of specific individuals in the battle. Let's break down the meaning:
"They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain:" This establishes the context of a battle where the Israelites were victorious and killed many Midianites. More specifically, they killed the ruling class of the Midianites (the kings).
"Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian." This names the five kings of Midian who were killed in the battle. Listing them emphasizes the completeness of the victory and highlights the importance of these figures.
"They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword." This is a significant inclusion. Balaam was not a Midianite king, but a prophet or diviner (from Pethor in Mesopotamia). He was infamous for being hired by Balak, the King of Moab, to curse the Israelites (as recounted in Numbers 22-24). Though he was unable to directly curse Israel, he later advised the Midianites on how to entice the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality, which brought a plague upon them (Numbers 25). His presence alongside the Midianite kings suggests he was actively involved in their plan to harm Israel and he likely was with them during the battle, presumably to provide strategic advice.
In summary, the verse signifies:
Complete victory: The Israelites annihilated the Midianite leadership.
Divine justice: Balaam, who had attempted to harm Israel spiritually, met his end alongside those who acted against them physically. His death highlights the consequences of opposing God's chosen people.
A warning: The verse serves as a reminder of the dangers of false prophecy, the allure of idolatry, and the importance of remaining faithful to God.
The inclusion of Balaam's death is particularly important because it ties the physical battle against the Midianites to the earlier spiritual and moral challenges posed by Balaam's counsel. His death symbolizes the defeat of the spiritual threat he represented.