Mattot

Numbers 30:2-32:42

Compassionate Conquest

The war against Midian teaches that when Israel does fight wars, they must fight with compassion and a minimum of casualties.

By Rabbi Avraham Fischer. The following article is reprinted with permission from the Orthodox Union.

In Moshe's final days he is commanded to attack the Midianites.

This was the nation that had tempted the people of Israel to horrible sins of immorality and idolatry, such that Hashem struck them with a plague that took the lives of 24,000 Israelites.

And Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying, "Carry out the vengeance of the Children of Israel against the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered to your people."

And Moshe spoke to the people, saying, "Detach men for the army from you, and they shall be against Midian to bring Hashem's vengeance against Midian. A thousand from each tribe, for all the tribes of Israel shall you send to the army."

Then, out of the thousands of Israel, 1,000 from each tribe were handed over, 12,000 men deployed for the army. And Moshe sent them forth, 1,000 from each tribe to the army, they and Pinhas the son of Elazar the priest to the army, and the holy vessels and the trumpets for blowing in his hand. And they warred against Midian as Hashem had commanded Moshe and they killed every male (B'midbar 31:1-7).

This war is both "the vengeance of the Children of Israel" and "Hashem's vengeance." Clearly, Midian is to be punished for leading Israel to sin against Hashem, and for arousing Hashem's anger against His beloved people of Israel.

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