John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites , etc.] For the injury they had done them, by sending their daughters among them, who enticed them to commit uncleanness with them, and then drew them into the worship of their idols, which brought the wrath of God upon them, and for which 24,000 persons were slain. Now, though the Moabites had a concern in this affair as well as the Midianites, yet they were spared; which some think was for the sake of Lot, from whom they descended; but why not the Midianites for the sake of Abraham, whose offspring they were by Keturah? Jarchi says, they were spared because of Ruth, who was to spring from them; and so she might, and yet vengeance be taken on great numbers of them: but the truer reason seems to be, either because the sin of the Moabites was not yet full, and they were reserved for a later punishment; or rather because they were not the principal actors in the above affair; but the Midianites, who seem to have advised Balak at first to send for Balaam to curse Israel, and who harboured that soothsayer after he had been dismissed by Balak, and to whom he gave his wicked counsel, and which they readily followed, and industriously pursued: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people ; or die, (see Numbers 27:13), it being some satisfaction to him to see the good land, as he did from Abarim, and the Israelites avenged on their enemies before his death.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - All who, without commission from God, dare to execute private revenge and who, from ambition, covetousness, or resentment, wage war an desolate kingdoms, must one day answer for it. But if God, instead of sending an earthquake, a pestilence, or a famine, be pleased to authorize and command any people to avenge his cause, such a commissio surely is just and right. The Israelites could show such a commission though no persons now can do so. Their wars were begun and carried of expressly by Divine direction, and they were enabled to conquer by miracles. Unless it can be proved that the wicked Canaanites did no deserve their doom, objectors only prove their dislike to God, an their love to his enemies. Man makes light of the evil of sin, but God abhors it. This explains the terrible executions of the nations whic had filled the measure of their sins.
Original Hebrew נקם5358 נקמת5360 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 מאת853 המדינים4084 אחר310 תאסף622 אל413 עמיך׃5971
