Of every tribe a thousand— Six thousand of the Midianites taken prisoners in the war (see the following verses) give us a sufficient proof of the strength of that nation, and that the laws of prudence required a numerous army to attack them; but a people favoured by heaven, and led on by the God of hosts, had a method of fighting superior to all human prudence. It pleased God, that Moses should command but a small army in this expedition, that the victory might appear owing to him, and not to man. A body of twelve thousand men was sent against Midian, (Numbers 31:5.) being a detachment of one thousand out of every tribe. Phinehas (Numbers 31:6.) was probably their general; at least, the words of Moses seem to suggest this opinion. Besides, the commission of revenging the injury done to the Israelites could not be entrusted to a more proper hand than his, who had begun to do it with so much zeal. However, the text is ambiguous, which has made it a question, Whether Phinehas was sent to command the troops, or whether only to inspire them with courage at the sight of the holy instruments, and with the sound of the trumpets? Those who espouse the first of these opinions, found it upon the silence of the Scripture in relation to the general who was to have commanded the army. Now, where is the historian, say they, who, in giving an account of any army, would forget to make mention of the general? Those who are of the other opinion affirm, that there is no instance of priests being put at the head of armies: there were, indeed, always some who went along with them; but it was only for performing their religious functions, and for summoning the enemy to implore the mercy of the Israelites. To this objection others reply, that the ministry of Phinehas was altogether extraordinary; that we are not to judge of this holy person by the ordinary custom; and that, as the zeal he testified in the matter of Zimri was not the less worthy of praise for having exceeded the usual laws; so he might have been appointed commander of an army upon so extraordinary an occasion, contrary to the common custom. It is also alledged, in opposition to the first of these opinions, that the commission of Phinehas seems to have been restrained to the bearing of the holy instruments, and to the sounding of the trumpet; but as, on the other hand, it cannot be denied that this commission was given him, so neither can it be proved that it was opposite to the other.
Nor is it more certainly determined, what were these holy instruments. Perhaps the historian meant nothing more thereby than the sacred trumpets, which, he says, were in the hands of Phinehas; the holy instruments, even the sacred trumpets. See Le Clerc. Some think that the ark is meant, in which case Phinehas would have been attended by several of the Levites: the Chaldee paraphrase thus explains the text; and Spencer adopts the same opinion. He says, that Eleazar, being loaded with years and infirmities, was no longer able to discharge the function annexed to his ministry, of carrying the Urim and Thummim; and that Phinehas was ordered to go in his father's stead. Though this should be but conjecture, yet it is certain, that the high-priests had their deputies to supply their inability. In case the high-priest should happen to be defiled, says Maimonides, the practice was to substitute a vicar to him, who officiated in his stead; this vicar was called his second, and used to succeed him; and he likewise had his vicars, who used to act with respect to him as he did to the high-priest. See Saurin's 66th Dissertation.
REFLECTIONS.—The Midianites had been, with the Moabites, greatly instrumental in drawing Israel aside from God; they are therefore to be punished among the first; for they are our worst enemies who draw us into sin. Note; Our lusts are those Midianites, and on them we must wage unrelenting war. 1. God orders Moses to avenge the people on their enemies, that though he may not see all their victories, he may behold the first-fruits of them before he dies. It is a comfort in death to leave the church of God in a state of growing prosperity. 2. Moses obeys, and draws out a detachment of a thousand men from each tribe; enough, if God was with them, to consume the more numerous hosts of Midian. God will thus teach them, that it is not so much the arm of flesh, as his favour, that ensures them victory. 3. Phinehas, who had distinguished himself by his zeal against the Midianites, is sent with them. Note; Where the battle is the Lord's, and to avenge his quarrel in so good a cause, we may boldly advance.