Numbers 14:3

14:3 Why has the Lord brought us into this land only to be killed by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder? Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”

Numbers 14:43

14:43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.”

Numbers 19:16

19:16 And whoever touches the body of someone killed with a sword in the open fields, 1  or the body of someone who died of natural causes, 2  or a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean seven days. 3 

Numbers 31:8

31:8 They killed the kings of Midian in addition to those slain – Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba – five Midianite kings. 4  They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 5 

1 tn The expression for “in the open field” is literally “upon the face of the field” (עַל־פְּנֵי הַשָּׂדֶה, ’al pÿne hassadeh). This ruling is in contrast now to what was contacted in the tent.

2 tn Heb “a dead body”; but in contrast to the person killed with a sword, this must refer to someone who died of natural causes.

3 sn See Matt 23:27 and Acts 23:3 for application of this by the time of Jesus.

4 sn Here again we see that there was no unified empire, but Midianite tribal groups.

5 sn And what was Balaam doing among the Midianites? The implication is strong. This pagan diviner had to submit to the revealed will of God in the oracles, but he nonetheless could be hired. He had been a part of the attempt to destroy Israel that failed; he then apparently became part of the plan, if not the adviser, to destroy them with sexual immorality and pagan ritual.