Numbers 31:7

31:7 They fought against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed every male. ¹ 

Numbers 31:10

31:10 They burned ²  all their towns ³  where they lived and all their encampments.

Numbers 32:38

32:38 Nebo, Baal Meon (with a change of name), and Sibmah. They renamed ⁴  the cities they built.

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¹ sn Many modern biblical scholars assume that this passage is fictitious. The text says that they killed every male, but Judges accounts for the Midianites. The texts can be harmonized rather simply – they killed every Midianite who was in the battle. Midianite tribes and cities dotted the whole region, but that does not mean Israel went and killed every single one of them. There apparently was a core of Midianites whom Balaam had influenced to pervert Israel.

² tn Heb “burned with fire.”

³ tn The ban applied to the encampments and forts of this group of Midianite tribes living in the region of Moab.

⁴ tn Heb “called names.”