Chapter 38—On the Military Question
War in Old Testament Times
The Lord commanded Moses to vex the Midianites, and smite
them, because they had vexed Israel with their wiles, wherewith they
had beguiled them to transgress the commandments of God.
The Lord commanded Moses to avenge the children of Israel of
the Midianites, and then he should be gathered to his people. Moses
commanded the men of war to prepare for battle against the Midianites.
And they warred against them as the Lord commanded, and slew all
the males, but they took the women and children captives. Balaam was
slain with the Midianites. “And Moses, and Eleazar, the priest, and
all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without
the camp. And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with
the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came
from the battle. And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the
women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel through the
counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter
of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord”
(
Numbers 31:13-16
).
Moses commanded the men of war to destroy the women and male
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children. Balaam had sold the children of Israel for a reward, and he
perished with the people whose favor he had obtained at the sacrifice
of twenty-four thousand of the Israelites.
The Lord is regarded as cruel by many in requiring His people
to make war with other nations. They say that it is contrary to His
benevolent character. But He who made the world, and formed man
to dwell upon the earth, has unlimited control over all the works of
His hands, and it is His right to do as He pleases, and what He pleases
with the work of His hands. Man has no right to say to his Maker,
Why doest Thou thus? There is no injustice in His character. He
is the Ruler of the world, and a large portion of His subjects have
rebelled against His authority, and have trampled upon His law. He
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