31:1-24 · The Baal of Peor episode has left Moses with some unfinished business to be accomplished before his death: carrying out retributive justice on the Midianites for their role (31:1–2; cf. 25:17–18). This will be the last military operation before the Israelites enter Canaan, where Joshua alone will be in charge.

Moses’s strong hand against these people, even though he is related to another group of Midianites by marriage (Exodus 2), will serve notice that nations who try to destroy the chosen people, even by deception, will surely be held accountable. If this seems harsh, we should remember that there was no United Nations organization in the predatory ancient Near East. People who showed weakness soon ceased independent existence.

The operation commanded by God is a holy war that de…