This week’s reading from Parashat Matot (Bamidbar / Numbers 30:2-31:54) the Lord commands the men of Yisrael sayingנְקֹם נִקְמַת בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל מֵאֵת הַמִּדְיָנִים to assemble to make war against Midian to “avenge the children of Yisrael of the Midianites.” The men went and made war with Midian, burning with fire their cities and killing the men but they kept the women and children alive and brought them before Moshe and Eleazar. Moshe was angry with the military officers for keeping the women alive because they were the ones who caused the people to sin against the Lord at Baal Peor on the counsel of Bilam. As a result, Moshe commands the people to kill the boys from the children and kill the women who have “known” a man intimately through sexual relations. We are shown here that peace and rest with God is found in a life that is not under bondage to our own lusts and desires but in a life that is surrendered to God’s will and purpose according to the Scriptures. Read More here.
