54 verses
The Israelites, under Moses’ command, wage war against the Midianites, slaying all males and capturing women and children, then undergo a complex process of purification, tribute, and atonement.
1. Moses receives divine instruction to avenge Israel against the Midianites, recruiting a thousand men from each tribe. 2. The Israelite army, accompanied by Phinehas and trumpets, defeats the Midianites, killing all males and five kings, and captures women, children, and livestock. 3. Moses orders the destruction of Midianite cities and a brutal purge: all male children are killed and only women who have not committed adultery are spared. 4. The returning soldiers are required to observe a seven‑day purification process for themselves, their captives, and their belongings, as commanded by the priest Eleazar. 5. The spoils of war are divided: half to the Israelite community, half to the warriors, with a portion offered to God and the Levites; the soldiers also contribute personal gold as atonement.
mixed
The passage contains violent actions and harsh judgments, yet it is framed as obedience to divine instruction and includes elements of purification and tribute that suggest a desire for order and holiness.