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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 31:14 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army--the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds--who were returning from the battle.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/31-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/04_Num_31_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 31:14 - Vengeance on Midian" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But Moses was angry with the officers of the army--the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds--who were returning from 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class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/numbers/31.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/31.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/31.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But Moses was furious with all the generals and captains who had returned from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/31.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/31.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who were returning from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/31.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, <i>with</i> the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/31.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, <i>with</i> the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/31.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/31.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/31.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/31.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/31.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, who served in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/31.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Moses became furious with the officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, who were returning from the military campaign.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/31.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Moses became furious with the officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, who were returning from the military campaign. &#8220<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/31.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/31.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Moses became angry with the army commanders <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/31.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, which came from the service of the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/31.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of the companies and battalions, who were returning from battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/31.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Moses became angry with the officers, the commanders of battalions and companies, who had returned from the war. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/31.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But Moses became livid with anger at the officers of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds who had returned from servicing in the battle. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/31.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But Moses was angry with the officers of the army?the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?who were returning from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/31.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But Moses was furious with the officers of the army, the commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/31.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/31.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, who came from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/31.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/31.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and Moses is angry against the inspectors of the force, chiefs of the thousands, and chiefs of the hundreds, who are coming in from the warfare of battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/31.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and Moses is wroth against the inspectors of the force, chiefs of the thousands, and chiefs of the hundreds, who are coming in from the host of the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/31.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Moses will be angry against the officers of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds coming from the war of the battle.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/31.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Moses being angry with the chief officers of the army, the tribunes, and the centurions that were come from the battle, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/31.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Moses, being angry with the leaders of the army, and the tribunes, and the centurions, who had arrived from the battle,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/31.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who were returning from the military campaign.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/31.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/31.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Moses was wroth with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and captains over hundreds who had come from the battle.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/31.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Moshe was angry against the Commanders of the army, the Leaders of thousands and Captains of hundreds who came from the army of war.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/31.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/31.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Moses was angry with the captains of the host, the heads of thousands and the heads of hundreds who came from the battle-array.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/31-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=9523" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/31.htm">Vengeance on Midian</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">But Moses</a> <a href="/hebrew/7107.htm" title="7107: way·yiq·ṣōp̄ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To be angry. A primitive root; to crack off, i.e. burst out in rage.">was angry</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">with</a> <a href="/hebrew/6485.htm" title="6485: pə·qū·ḏê (V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-mpc) -- To attend to, visit, muster, appoint. A primitive root; to visit; by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.">the officers</a> <a href="/hebrew/2428.htm" title="2428: he·ḥā·yil (Art:: N-ms) -- From chuwl; probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength.">of the army—</a> <a href="/hebrew/8269.htm" title="8269: śā·rê (N-mpc) -- Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince. From sarar; a head person.">the commanders</a> <a href="/hebrew/505.htm" title="505: hā·’ă·lā·p̄îm (Art:: Number-mp) -- A thousand. Prop, the same as 'eleph; hence a thousand.">of thousands</a> <a href="/hebrew/8269.htm" title="8269: wə·śā·rê (Conj-w:: N-mpc) -- Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince. From sarar; a head person.">and commanders</a> <a href="/hebrew/3967.htm" title="3967: ham·mê·’ō·wṯ (Art:: Number-fp) -- Hundred. Or metyah; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction.">of hundreds—</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: hab·bā·’îm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">who were returning</a> <a href="/hebrew/6635.htm" title="6635: miṣ·ṣə·ḇā (Prep-m:: N-csc) -- Or tsbadah; from tsaba'; a mass of persons, especially reg. Organized for war; by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/4421.htm" title="4421: ham·mil·ḥā·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- A battle, war. From lacham; a battle; generally, war.">the battle.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>“Have you spared all the women?” he asked them.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">1 Samuel 15:9-11</a></span><br />Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless. / Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, / “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-19.htm">1 Samuel 15:19-23</a></span><br />So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” / “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. / The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16-18</a></span><br />However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/6-17.htm">Joshua 6:17-21</a></span><br />Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-32.htm">1 Samuel 15:32-33</a></span><br />Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” / But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/2-1.htm">Judges 2:1-3</a></span><br />Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I had promised to your fathers, and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, / and you are not to make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall tear down their altars.’ Yet you have not obeyed My voice. What is this you have done? / So now I tell you that I will not drive out these people before you; they will be thorns in your sides, and their gods will be a snare to you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/20-42.htm">1 Kings 20:42</a></span><br />And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/10-11.htm">2 Kings 10:11</a></span><br />So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/28-18.htm">1 Samuel 28:18</a></span><br />Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-2</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/25-16.htm">2 Chronicles 25:16</a></span><br />While he was still speaking, the king asked, “Have we made you the counselor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but he said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/19-2.htm">2 Chronicles 19:2</a></span><br />Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to confront him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, the wrath of the LORD is upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/13-19.htm">2 Kings 13:19</a></span><br />But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/23-26.htm">2 Kings 23:26-27</a></span><br />Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke Him to anger. / For the LORD had said, “I will remove Judah from My sight, just as I removed Israel. I will reject this city Jerusalem, which I chose, and the temple of which I said, ‘My Name shall be there.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-23.htm">Matthew 23:23</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.</p><p class="hdg">wroth</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/12-3.htm">Numbers 12:3</a></b></br> (Now the man Moses <i>was</i> very meek, above all the men which <i>were</i> upon the face of the earth.)</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/32-19.htm">Exodus 32:19,22</a></b></br> And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/10-16.htm">Leviticus 10:16</a></b></br> And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron <i>which were</i> left <i>alive</i>, saying,</p><p class="hdg">battle.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/27-14.htm">Angry</a> <a href="/numbers/21-35.htm">Army</a> <a href="/numbers/31-6.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/exodus/18-25.htm">Captains</a> <a href="/revelation/19-18.htm">Commanders</a> <a href="/numbers/31-5.htm">Host</a> <a href="/exodus/18-25.htm">Hundreds</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Inspectors</a> <a href="/numbers/11-16.htm">Officers</a> <a href="/numbers/31-3.htm">Service</a> <a href="/numbers/31-5.htm">Thousands</a> <a href="/numbers/31-7.htm">War</a> <a href="/numbers/16-22.htm">Wroth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/32-14.htm">Angry</a> <a href="/numbers/31-28.htm">Army</a> <a href="/numbers/31-21.htm">Battle</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Captains</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Commanders</a> <a href="/numbers/31-21.htm">Host</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Hundreds</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Inspectors</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Officers</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/20-18.htm">Service</a> <a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">Thousands</a> <a href="/numbers/31-21.htm">War</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-34.htm">Wroth</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 31</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-1.htm">The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-13.htm">Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-19.htm">How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-25.htm">The proportion in which the prey is to be divided</a></span><br><span class="reftext">48. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/31.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/31.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—</b><br>Moses, as the leader of Israel, often acted as a mediator between God and the people. His anger here reflects a righteous indignation, similar to when he broke the tablets of the Law (<a href="/exodus/32-19.htm">Exodus 32:19</a>) upon seeing the Israelites worship the golden calf. This anger is not personal but is rooted in a zeal for God's holiness and commands. The officers of the army were responsible for executing God's judgment, and Moses' anger suggests a failure in their obedience to divine instructions.<p><b>the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—</b><br>The structure of the Israelite military was organized with a clear hierarchy, as seen in <a href="/exodus/18-21.htm">Exodus 18:21-25</a>, where Jethro advises Moses to appoint leaders over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. This organization ensured order and accountability. The mention of commanders of thousands and hundreds indicates a significant military operation, reflecting the scale of the campaign against Midian. It also underscores the responsibility these leaders had in ensuring the army's actions aligned with God's commands.<p><b>who were returning from the battle.</b><br>The context of this battle is the war against the Midianites, as commanded by God in <a href="/numbers/31.htm">Numbers 31:1-2</a>. This conflict was not merely a territorial dispute but a divine judgment against Midian for leading Israel into idolatry and immorality (<a href="/numbers/25.htm">Numbers 25:1-3</a>). The returning soldiers were expected to have carried out God's specific instructions, which included the complete destruction of the Midianites. The failure to fully obey these instructions, as later verses reveal, is the source of Moses' anger. This incident highlights the importance of complete obedience to God's commands and foreshadows the consequences of partial obedience seen throughout Israel's history.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is expressing anger towards the military leaders.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/o/officers_of_the_army.htm">Officers of the Army</a></b><br>These are the commanders of thousands and hundreds, responsible for leading the Israelite army in battle. They are returning from a military campaign against the Midianites.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/midianites.htm">Midianites</a></b><br>A nomadic people who were adversaries of Israel. The Israelites were commanded by God to take vengeance on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry and immorality.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/battle.htm">Battle</a></b><br>The military campaign against the Midianites, which was a direct command from God as a form of divine judgment.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The chosen people of God, who are in the process of conquering the Promised Land under Moses' leadership.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/r/righteous_anger.htm">Righteous Anger</a></b><br>Moses' anger reflects a righteous indignation against disobedience to God's commands. Believers should discern when anger is justified and ensure it aligns with God's righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/complete_obedience.htm">Complete Obedience</a></b><br>The passage underscores the importance of complete obedience to God's instructions. Partial obedience is disobedience in God's eyes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_accountability.htm">Leadership Accountability</a></b><br>Leaders are held to a high standard and are accountable for the actions of those under their command. This is a call for integrity and responsibility in leadership roles.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_judgment.htm">Divine Judgment</a></b><br>The battle against the Midianites was an act of divine judgment. It serves as a reminder of God's holiness and the seriousness of sin.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/holiness_and_separation.htm">Holiness and Separation</a></b><br>The Israelites were to be a holy people, separate from the sinful practices of surrounding nations. This calls believers to live distinct and holy lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_31.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 31</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_happened_to_midianite_virgins.htm">What happened to the Midianite virgins in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_key_events_in_joshua's_life.htm">What are key events in Joshua's life?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_blame_balaam_alone_for_midian's_fate.htm">Numbers 31:15-16: Why is Balaam's influence singled out as the sole reason for divine judgment on Midian, given previous chapters mention other deeds?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_threaten_israel_if_moses_would_intercede.htm">In Numbers 14:11-12, why would God threaten to destroy the Israelites if He already knew Moses would intercede successfully?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/31.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 14.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Officers of the host.</span> Literally, "inspectors." Septuagint, <span class="greek">τοῖς ἐπισκόποις τῆς δυνάμεως</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/31-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But Moses</span><br /><span class="heb">מֹשֶׁ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(mō·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was angry</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקְצֹ֣ף</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·ṣōp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7107.htm">Strong's 7107: </a> </span><span class="str2">To crack off, burst out in rage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(‘al)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the officers</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּקוּדֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(pə·qū·ḏê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6485.htm">Strong's 6485: </a> </span><span class="str2">To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the army—</span><br /><span class="heb">הֶחָ֑יִל</span> <span class="translit">(he·ḥā·yil)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2428.htm">Strong's 2428: </a> </span><span class="str2">A force, an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the commanders</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂרֵ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(śā·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8269.htm">Strong's 8269: </a> </span><span class="str2">Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of thousands</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֲלָפִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ă·lā·p̄îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_505.htm">Strong's 505: </a> </span><span class="str2">A thousand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and commanders</span><br /><span class="heb">וְשָׂרֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·śā·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8269.htm">Strong's 8269: </a> </span><span class="str2">Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of hundreds—</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמֵּא֔וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mê·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3967.htm">Strong's 3967: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hundred</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who were returning</span><br /><span class="heb">הַבָּאִ֖ים</span> <span class="translit">(hab·bā·’îm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from</span><br /><span class="heb">מִצְּבָ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(miṣ·ṣə·ḇā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - common singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6635.htm">Strong's 6635: </a> </span><span class="str2">A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the battle.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּלְחָמָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mil·ḥā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4421.htm">Strong's 4421: </a> </span><span class="str2">A battle, war</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/31-14.htm">Numbers 31:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/31-14.htm">OT Law: Numbers 31:14 Moses was angry with the officers (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/31-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 31:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 31:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/31-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 31:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 31:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>