The One Year Bible: A Man's World

 

The Midianite Women Led Captive by the Hebrews, by French painter James Tissot

For most of the history of mankind and in most places around the world, women have gotten a raw deal.  The Bible is no exception.  The Israelite culture was highly patriarchal, and women generally held a subservient role in the culture. For example, a woman's vow to the Lord could be invalidated by her father or her husband (Numbers 30:3-16).  If dad or hubby said no, that was that--she was off the hook for any commitment to God she might have made (They did have to object quickly though.  If they didn't act quickly to veto her, then the vow would stand).

Occasionally we find examples of women getting a win--getting a privilege that was typically reserved for men.  Such was the case with the daughters of Zelophedad: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  These women were of the tribe of Manasseh and they had no brothers. They requested that they inherit their father's property as man would. so that his name could be carried on.  The Lord not only approved their request, but also extended it to apply to any man in Israel who had only daughters (Numbers 27:1-11). A man no longer needed a son to pass on his inheritance.  In the absence of a son, the daughter would do.  At the end of the book of Numbers an amendment to this rule was made stating that a daughter who inherited property had to marry within the tribe so that a tribe wouldn't lose land allotted to them. It's a little win, sure, but it's a start, right?

Unfortunately, it was more common for women to lose, according to Scripture.  We see this in the truly horrifying story of the conquest of the Midianites found in Numbers 31.  The more I reflect on this story, the worse it gets.  There are so many things just "off" about it.  From the fact that the Midianites were the people of Moses' in-laws to the lack of clarity as to why the Midianites were slated for destruction when it appears that it was the Moabites were the ones that caused Israel to go astray. You kind of have to read between the lines to figure out that the Midianites had also been saboteurs advised by none other than Balaam (see below) who had figured if you can't curse the Hebrews, get them to curse themselves. But to me at least, the worst part is what happened to the poor Midianite girls. 

Here's what happened. The Israelites slaughtered the Midianites (though clearly not all of them--because they were still around during the time of the Judges. Maybe this was just a local clan of Midianites), sparing only the women and children. Moses is angry.  "You were supposed to kill everyone," he fumes.  He orders the Israelite soldiers to kill all boys and any women that had had sex, leaving only the virgin girls behind. These commands are followed and the author of Numbers tersely records the number of girls left behind to a live a life of slavery--32,000.  32 of those girls--0.1% of the total were given directly to Eleazar, the high priest (Aaron's son and successor).  I couldn't help wondering what on earth Eleazar and his family were going to do with 32 girls. It seems unlikely that the girls were raped--especially since it was sexual sin that had led this massacre in the first place. I guess they just became ordinary slaves.  

I suppose these girls were "lucky" to have avoided the fates of their parents and brothers.  But it still seems so awful.  Can you imagine what it must have been like for them--to have watched their mothers killed before their eyes?  And to have to live the rest of their lives in servitude to the people who killed them? My only comfort in this horrible story is in God's absence.  Yes, God directs Moses to "take vengeance" on the Midianites, as his one last task before he dies. But those are the last instructions we hear from God in this story.  The command to kill the women and boys, the consignment of the virgin girls to slavery--that was all Moses.  All throughout the books of Moses it's clearly stated when God gives commands. And then there's no such statement in this story. That only makes sense to me, because I don't see God in these horrific actions

Highlights of Numbers 19-35

• Moses Strikes (The Rock) Again
• The Bronze Snake
• Early Conquests on Canaan's Borders
• The Strange Tale of Balak, Balaam and the Talking Donkey

Fun Facts

• Did You Know about Cozbi's Sexual Misconduct? (No, that's not a misspelling).  We're not talking about a once beloved comedian. We're talking about Cozbi the daughter of the Midianite clan leader, Zur. I remember when I first started watching Game of Thrones, there was something about it that reminded me of the Bible. Now I realize, it was stories like this one.  In act of brazen rebellion, one of the Israelites, a fellow by the name of Zimri brought Cozbi into his tent in full view of Moses and everyone. I'm not sure what Zimri was thinking,  or what Cozbi's complicity was in all of this. A plague was ripping through the camp, as punishment for widespread dalliances with Moabite women.  Moses had just instructed the leaders of Israel to put to death all those involved in the hanky panky (which appears to have been tied directly to the worship of Baal).  Zimri seemd to think this was the perfect time for romance. Talk about a failure to read the room!

• Anyway, Aaron's grandson Phineas was all like "Oh, helll no. . ." and he grabs a spear and according to the Bible "thrust the spear all the way through the man's body and into the woman's stomach" killing them both. Very, GoT, that. Whether Zimri and Cozbi were merely embracing or already engaged in full-on intercourse at the moment of their death is left to the imagination.  The plague stops on account of Phineas's actions and he is applauded for his zealotry and given a special reward by the Lord.

• Did You Know about Balaam's Plan B?  Who was behind this mass seduction of Israel that lead to plague and spear stabbings? None other than Balaam.  This was the guy that Balak, the king of the Moabites had tried to hire to curse Israel for him.  Balaam was unable to provide the curses Balak wanted, but he hatched another plan to destroy the Hebrews massing on the border of Canaan  The Bible credits him with sending in the hot girls of Moab and Midian to lead Israel into the titillating world of idol worship.

What Stood Out to Me

Ok, If You Insist, But I Don't Recommend It

"Now Balaam he had a donkey
Who was gentle and true and kind
And the donkey saw an angel with a sword
So he slipped old Balaam past him
And when he done it three times
Well Balaam got so me mad he beat the donkey
And so the Lord
Well he gave the donkey language
And the donkey plainly brayed
"Well there's an angel about to strike you from the path"
Then old Balaam's eyes were opened
And he realized he'd been saved
By his donkey from the angel of God's wrath"

                                                  --Rich Mullins, "Who God Is Gonna Use"*

One of the things that can be a bit confusing about the story of Balaam is that God seems to contradict Himself. First he tells Balaam, "No do not go with King Balak's men. I don't want you messing with My people.  But then when Balaam asks again, God says, "Go ahead and go, but you're only going to do I want you to do."  But then, God sends an angel to slay Balaam for going ahead even though God had said he could.  What's up with that?

Well, to me, at least, it kind of made sense. I felt I could relate.  There have been many times when my kids have asked me if they can do something. Initially I say no, but then they ask me again.  And my response is generally, "Well, okay, you can do it.  But I don't support it and I don't recommend it."  To me that's what God's "permission" was like in this story.  It was given reluctantly, because Balaam clearly really wanted to do it. I think when the angel of God's wrath showed up on the path, and Balaam's donkey presumably saved his life, that was God warning Balaam again--"Listen, man, just to be super clear:  this is really bad idea. I do not support it. Just know, you are continuing AGA (Against God's Advice)." Now of course God is nothing like me, but it's the only way I can make sense out of this story.

Balaam's said he would do what God wanted.  But his heart wasn't in it, and given the opportunity he went ahead, despite knowing God wasn't happy with him. He also went knowing that he was ripping off King Balak.  He knew God wasn't going to let him curse Israel, he even told the king as much, but he went along with the charade anyway.  And of course we know that in the end, he came up with a much more effective plan than cursing to derail Israel.

Among other things, this story is a reminder that being a blessing to others is not exactly the same as being right with God. It's one thing to be used by God in ministry, another to have our hearts in tune with His.

*I used a version of this song in an earlier entry.  This one is a live version that includes an introduction by Rich that reiterates the point about God's willingness to use asses, the human as well as animal kind, to accomplish His will.