Why Moses Calls It the Vengeance of the Lord on Midian

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 3:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "the vengeance of the children of Israel" (Numbers 31:2). But Moses said, "the vengeance of the Lord" (Numbers 31:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: It is your claim that is being demanded, for they caused Me to harm you. Moses said: Master of the worlds, if we had been uncircumcised, or worshippers of stars, or deniers of the commandments, they would not have pursued us; rather, it was on account of the Torah and the commandments that You gave us. Therefore the vengeance is Yours. Thus it is, "to render the vengeance of the Lord" (Numbers 31:3).

Themes

MosesAdam EveCommandmentsSinWar

Biblical References

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