We often read these stories, but the details… the nitty-gritty… well, those are sometimes left to our imagination. But the Legends of the Jews, as compiled by Ginzberg, fills in many of those gaps, drawing on centuries of rabbinic thought. And the story of the war against Midian is a prime example.
So, picture this: Phinehas is in charge, and his army isn't just a fighting force; it's a carefully orchestrated machine, divided into three parts. One third are the actual warriors, ready to clash with the enemy. Another third? They’re guarding the baggage, making sure the army's supplies are safe. But the final third... now, this is where it gets interesting. They are praying, constantly beseeching God to grant victory to their brothers on the battlefield. Talk about a powerful support system!
Moses doesn't just hand Phinehas a sword and say, "Good luck!" He equips him with the most potent weapons imaginable. First, there's the Holy Ark, which, as we know, always accompanies Israel into battle. Then comes the Urim ve-Tummim, (אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים) those mysterious objects used for divination, allowing Phinehas to consult directly with God when needed.
But there’s more! According to the legend, Moses gives Phinehas the gold plate from the High Priest's forehead. Why? Because that wily Balaam, that sorcerer, is expected to use his magic to fly into the air – and even enable the five Midianite kings to fly with him! Moses instructs Phinehas to hold up the gold plate, which is engraved with God's name. The power of God’s name, exposed in this way, will cause Balaam and the kings to plummet to the earth. And guess what? It works! They all come crashing down.
So, what happens to Balaam after that? Well, the Israelites didn't exactly show mercy. They executed him according to Jewish law. That means… hanging, burning, decapitation, and then, to really drive the point home, dropping his lifeless body back into the fire. It's a brutal end for a man who tried to curse Israel.
Now, here's a fascinating detail. Even though God commanded them to wage this war against Midian to avenge the wrongs done to them, the Israelites still approached it with a degree of… humanity. As the story goes, they attacked the Midianite cities from only three sides, leaving one side open for escape. They didn't want to completely cut off the possibility of flight. Victory was theirs. They captured cities filled with temples, idols, and palaces. The five kings of Midian? They shared Balaam's fate, meeting their end at the hands of the Israelites. It was a communal destruction, as they had all been united in their desire to destroy Israel.
It makes you think, doesn't it? Balaam traveled all the way from Mesopotamia, expecting riches for his wicked advice. Instead, he found death at the hands of the very people he sought to harm. A stark reminder that sometimes, what we seek most fervently leads us to our own undoing. The story of Balaam’s end, as recounted in Legends of the Jews, is a powerful and cautionary tale.