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And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
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"Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."
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So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the Lord on Midian.
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A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war."
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So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
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Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the signal trumpets in his hand.
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And they warred against the Midianites, just as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed all the males.
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They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed--Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword.
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And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captive, with their little ones, and took as spoil all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods.
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They also burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their forts.
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And they took all the spoil and all the booty--of man and beast.