1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 ⁿ“Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall ^obe gathered to your people.” 3 So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian. 4 You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.” 5 So there were provided, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand ^parmed for war. 6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and ^qthe trumpets for the alarm in his hand. 7 They warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and ^rkilled every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, ^sEvi, Rekem, ^tZur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed ^uBalaam the son of Beor with the sword.