Aliya Summary: The Israelites are commanded to exact revenge from the
Midianites for their part in seducing Jewish men to sin (described in
the end of the Torah reading of Balak, Numbers 25). A 12,000-strong army
of Israelites, led by Pinchas, waged battle against Midian. All adult
Midianite males were killed, along with Balaam and Midian's five kings.
The women, children, and battle spoils are brought back to the Israelite
encampment.
Rashi explains that the reason why revenge
is to be taken against the Midianites and not the Moavites, even though
they both attacked us, is because the Moavites attacked out of fear of
being attacked by the Jews, while the Midianites attacked unprovoked.
The same actions are treated and understood differently, and treated
differently, based purely on intent. We all judge others based on their
actions, but G-d judges us based on our intent, too.
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