² “Take vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people [in death].” ³ Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, so that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian [for seducing Israel to participate in idolatry].^{(A) 4} A thousand [fighting men] from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.”