In an effort to ensnare the Israelites, the Midianites
and Moabites had sent their daughters to entice the men of Israel
into worshipping Baal of Peor. The plan worked. Many Israelite men
were led away by the seductive allure of the Moabite and Midianite
women. They committed fornication with them and worshipped idols.
Their wickedness incited the wrath of the LORD, who struck Israel
with a devastating plague.
This explains why the LORD commanded Moses, "Take
full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites"
(Numbers 31:2), but it also raises another question. The Midianites
were not solely responsible for the affair of Peor. They had been
coconspirators with the Moabites. The Moabites also used their
daughters to seduce the men of Israel, as Scripture says, "The
people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab"
(Numbers 25:1). Why then did God say, "Be hostile to the
Midianites and strike them" (Numbers 25:17), and, "Take
full vengeance ... on the Midianites" (Numbers 31:2), but
regarding Moab He only said, "Do not harass Moab, nor provoke
them to war" (Deuteronomy 2:9)? The Moabites and Midianites were
responsible for the same sin, but one was singled out for punishment
while the other was not.
The Moabites had a legitimate concern and grievance
against Israel. The hosts of Israel had entered their land and were
camping on their territory. Balak, the Moabite king, was afraid that
the throngs of Israel were going to strip bare his land and conquer
his kingdom. The Midianites, however, had no legitimate interests at
stake in a fight with Israel. Their territory was not threatened, and
Israel had done nothing against them. Rashi says, "The
Midianites interfered in a quarrel that did not concern them."
The Midianites were not only guilty of the affair at
Peor, they were also guilty of triangulation. This can be compared to
a man who sees two dogs fighting in the street. He tries to stop the
fight by grabbing one of the dogs by the ears. As a result, he gets
bit by the dog. The Proverbs say, "Like one who takes a dog by
the ears is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to
him" (Proverbs 26:17).
Triangulation happens when a person gets involved in a
quarrel between other people. It happens when you pick up someone
else's grievance and carry a grudge on their behalf. By imposing
oneself in a situation that is not really your business, you
needlessly place yourself in harm's way.
According to Rashi's explanation, God forgave the
Moabites because they had a legitimate reason to fear and undermine
Israel. He did not forgive the Midianites, though, because they had
needlessly stuck their noses into someone else's business.
