Numbers 31:6

“And Moses sent them to the war, etc.] Being mustered and armed: a thousand of [every] tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the war; which looks as if Phinehas was the general of this army; for Moses went not to the war, and no mention is made of Joshua, nor might it be proper for him, he being the successor of Moses, who was quickly to die; but it seems rather that there was no one person that had the command of the whole, but every captain commanded his own company; since, when Moses met them, and was angry with them for sparing the women, he does not address anyone as the chief commander, but all the officers, (<043114>Numbers 31:14), however, it was very proper and…”

“Moses sent . . . Eleazar the priest, to the war--Although it is not expressly mentioned, it is highly probable that Joshua was the general who conducted this war. The presence of the priest, who was always with the army (Deu 20:2), was necessary to preside over the Levites, who accompanied the expedition, and to inflame the courage of the combatants by his sacred services and counsels. holy instruments--As neither the ark nor the Urim and Thummim were carried to the battlefield till a later period in the history of Israel, the "holy instruments" must mean the "trumpets" (Num 10:9). And this view is agreeable to the text, by simply changing "and" into "even," as the Hebrew particle is…”

“Phinehas - He was marked out as the fitting director of the expedition by his conduct (compare Numbers 25:7-13) in the matter of Zimri and Cozbi. With the holy instruments, and the trumpets - Or rather, “with the holy instruments, to wit, the trumpets,” for the trumpets themselves seem to be the instruments intended. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Them and Phinehas - Who had the charge not of the army, as general, (an office never committed to a priest in all the Old Testament) but of the holy instruments, and was sent to encourage, and quicken, them in their enterprize. The holy instruments - The holy breast - plate, wherein was the Urim and Thummim, which was easily carried, and very useful in war upon many emergent occasions. Numbers 31:7”

“31:6 Phinehas son of Eleazar (the high priest) led this force of 12,000 into battle. His leadership helped to define this engagement as “holy war,” an act of revenge for the spiritual harm that Midian had inflicted on Israel (cp. 25:6-18; 31:15-16). His zeal in this situation (Num 25:11, 13) was equal to what he demonstrated in the case of Zimri and Cozbi (25:7-8). • Many believe that holy objects of the sanctuary meant the Ark, which the Hebrews sometimes carried into battle (e.g., 10:35-36; Josh 6:6; 1 Sam 4:3-11; cp. Num 14:44). Others suggest that they were a variety of sacred vessels associated with the Tabernacle rituals (3:31; 4:15; 18:3; cp. 1 Kgs 8:4; 1 Chr 9:29; 2 Chr 5:5). The…”

“a thousand: Twelve thousand in all - a small number in proportion to all Israel, or to the forces which they had to encounter. As they were under the conduct of captains of thousands and hundreds, they probably had no general; for Phinehas seems to have accompanied them simply to take charge of "the holy instruments;" probably the ark and silver trumpets. Phinehas: Num 25:7-13 the holy instruments: Num 14:44, Num 33:20-22; Exo 25:9; Jos 6:4-6, Jos 6:13-15; Sa1 4:4, Sa1 4:5, Sa1 4:17, Sa1 14:18; Sa1 23:9; Sa2 11:11 to blow: Num 10:8, Num 10:9; Ch2 13:12-15 Numbers 31:7”