Immanuel Lutheran Church Study Forum

Skirmish at the Golden Calf (Ex 32:35) = 3000 dead plus a plague on an unknown number

Grumbling for meat (Num 11:32) brought the plague from the quail which killed an unknown number

The "spies" of the promised land (Num 13:32)= the 10 spies with bad reports died of plague

Israel's unsanctioned attack on Amalekites (Num 14:45) = Unspecified casualties, but Israel was routed in combat

Korah's rebellion (Num 16:27) = Korah, Dathan, Abiram and their families + 250 men with censers, then plague killed 14,700 people

Battle at Hormah (Num 21:1) = Canaanites took some Israeli POWs (and probably some casualties) but Israel wiped out several cities (nominally 10,000 people per city) ruled by king Arad

Grumbling until snakes (Num 21:4) = "many" Israelites died until the bronze serpent

Battle with Amorite King Sihon (Num 21:23) = Israel captured several fortified cities including Heshbon. No numbers given, but we can assume most, if not all citizens were killed.

Battle with Bashan King Og (Num 21:34) = No report of Israeli casualties, no Bashan survivors

Harlotry with Moab (Num 25:1) Baal worship brought plague that killed 24,000 Israelites

Vengeance on Midianites (Num 31:1) the cities of 5 kings destroyed, all but the virgin girls killed, ZERO Israelite casualties

It seems to me that you can tell when God is fighting for the Israelites. In the battle with the Midianites (Num 31:1) there are 12,000 Israelites fighting 5 cities, lets say that's about 50,000 people so maybe 20,000 fighters. The Midianites were all killed and Israelites had no casualties, zero! In a battle using edged weapons like swords, spears, and javelins involving over 30,000 total participants you would expect some casualties just due to accidents. There is a reason your mom told you not to run with scissors. To me this is a literal miracle and evidence that it was God fighting through the Israelites. Watch for the casualty rates in the battles as we continue to read and see if you can see God's hand or Israel's rebellion.