1 The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
2 "Pay the people of Midian back for what they did to the Israelites. After that, you will join the members of your family who have already died."
3 So Moses said to the people, "Prepare some of your men for battle. They must go to war against Midian. They will carry out the Lord's plan to punish Midian.
4 Send 1,000 men from each of the tribes of Israel into battle."