Should the Genocide of the Midianites be Kept in Torah?
By Rabbi Arthur Waskow
In Numbers 31, in Parashat Mattot, we read what I consider probably the most horrifying and disgusting chapter of Torah: the Israelites’ genocide of the Midianites.
If you can read it without puking, wash out your mouth and your brain. YHWH allegedly demands, Moshe allegedly orders, and the Israelite people allegedly carries out, the murder of every Midianite except girls too young to have had sex with a man, and they are taken as slaves.
For years, I wondered why we still read it. Burn it already, cleanse the Torah!! Then a few years ago I realized a reason to keep it. It says to us, NO people is immune from committing genocide.
Not us the Jews, not us the Americans, not whatever "us" we are. Not even the Palestinians, so much weaker than their enemies, who, under leadership from the military wing of Hamas, felt strong enough on that infamous October 7 to do the the worst atrocious attack they could against Israeli and other civilians.
If we read the Torah story with that kavanah (intent or focus) and ONLY with that kavanah, then it is valuable to read. Our disgust is the crucial midrash.
Worse yet — the ancient tribe named that target of genocide was the Midianites, Moses’ own family, whose daughter Moses married, whose priestly teacher Jethro was named his father-in-law over and over in Exodus 18. Can this tribal family really be murdered by God, Moses, and the People? What kind of echo do we hear today when the leaders of a presumably Jewish state are accused by much of the world of massacring their cousins the Palestinian women and children of Gaza? Who, having read the Torah about the Midianites, would reject the charge as nonsense?
So the Torah of the 22d Century should include the story. And if it does, and the modern state of Yisra-El, Godwrestlers, claims the name as did the ancient tribe — it warns us: Be careful. If someone accuses you of genocide, look into the situation. Do not answer, "That's absurd! How could we, victims of genocide, do such a thing? You are lying!"
Look again. The Torah says we did do such a thing. We, the victims of Pharaoh's attempt at genocide, heard the God we celebrate, the Breath of Life, tell us to murder an entire people. And the Torah says our Maximum Hero, Moses, did not protest. And we did it.
So this means, if someone accuses you of genocide, instead of dismissing the charge out of hand, investigate. Listen to the evidence. If you are even on the edge, not in the hellish stew, step back. Take steps to make sure you are not even close.
And read the Torah again with gladness that the story is there. If the ancient story were not there, the present/future action would be more likely.
P.S. – I’d be glad to have your comments, critiques, etc. You can send them to me at awaskow@theshalomcenter.org.
Copyright (c) 2025 by Rabbi Arthur Waskow
Comments are welcome. I would be glad for you to write me directly at awaskow@theshalomcenter.org.