After the failure to inherit the land in the heart of this book of Scripture, the latter section of Numbers continues to lay the groundwork for the second attempt to conquer the land and fulfill God’s vision which He swore to the fathers. The three chapters in this reading divide the subjects well. 

The baseline statement of the first section is this: “if any man makes a vow to Yahweh… he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Everything that follows has to do with headship and representation in the application of this command. So far in the Bible we can see a structure of authority and unity that creates collective singulars: a husband is the head of his wife, a father is the head of the household, a king is the head of his kingdom, etc. The rest of the chapter illustrate the head’s right to annul a vow on behalf of his subordinate in the context of the family. 

Next, in light of God’s vow to Abraham to “… curse those who curse you”, Yahweh tells Moses to take full vengeance on the nation that recently caused Israel to play the harlot with other gods. This probably implied total extermination, which explains Moses’s anger when the warriors and their leaders returned with captives and loot. The girls can be spared because they are clean slates, and the loot from the unclean people undergoes a purification ritual to be repurposed for the benefit of the people and their God’s sanctuary.

Finally, there is a hint that the tribes of Reuben and Gad are living and operating in reference to their possessions rather than Yahweh Himself. Moses is alarmed, and makes it clear that the people’s identity and priority is taking the land sworn to the fathers, not primarily in finding rest and prosperity where they can.