Numbers 31:1-6

1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

2“Take vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people [in death].”

3Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, so that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian [for seducing Israel to participate in idolatry].

4A thousand [fighting men] from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.”

5So out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe were selected, twelve thousand armed for war.

6Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to war with them, and the sacred vessels [of the sanctuary] and the trumpets to blow the alarm in his hand.