Numbers 29-31

God is giving Moses final instructions to hand down to the Israelites because Moses is about to die at the Lord’s hand. Our reading opens with instructions on three festivals which are to be held in the seventh month. This is followed by instructions on how one should consider the validity of vows made to the Lord under different conditions. Finally, God instructs Moses to go to war with Midianites as retribution for the Peor incident, when the women incited the men of Israel to sleep with them in worship to their fertility god, Baal. Turns out that was led by Balaam, the same Balaam who spoke oracles from the Lord against Moab. Balaam is slaughtered along with the Midianites, and after defeating Midian, Israel begins to divide the spoils of war.