Pensamento Judaico sobre Deuteronômio 2:18

(1) We have explained in chapter eighty two that the Midianites actually felt more threatened by Israel than the Moabites, since they had not been assured of physical or economic immunity, seeing that G'd had forbidden Israel to harm Moab. G'd had not imposed such strictures concerning Midian (Deut 2, 18-19) This is why the Midianites tried to cause the downfall of Israel through their committing immoral, licentious sexual unions. When this had failed, they planned other actions just as the Ammonites had done. (Samuel I 10,6) who hired mercenaries to attack Israel. Secondly, since their princess Kosbi had been killed by Pinchas, they had reason to plan revenge. G'd revealed their plan to Moses; this is why the Torah writes "they are about to oppress you, to beguile you with their wiles, just as they have beguiled you at Baal Peor."