Lexical Summary Evi: Evi Original Word: אֱוִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Evi Probably from 'avah; desirous; Evi, a Midianitish chief -- Evi. see HEBREW 'avah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as avah Definition one of five chiefs of Midian NASB Translation Evi (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֱוִי proper name, masculine (desire ?) one of five chiefs of Midian Numbers 31:8; Joshua 13:21. Topical Lexicon Biblical SettingThe name אֱוִי, rendered “Evi” in English, enters the narrative during Israel’s wilderness journey near the close of Moses’ leadership and is recalled in Joshua’s territorial summary. His account is bound up with Israel’s holy war against Midian, an episode that follows the moral collapse at Peor (Numbers 25) and forms the final military action Moses oversees before his death. Occurrences 1. Numbers 31:8 records Evi as one of the five kings of Midian slain in battle: “They killed the kings of Midian—Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword”. Historical Background Midian traced its lineage to Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1–4), making the people distant relatives of Israel. Relations fluctuated between hospitality (Exodus 2–3; Judges 1:16) and hostility. By Numbers 22–25 the Midianites allied with Moab to hire Balaam, whose counsel led to Israel’s compromise with idolatry and immorality at Peor. The divine command, “Harass the Midianites and strike them” (Numbers 25:17), set the stage for the campaign in which Evi fell. Joshua later designates these same Midianite rulers as “princes of Sihon,” indicating a political confederation with Sihon the Amorite. This alliance underscores the regional opposition Israel faced and explains why judgment fell not only on Midian but also on Amorite leadership structures that accommodated Midianite influence. Theological Significance 1. Divine Justice against Idolatry: Evi’s death epitomizes the principle that leadership which seduces God’s people into sin invites direct judgment. The inclusion of Balaam in Numbers 31:8 ties the king’s fate to the prophet’s counsel, showing the inseparable link between deceptive teaching and corrupt rule. Ministry Applications • Guarding the Flock: Evi’s downfall warns contemporary leaders that tolerating or promoting spiritual compromise can have disastrous consequences for themselves and those they influence (Acts 20:28–30). Typological Considerations The collective demise of Evi and his fellow kings prefigures the ultimate overthrow of hostile powers opposing God’s kingdom. Revelation 19:19–21 presents a final judgment scene where worldly rulers stand against the Rider on the white horse and are decisively defeated. Evi’s episode foreshadows that climactic victory, encouraging believers to endure in faith. Intertextual Connections • Balaam Theme: The juxtaposition of Evi with Balaam strengthens the biblical motif that false prophecy and corrupt governance often work in tandem (2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 2:14). Summary Evi, though mentioned only twice, stands as a vivid emblem of leadership that aligned itself against God’s covenant purposes and paid the ultimate price. His account reinforces the seriousness with which Scripture treats idolatry, underscores the reliability of the historical record, and supplies enduring lessons on purity, vigilance, and divine justice for every generation of God’s people. Forms and Transliterations אֱוִ֤י אוי ’ĕ·wî ’ĕwî eViLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 31:8 HEB: חַלְלֵיהֶ֗ם אֶת־ אֱוִ֤י וְאֶת־ רֶ֙קֶם֙ NAS: with the [rest of] their slain: Evi and Rekem KJV: the rest of them that were slain; [namely], Evi, and Rekem, INT: along their slain Evi and Rekem and Zur Joshua 13:21 |
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