If they killed all the males of Midyan and took all the females captive, it means that Midyan was exterminated and ceased to be a nstion. Then why are they mentioned numerous times throughout Tanach?
Perhaps those occasions are referring to other nations who came to live in Midyan.
According to the opinions that Yisrael left one side open for those who wished to flee, 1 perhaps some Midyonites did flee, and "Vahargu Kol Zachar" refers to those who fought against them.
Seeing as Tzur (alias Balak) was the chief of the five kings of Midyan, why is he mentioned only third?
Rashi: Refer to 25:15:3:1.
Why does the Torah insert the (otherwise superfluous) words "Chameishes Malchei Midyan"?
Rashi: To teach us that just as all five kings plotted together, so too, were they all punished together.
Bil'am lived in Aram Naharaim (Charan). What was he doing in Midyan?
Rashi: He went there in order to claim his reward for the twenty-four thousand of Yisrael who fell at Ba'al Pe'or, 1 which he received - though not from Mo'av, but from Yisrael, who paid him in full. 2
Even though it was not Midyan who called him to curse Yisrael, but Mo'av, Balak, the man who actaually called him, had meanwhile been removed from the throne of Mo'av and had returned to Midyan (as Rashi just eplained) and it was him to whom Bil'am applied for his remunerarion,
Sanhedrin, 106a: ?The camel went to ask for horns ? that he didn?t have; they cut off the ears - that he did have. See also Ba'al ha'Turim.
What is the significance of the fact that they killed Bil'am 'by the sword'?
Rashi: When Bil'am came against Yisrael, he switched his weaponry for their weaponry (the mouth) 1 , by intending to curse them. So Yisrael paid him back by switching their weaponry and killing him with his weaponry 2 ? the sword. 3
Targum Yonasan: When Bil'am saw Pinchas ha'Kohen chasing him, he applied sorcery and flew away. But Pinchas said the Great Name of Hashem and flew after him. Holding him by his hair, he made to draw his sword to kill him, when Bil'am began pleading for his life, promising never to curse Yisrael again. After reminding him that already as Lavan ha'Arami, he tried to kill Ya'akov, and recalling his various other recent attempts to destroy Yisrael, he drew his sword from its scabbard and slew him. 4
Rosh: This is the known sword which Lavan (alias Bil'am) had set-up. Refer to 22:24:1:2 and notes.
Rashi: Since they earn salvation via Tefilah.
Rashi: As Yitzchak said to Eisav "ve'Al Charb'cha Sichyeh" (Toldos Bereishis, 27:40. It is the weapon of all other nations (refer to 22:23:2:1, citing Bamidbar Rabah 20:13).
Which explains why, when he fell from the sky after Pinchas pointed the Tzitz at him, Hashem prevented him from dying. See Oznayim la'Torah.
1. The Gemara states in Sanhedrin (106b) that Bil'am lived only thirty-three years. If so, he could not have counseled Par'oh (as the Gemara states in Sotah 11a), snce he was born after Yetzi'as Mitzrayim?
Rashi (in Sanhedrin 106b): We must say that they are conflicting Midrashim. Refer also to 24:21:151:2 and notes.
