John Gill Commentary Numbers 31:1

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," — Numbers 31:1 (ASV)

And the Lord spoke unto Moses
After the plague upon Israel for their fornication and idolatry, into which they were drawn by the daughters of Moab and Midian, and after the sum of the people was taken in the plains of Moab, and various laws given or repeated, and a little before the death of Moses:

saying ;
as follows.