Numbers 31:42-52

42 ex media parte filiorum Israhel quam separaverat his qui in proelio fuerant

43 de media vero parte quae contigerat reliquae multitudini id est de ovium trecentis triginta septem milibus quingentis

44 et de bubus triginta sex milibus

45 et de asinis triginta milibus quingentis

46 et de hominibus sedecim milibus

47 tulit Moses quinquagesimum caput et dedit Levitis qui excubant in tabernaculo Domini sicut praeceperat Dominus

48 cumque accessissent principes exercitus ad Mosen et tribuni centurionesque dixerunt

49 nos servi tui recensuimus numerum pugnatorum quos habuimus sub manu nostra et ne unus quidem defuit

50 ob hanc causam offerimus in donariis Domini singuli quod in praeda auri potuimus invenire periscelides et armillas anulos et dextralia ac murenulas ut depreceris pro nobis Dominum

51 susceperuntque Moses et Eleazar sacerdos omne aurum in diversis speciebus

52 pondo sedecim milia septingentos quinquaginta siclos a tribunis et centurionibus

Numbers 31:42-52 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 31

This chapter contains an order to make war upon Midian, which was accordingly done, Nu 31:1-12, but Moses was wroth, because they saved the women alive, who, through the counsel of Balaam, had been the cause of sin, and of the plague for it in Israel, and therefore orders them, and the male children, to be slain, Nu 31:13-18, and then directs to the purification of the soldiers, their captives and spoil, Nu 31:19-24, and by the command of God an account is taken of the prey, and a division of it made between the soldiers and the congregation, and out of each part a tribute is levied for the Lord, Nu 31:25-31 and the sum of the whole booty is given, Nu 31:32-35 and of the part which belonged to the soldiers, and of the tribute given to the Lord, Nu 31:36-41 and of the part which belonged to the children of Israel, Nu 31:42-47 and besides the above tribute to the Lord, the officers made a voluntary oblation out of their spoil, both by way of gratitude for sparing their lives, and to make atonement for their souls, Nu 31:48-54.