Numbers 31

We modern readers are no doubt troubled by the severity of God’s judgment, when even young boys are put to death. However, God is always just and does what is right (see Exodus 15:3–5; 34:4–7 and comments). Furthermore, at the end of history a universal judgment is going to take place that will make this judgment against the Midianites seem trivial by comparison. Every individual has the choice to stand with God or stand against Him. For those too young to take a stand, we must simply trust them to God’s mercy. Among those Midianite boys there may have been many who were taken up into heaven; we simply do not know. But this one thing we do know: God will always do what is right.

19–24 After a battle, the ceremonial cleanliness of the soldiers and the plunder had to be ensured. This was accomplished by sprinkling the water of cleansing (verse 23) on all unclean persons and objects (see Numbers 19:1–22 and comment). Anyone who had touched a dead body had to stay outside the camp for seven days (verse 19). Metal objects of plunder were first to be put through the fire to purify them; then they also were sprinkled with the water of cleansing (verses 22–23). In this way, no ceremonial uncleanness would defile either God’s people or His tabernacle.

Dividing the Spoils (31:25–54)

25–47 The spoils were to be divided equally between the soldiers and the community, one half to each (verse 27). The soldiers were to give one five-hundredth of their share of the plunder to the Lord (verse 28); the community was to give one fiftieth of their share of the plunder to the Lord (verse 30)—ten times as much as the soldiers were required to give.

48–54 The soldiers and their officers took many plundered objects for themselves. The officers, in acknowledgement of God’s protection over every Israelite soldier, gave back to God all the gold articles they had taken. The total weight of gold came to 16,750 shekels—that is, about two hundred kilograms.

This offering of gold to the Lord by the officers was to make atonement for themselves (verse 50). They had taken men’s lives; they themselves may have been brutal and greedy. Thus they felt the need to be cleansed from their sinfulness. Their offering was accepted; the gold was probably melted down and fashioned into a memorial to be placed within the tabernacle (verse 54).