Numbers 31:27

27 Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to war and the entire community.

Numbers 31:27 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 31:27

And divide the prey into two parts
Into two equal parts, both the number of the people and of the cattle, when taken:

between them that took the war upon them, and went out to battle;
the soldiers; and by this it appears that they went voluntarily and cheerfully:

and between all the congregation;
so that the part of them that went to battle, and of those that stayed in the camp, were alike, and which in process of time became a statute and ordinance, ( 1 Samuel 30:24 1 Samuel 30:25 ) ( Psalms 68:12 ) .

Numbers 31:27 In-Context

25 The Lord told Moses,

26 "You, Eleazar the priest, and the family leaders of the community are to take a count of what was captured, human and animal.

27 Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to war and the entire community.

28 Set aside a tribute for the Lord from what belongs to the fighting men who went out to war: one out of [every] 500 humans, cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.

29 Take [the tribute] from their half and give [it] to Eleazar the priest as a contribution to the Lord.