Numbers 31:32-42

32 fuit autem praeda quam exercitus ceperat ovium sescenta septuaginta quinque milia

33 boum septuaginta duo milia

34 asinorum sexaginta milia et mille

35 animae hominum sexus feminei quae non cognoverant viros triginta duo milia

36 dataque est media pars his qui in proelio fuerant ovium trecenta triginta septem milia quingenta

37 e quibus in partem Domini supputatae sunt oves sescentae septuaginta quinque

38 et de bubus triginta sex milibus boves septuaginta duo

39 de asinis triginta milibus quingentis asini sexaginta unus

40 de animabus hominum sedecim milibus cesserunt in partem Domini triginta duae animae

41 tradiditque Moses numerum primitiarum Domini Eleazaro sacerdoti sicut ei fuerat imperatum

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

Numbers 31:32-42 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.