Numbers 31:34-44

34 61,000 donkeys,

35 and 32,000 virgin girls.

36 Half of the plunder was given to the fighting men. It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats,

37 of which 675 were the LORD ’s share;

38 36,000 cattle, of which 72 were the LORD ’s share;

39 30,500 donkeys, of which 61 were the LORD ’s share;

40 and 16,000 virgin girls, of whom 32 were the LORD ’s share.

41 Moses gave all the LORD ’s share to Eleazar the priest, just as the LORD had directed him.

42 Half of the plunder belonged to the people of Israel, and Moses separated it from the half belonging to the fighting men.

43 It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats,

44 36,000 cattle,

Numbers 31:34-44 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.