Numbers 31:35-45

35 and thirty-two thousand persons in all, women who had not known a man by sleeping with him.

36 The half-share, the portion of those who had gone out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep and goats,

37 and the Lord's tribute of sheep and goats was six hundred seventy-five.

38 The oxen were thirty-six thousand, of which the Lord's tribute was seventy-two.

39 The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the Lord's tribute was sixty-one.

40 The persons were sixteen thousand, of which the Lord's tribute was thirty-two persons.

41 Moses gave the tribute, the offering for the Lord, to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

42 As for the Israelites' half, which Moses separated from that of the troops,

43 the congregation's half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep and goats,

44 thirty-six thousand oxen,

45 thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,

Numbers 31:35-45 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.