Numbers 31 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Numbers 31 meaning explained in AI Summary

War and Spoils

Swift Retribution: The Israelites, following God's command, launch a surprise attack on the Midianites in retaliation for their idolatry and the temptation to lure the Israelites astray.
Questioning the Spoils: Moses expresses anger at Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest, for sparing the Midianite women and children. This raises questions about the completeness of the victory and the potential consequences of leaving survivors.
God's Strict Instructions: The Lord clarifies the appropriate response to the Midianites. Only virgins may be kept as captives, while the rest are to be killed. This highlights the severity of the offense and the consequences of disobedience.

This chapter details a brutal war against the Midianites and the aftermath.

1. Vengeance Against Midian:

God commands Moses to take revenge on the Midianites for their role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality (referencing the events of Numbers 25).
Moses instructs 1,000 men from each Israelite tribe to wage war against Midian.

2. The Slaughter and Spoils of War:

The Israelites, led by Phinehas, utterly defeat the Midianites, killing all the men, including their five kings and Balaam (the prophet who advised Balak against Israel).
They take the Midianite women, children, flocks, and possessions as plunder.

3. Moses' Anger and Purification Ritual:

Moses is angered that the soldiers spared the women and children, reminding them that these women were instrumental in leading the Israelites astray.
He orders the execution of all Midianite males and any woman who has slept with a man. Only virgin girls are spared.
A purification ritual is prescribed for the soldiers and their spoils of war, involving fire and water.

4. Dividing the Spoils:

The vast spoils of war, including livestock and people, are divided equally between the warriors and the rest of the Israelite community.
A tribute is given to the Lord from both portions.

Key Themes:

Divine Justice and Wrath: The chapter portrays God as commanding and approving of the utter destruction of the Midianites as punishment for their sin.
Obedience and Consequences: The soldiers' initial disobedience in sparing the women is met with Moses' anger and further bloodshed.
Holiness and Purity: The purification rituals highlight the importance of maintaining ritual purity in the face of war and potential contamination.

Important Notes:

This chapter is one of the most difficult in the Bible for many readers due to its graphic violence and seemingly vengeful nature.
It raises complex questions about God's character, the justification of violence, and the treatment of women and children in war.
Understanding the historical context and ancient Near Eastern warfare practices is crucial when interpreting this chapter.

It's important to approach this chapter with sensitivity and engage in thoughtful reflection on its challenging themes.

Numbers 31 bible study ai commentary

Numbers 31 describes God's command for Israel to enact holy war against the Midianites as divine judgment for their role in leading Israel into idolatry and immorality at Baal-Peor. The chapter details the military campaign, led by Phinehas, the resulting victory, the controversial but divinely-mandated handling of captives and spoils, and the system of purification and distribution of plunder. It culminates in a miraculous report of zero Israelite casualties and a voluntary offering of gratitude to God, concluding the narrative arc that began with the apostasy at Peor and showcasing God's justice, holiness, and preservation of His people.

Numbers 31 Context

This chapter is a direct consequence of the events in Numbers 25, where Midianite women, at the counsel of Balaam, seduced Israelite men into idolatry with Baal of Peor, resulting in a devastating plague. The war described is not a war of conquest for territory, but a herem war—a war of divine judgment and justice. In the Ancient Near East, wars were common, but Israel's concept of holy war was unique; it was initiated by God's direct command for a specific theological purpose: to purge evil that threatened the covenant holiness and existence of His people. The chapter serves as Moses's final military act, underscoring the severity of leading God's people astray.

Numbers 31:1-2

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”

In-depth-analysis

Avenge: The Hebrew neqamah refers to divine justice or vindication, not personal, emotional revenge. God is executing a just sentence against Midian for a capital offense against His covenant people.
On the Midianites: This specifies the target. While Moabites were also involved (Num 25:1), the Midianite leadership seems to have been the primary instigator.
Afterward you shall be gathered to your people: This command is directly linked to the end of Moses’s life (Num 27:12-13). Executing God's justice on Midian is one of his final, culminating tasks.

Bible references

Numbers 25:17-18: "Harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they harassed you with their wiles..." (The direct command that this chapter fulfills).
Deuteronomy 32:35: "Vengeance is mine, and recompense..." (Establishes vengeance as a divine prerogative).
Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (NT clarifies believers should not seek personal revenge, confirming it belongs to God).

Cross references

Gen 25:2 (Midian's origin); Num 25:1-9 (the sin being avenged); Deut 3:23-26 (Moses barred from Canaan); Heb 11:24-27 (Moses's faith).

Numbers 31:3-6

So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord's vengeance on Midian... And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.”

In-depth-analysis

A thousand from each tribe: The number 12,000 symbolizes the unity and full participation of all Israel in this divinely mandated act.
The Lord's vengeance: Moses clarifies this is not his or Israel's personal war, but Yahweh's.
Phinehas: His presence is significant. It was Phinehas whose zeal stopped the plague in Numbers 25 by executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman. He represents God's uncompromising holiness and connects this battle directly back to the original sin.
Vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets: This was not a typical military campaign; it was a religious mission, a holy war. The articles underscore God's presence and authority leading the battle. The trumpets were used to sound the alarm and signal God's power (Num 10:9).

Bible references

Numbers 25:7-8, 11: "When Phinehas... saw it, he rose... and he pierced both of them... because he was zealous for my sake..." (Phinehas's background).
Numbers 10:9: "And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets..." (The function of the trumpets).
Joshua 6:4: "Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark." (Similar use of religious articles and priests in the battle of Jericho).

Cross references

Exod 17:11 (holding up holy items); Deut 20:2-4 (priest's role in battle); 2 Chr 13:12 (God leads with trumpets).

Numbers 31:7-8

They warred against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and they killed every male. They killed the kings of Midian... five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.

In-depth-analysis

Killed every male: This aligns with the "herem" (holy war) commands against those who pose a direct threat of idolatrous corruption (Deut 20:16-18).
Five kings of Midian: Naming them adds historical weight and shows the complete dismantling of Midian's leadership structure.
Killed Balaam: This is the narrative climax for Balaam. Though he could only bless Israel with his mouth (Num 22-24), his heart was corrupt. He is executed as the treacherous advisor who masterminded the seduction plot at Peor. This act holds him directly accountable.

Bible references

Revelation 2:14: "...you have some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality." (NT explicitly states Balaam was the mastermind).
Joshua 13:22: "Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel..." (A second historical record of his death).
2 Peter 2:15: "They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam... who loved the wages of wrongdoing." (Condemns Balaam as a prototype of a false teacher motivated by greed).

Cross references

Jude 1:11 (error of Balaam); Num 22:7 (divination wages); 1 Sam 15:3 (command against Amalek).

Numbers 31:9-18

And the people of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones... But Moses was angry with the officers of the army... And Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive? Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor... Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.”

In-depth-analysis

Moses was angry: His anger was righteous. The soldiers followed standard ancient warfare practice but failed to grasp the theological reason for this specific war. They were bringing the very source of the spiritual plague back into the camp of Israel.
These... caused the people... to act treacherously: Moses explicitly identifies the women as the agents of the disaster at Peor. To spare them would be to ignore the root of the problem and invite it again.
Kill every male... and non-virgin woman: This is the most difficult part of the text. The command is a radical surgical removal of the cancerous Midianite ideology. Non-virgin women were considered active participants in the Baal-Peor cult. Male children represented the future warriors and carriers of this corrupt lineage.
Keep alive for yourselves: The preservation of virgin girls, who had not participated in the idolatrous rites, was a limited act of mercy. They could be assimilated into Israelite households, likely as servants or future wives (see Deut 21:10-14), and taught the ways of Yahweh, thus severing their connection to their corrupt culture.

Bible references

Numbers 25:1-3: "While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods..." (The event that necessitated this judgment).
Deuteronomy 20:14: "But the women and the little ones... and all that is in the city... you shall take as spoil for yourselves." (This was the rule for distant cities, which the soldiers likely followed, but God's specific command for Midian overrode the general rule due to their unique treachery).
1 Corinthians 5:6: "Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" (Illustrates the principle of removing corrupting influences from the community).

Cross references

Deut 7:2-4 (warning against intermarriage); Josh 7:1 (Achan's sin of compromise); Joel 3:2-3 (judgment for scattering people); Col 3:5 (put sin to death).

Polemics

Many scholars see this not as ethnic cleansing, but as "ideological cleansing." God's judgment is against a depraved and predatory religious system that threatened to spiritually annihilate Israel. The act is described as surgically precise, targeting only those deemed carriers of the "plague" (active women and male heirs) while sparing those who could be assimilated away from that culture (virgin girls). This contrasts with modern genocide, which is racially motivated and indiscriminate. It was a singular, historical judgment, not a standing order for all future conflicts.

Numbers 31:19-24

“Encamp outside the camp seven days. Whoever of you has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day... You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. And afterward you may come into the camp... And the Lord said to Moses... everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean... And whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass through the water.”

In-depth-analysis

Encamp outside the camp seven days: Contact with death, even in a righteous war, rendered a person ritually unclean. This physical separation protected the sanctity and ritual purity of the Tabernacle and the main camp.
Purify yourselves and your captives: Both the soldiers and the preserved captives had to undergo purification rites. This highlights that ritual defilement was a matter of contact with death, not moral guilt.
Fire and Water: The methods of purifying the spoils were logical. Metal goods (non-combustible) were purified by fire, a symbol of intense divine holiness. Other items (cloth, wood) were purified by the "water of impurity" (likely related to the rites of Numbers 19).
Polemic: The meticulous focus on ritual purity following a battle is uniquely Israelite. It frames war not as a source of glory or wealth, but as a grave and defiling activity that requires spiritual cleansing before one can re-enter the presence of God and His holy community.

Bible references

Numbers 19:11-12: "Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days... on the third day and on the seventh day he shall be clean..." (The foundational law for purification from contact with death).
Leviticus 11:32: "...Whatever... on which it falls, must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening; then it shall be clean." (The general principle of water purification).
Haggai 2:13: "If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean? The priests answered and said, 'It does become unclean.'" (Reinforces how seriously defilement from death was taken).

Cross references

Lev 15:13 (cleansing); 1 Cor 6:11 (washed, sanctified, justified); Heb 9:13-14 (ceremonial vs. spiritual cleansing).

Numbers 31:25-47

The Lord said to Moses... “Take the sum of the plunder that was taken... and divide the plunder into two parts, between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.”... The plunder... was 675,000 sheep... seventy-two thousand cattle... sixty-one thousand donkeys, and thirty-two thousand persons in all, women who had not known man... From the half of the people of Israel... you shall take one drawn out of every fifty... and give them to the Levites.

In-depth-analysis

Divide the plunder into two parts: The system is remarkably equitable. Half goes to the soldiers who risked their lives, and the other half goes to the civilian congregation who supported the effort from home. This recognizes that the entire nation is one body.
The Lord's tribute (mekes): From each half, a portion is set aside for God, given to His ministers.
Soldiers' Tribute (1/500): From their half, one of every 500 items/persons went to the priests. This is a small fraction, acknowledging their military role but emphasizing God's provision through them.
Congregation's Tribute (1/50): From their half, a much larger portion, one of every 50, went to the Levites. The Levites, who had no land inheritance, were supported by the tithes and offerings of the whole nation. This distribution reflects that greater responsibility of the community to support them.

Bible references

Genesis 14:20: "And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." (Abraham sets a precedent of giving a portion of the spoils of war to a priest of God).
Numbers 18:21, 26: "To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance... it is a contribution to the Lord." (Establishes the system of Levite support that this chapter echoes).
1 Corinthians 9:13-14: "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple...? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." (Paul uses the OT principle of supporting priests/Levites to argue for supporting gospel ministers).

Cross references

Deut 18:1-2 (Levites have no inheritance); Josh 22:8 (dividing spoil); 1 Sam 30:24 (David's law of equitable spoil division).

Numbers 31:48-54

Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army... came near to Moses and said... “Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and not one of us is missing. And we have brought the Lord's offering... gold articles... to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”

In-depth-analysis

Not one of us is missing: This is the climactic miracle of the chapter. In a fierce battle where all enemy males were killed, the Israelite army suffered zero casualties. This was an undeniable sign of God's sovereign protection and that this was truly His battle.
The Lord's offering (qorban): This was a completely voluntary, freewill offering given out of profound gratitude for their miraculous preservation. It was not a required tax or tribute.
To make atonement (lekapper): In this context, "atonement" is not for sin or wrongdoing. The Hebrew word also means "to cover" or "to ransom." The offering served as a memorial of thanksgiving that "covered" them, acknowledging that God ransomed their lives in battle. It’s an act of worship and dedication, not appeasement for failure. Contrast this with Achan (Josh 7) or Saul (1 Sam 15), who mishandled holy war and faced judgment.

Bible references

Psalm 44:6-7: "For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes..." (The theological principle behind Israel's miraculous victory).
Exodus 30:12, 16: "...each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord... that it may be a memorial for the people of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for your lives." (Similar concept of an offering as a memorial ransom).
1 Samuel 15:15, 22: "Saul said, 'They have brought them from the Amalekites...' And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings... as in obeying the voice of the Lord?'" (Contrasts the commanders' righteous offering with Saul's disobedient excuse).

Cross references

Psalm 91:7 (protection in danger); Mal 3:10 (blessing for obedience); 2 Cor 9:7 (cheerful giving).

Numbers chapter 31 analysis

Conclusion of the Balaam/Peor Arc: This chapter provides the definitive and violent end to the crisis that began in Numbers 22 and climaxed in Numbers 25. It shows that even a prophet who speaks God's words can be judged for his wicked counsel and motivations. Balaam's death here connects the entire narrative arc, revealing that his advice was the direct cause of the war.
Holy War as Divine Judgment: Numbers 31 is a primary example of herem war. It wasn't a land grab or ethnically motivated. It was a targeted act of divine retribution against a specific cultural-religious group for a specific sin: the spiritual seduction of Israel. Its purpose was to eliminate the "spiritual cancer" that threatened Israel's covenant with God. This type of war was historically and theologically limited to specific commands from God and is not a prescription for all time.
Spiritual Warfare Typology: For New Covenant believers, this physical battle serves as a powerful type, or picture, of spiritual warfare. The command for the utter destruction of the enemy is paralleled in the New Testament's call to "put to death" the deeds of the flesh and mortify sin (Rom 8:13, Col 3:5). Compromise with sin (as the soldiers initially did by sparing the women) brings spiritual defilement and danger into the "camp" of a believer's life or the church.
The Miracle of Perfect Preservation: The report of zero casualties is the theological centerpiece that reframes the entire chapter. It demonstrates that when Israel acts in precise obedience to God's command, He provides absolute victory and supernatural protection. The subsequent voluntary offering is the proper response to such grace, demonstrating gratitude, not an attempt to earn favor.

Numbers 31 summary

God commands Moses to execute His "vengeance"—or holy justice—upon Midian for their role in the apostasy at Peor. A united army of 12,000, accompanied by Phinehas the priest, defeats Midian, killing every male, the five Midianite kings, and the prophet Balaam, the architect of the seduction. After Moses rebukes the army for sparing the women who caused the plague, he commands the execution of all but the virgin girls. The chapter concludes with detailed laws for purifying the soldiers and spoils, an equitable division of the plunder, and a freewill offering from the army commanders in gratitude for the miraculous fact that not a single Israelite soldier was lost in the battle.

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Numbers chapter 31 kjv

¹ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
² Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.
³ And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.
⁴ Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.
⁵ So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
⁶ And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.
⁷ And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.
⁸ And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
⁹ And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.
¹⁰ And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.
¹¹ And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.
¹² And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.
¹³ And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.
¹⁴ And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.
¹⁵ And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
¹⁶ Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
¹⁷ Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
¹⁸ But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
¹⁹ And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.
²⁰ And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood.
²¹ And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;
²² Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
²³ Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.
²⁴ And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.
²⁵ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
²⁶ Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:
²⁷ And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:
²⁸ And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
²⁹ Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD.
³⁰ And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.
³¹ And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
³² And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,
³³ And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,
³⁴ And threescore and one thousand asses,
³⁵ And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.
³⁶ And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:
³⁷ And the LORD's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.
³⁸ And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and twelve.
³⁹ And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and one.
⁴⁰ And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was thirty and two persons.
⁴¹ And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD's heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴² And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,
⁴³ (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,
⁴⁴ And thirty and six thousand beeves,
⁴⁵ And thirty thousand asses and five hundred,
⁴⁶ And sixteen thousand persons;)
⁴⁷ Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴⁸ And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:
⁴⁹ And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.
⁵⁰ We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.
⁵¹ And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.
⁵² And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.
⁵³ (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)
⁵⁴ And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Numbers chapter 31 nkjv

¹ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
² "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."
³ So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves for war, and let them go against the Midianites to take vengeance for the LORD on Midian.
⁴ A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war."
⁵ So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
⁶ Then Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from each tribe; he sent them to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the holy articles and the signal trumpets in his hand.
⁷ And they warred against the Midianites, just as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed all the males.
⁸ They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of those who were killed? Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. Balaam the son of Beor they also killed with the sword.
⁹ And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captive, with their little ones, and took as spoil all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods.
¹⁰ They also burned with fire all the cities where they dwelt, and all their forts.
¹¹ And they took all the spoil and all the booty?of man and beast.
¹² Then they brought the captives, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.
¹³ And Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation, went to meet them outside the camp.
¹⁴ But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, with the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, who had come from the battle.
¹⁵ And Moses said to them: "Have you kept all the women alive?
¹⁶ Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
¹⁷ Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man intimately.
¹⁸ But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have not known a man intimately.
¹⁹ And as for you, remain outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day.
²⁰ Purify every garment, everything made of leather, everything woven of goats' hair, and everything made of wood."
²¹ Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to the battle, "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses:
²² Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
²³ everything that can endure fire, you shall put through the fire, and it shall be clean; and it shall be purified with the water of purification. But all that cannot endure fire you shall put through water.
²⁴ And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp."
²⁵ Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
²⁶ "Count up the plunder that was taken?of man and beast?you and Eleazar the priest and the chief fathers of the congregation;
²⁷ and divide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.
²⁸ And levy a tribute for the LORD on the men of war who went out to battle: one of every five hundred of the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep;
²⁹ take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest as a heave offering to the LORD.
³⁰ And from the children of Israel's half you shall take one of every fifty, drawn from the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep, from all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD."
³¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
³² The booty remaining from the plunder, which the men of war had taken, was six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep,
³³ seventy-two thousand cattle,
³⁴ sixty-one thousand donkeys,
³⁵ and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of women who had not known a man intimately.
³⁶ And the half, the portion for those who had gone out to war, was in number three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep;
³⁷ and the LORD's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and seventy-five.
³⁸ The cattle 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 So Moses gave the tribute which was the LORD's heave offering to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴² And from the children of Israel's half, which Moses separated from the men who fought?
⁴³ now the half belonging to the congregation was three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,
⁴⁴ thirty-six thousand cattle,
⁴⁵ thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,
⁴⁶ and sixteen thousand persons?
⁴⁷ and from the children of Israel's half Moses took one of every fifty, drawn from man and beast, and gave them to the Levites, who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴⁸ Then the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;
⁴⁹ and they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.
⁵⁰ Therefore we have brought an offering for the LORD, what every man found of ornaments of gold: armlets and bracelets and signet rings and earrings and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
⁵¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all the fashioned ornaments.
⁵² And all the gold of the offering that they offered to the LORD, from the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.
⁵³ (The men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)
⁵⁴ And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of meeting as a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Numbers chapter 31 niv

¹ The LORD said to Moses,
² "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people."
³ So Moses said to the people, "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the LORD's vengeance on them.
⁴ Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel."
⁵ So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel.
⁶ Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
⁷ They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man.
⁸ Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba?the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
⁹ The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder.
¹⁰ They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.
¹¹ They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals,
¹² and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
¹³ Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp.
¹⁴ Moses was angry with the officers of the army?the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?who returned from the battle.
¹⁵ "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them.
¹⁶ "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.
¹⁷ Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,
¹⁸ but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.
¹⁹ "Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives.
²⁰ Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood."
²¹ Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, "This is what is required by the law that the LORD gave Moses:
²² Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead
²³ and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water.
²⁴ On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp."
²⁵ The LORD said to Moses,
²⁶ "You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured.
²⁷ Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community.
²⁸ From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the LORD one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep.
²⁹ Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the LORD's part.
³⁰ From the Israelites' half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the LORD's tabernacle."
³¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
³² The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep,
³³ 72,000 cattle,
³⁴ 61,000 donkeys
³⁵ and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.
³⁶ The half share of those who fought in the battle was: 337,500 sheep,
³⁷ of which the tribute for the LORD was 675;
³⁸ 36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the LORD was 72;
³⁹ 30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the LORD was 61;
⁴⁰ 16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the LORD was 32.
⁴¹ Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the LORD's part, as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴² The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men?
⁴³ the community's half?was 337,500 sheep,
⁴⁴ 36,000 cattle,
⁴⁵ 30,500 donkeys
⁴⁶ and 16,000 people.
⁴⁷ From the Israelites' half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and animals, as the LORD commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the LORD's tabernacle.
⁴⁸ Then the officers who were over the units of the army?the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?went to Moses
⁴⁹ and said to him, "Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing.
⁵⁰ So we have brought as an offering to the LORD the gold articles each of us acquired?armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces?to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
⁵¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold?all the crafted articles.
⁵² All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.
⁵³ Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.
⁵⁴ Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.

Numbers chapter 31 esv

¹ The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
² "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people."
³ So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian.
⁴ You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war."
⁵ So there were provided, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
⁶ And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.
⁷ They warred against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every male.
⁸ They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. And they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
⁹ And the people of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones, and they took as plunder all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods.
¹⁰ All their cities in the places where they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire,
¹¹ and took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and of beast.
¹² Then they brought the captives and the plunder and the spoil to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the people of Israel, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
¹³ Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp.
¹⁴ And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.
¹⁵ Moses said to them, "Have you let all the women live?
¹⁶ Behold, these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.
¹⁷ Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.
¹⁸ But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.
¹⁹ Encamp outside the camp seven days. Whoever of you has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves and your captives on the third day and on the seventh day.
²⁰ You shall purify every garment, every article of skin, all work of goats' hair, and every article of wood."
²¹ Then Eleazar the priest said to the men in the army who had gone to battle: "This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded Moses:
²² only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
²³ everything that can stand the fire, you shall pass through the fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water for impurity. And whatever cannot stand the fire, you shall pass through the water.
²⁴ You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. And afterward you may come into the camp."
²⁵ The LORD said to Moses,
²⁶ "Take the count of the plunder that was taken, both of man and of beast, you and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the fathers' houses of the congregation,
²⁷ and divide the plunder into two parts between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.
²⁸ And levy for the LORD a tribute from the men of war who went out to battle, one out of five hundred, of the people and of the oxen and of the donkeys and of the flocks.
²⁹ Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as a contribution to the LORD.
³⁰ And from the people of Israel's half you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the people, of the oxen, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the cattle, and give them to the Levites who keep guard over the tabernacle of the LORD."
³¹ And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
³² Now the plunder remaining of the spoil that the army took was 675,000 sheep,
³³ 72,000 cattle,
³⁴ 61,000 donkeys,
³⁵ and 32,000 persons in all, women who had not known man by lying with him.
³⁶ And the half, the portion of those who had gone out in the army, numbered 337,500 sheep,
³⁷ and the LORD's tribute of sheep was 675.
³⁸ The cattle were 36,000, of which the LORD's tribute was 72.
³⁹ The donkeys were 30,500, of which the LORD's tribute was 61.
⁴⁰ The persons were 16,000, of which the LORD's tribute was 32 persons.
⁴¹ And Moses gave the tribute, which was the contribution for the LORD, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴² From the people of Israel's half, which Moses separated from that of the men who had served in the army ?
⁴³ now the congregation's half was 337,500 sheep,
⁴⁴ 36,000 cattle,
⁴⁵ and 30,500 donkeys,
⁴⁶ and 16,000 persons ?
⁴⁷ from the people of Israel's half Moses took one of every 50, both of persons and of beasts, and gave them to the Levites who kept guard over the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.
⁴⁸ Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses
⁴⁹ and said to Moses, "Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us.
⁵⁰ And we have brought the LORD's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."
⁵¹ And Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold, all crafted articles.
⁵² And all the gold of the contribution that they presented to the LORD, from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels.
⁵³ (The men in the army had each taken plunder for himself.)
⁵⁴ And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, as a memorial for the people of Israel before the LORD.

Numbers chapter 31 nlt

¹ Then the LORD said to Moses,
² "On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry. After that, you will die and join your ancestors."
³ So Moses said to the people, "Choose some men, and arm them to fight the LORD's war of revenge against Midian.
⁴ From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle."
⁵ So they chose 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel, a total of 12,000 men armed for battle.
⁶ Then Moses sent them out, 1,000 men from each tribe, and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest led them into battle. They carried along the holy objects of the sanctuary and the trumpets for sounding the charge.
⁷ They attacked Midian as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed all the men.
⁸ All five of the Midianite kings ? Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba ? died in the battle. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.
⁹ Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite women and children and seized their cattle and flocks and all their wealth as plunder.
¹⁰ They burned all the towns and villages where the Midianites had lived.
¹¹ After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals,
¹² they brought them all to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the whole community of Israel, which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
¹³ Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp.
¹⁴ But Moses was furious with all the generals and captains who had returned from the battle.
¹⁵ "Why have you let all the women live?" he demanded.
¹⁶ "These are the very ones who followed Balaam's advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD's people.
¹⁷ So kill all the boys and all the women who have had intercourse with a man.
¹⁸ Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves.
¹⁹ And all of you who have killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days. You must purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days.
²⁰ Purify all your clothing, too, and everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood."
²¹ Then Eleazar the priest said to the men who were in the battle, "The LORD has given Moses this legal requirement:
²² Anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead ?
²³ that is, all metals that do not burn ? must be passed through fire in order to be made ceremonially pure. These metal objects must then be further purified with the water of purification. But everything that burns must be purified by the water alone.
²⁴ On the seventh day you must wash your clothes and be purified. Then you may return to the camp."
²⁵ And the LORD said to Moses,
²⁶ "You and Eleazar the priest and the family leaders of each tribe are to make a list of all the plunder taken in the battle, including the people and animals.
²⁷ Then divide the plunder into two parts, and give half to the men who fought the battle and half to the rest of the people.
²⁸ From the army's portion, first give the LORD his share of the plunder ? one of every 500 of the prisoners and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.
²⁹ Give this share of the army's half to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD.
³⁰ From the half that belongs to the people of Israel, take one of every fifty of the prisoners and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, and other animals. Give this share to the Levites, who are in charge of maintaining the LORD's Tabernacle."
³¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
³² The plunder remaining from everything the fighting men had taken totaled 675,000 sheep and goats,
³³ 72,000 cattle,
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,
⁴⁵ 30,500 donkeys,
⁴⁶ and 16,000 virgin girls.
⁴⁷ From the half-share given to the people, Moses took one of every fifty prisoners and animals and gave them to the Levites, who maintained the LORD's Tabernacle. All this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.
⁴⁸ Then all the generals and captains came to Moses
⁴⁹ and said, "We, your servants, have accounted for all the men who went out to battle under our command; not one of us is missing!
⁵⁰ So we are presenting the items of gold we captured as an offering to the LORD from our share of the plunder ? armbands, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. This will purify our lives before the LORD and make us right with him. "
⁵¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from all the military commanders ? all kinds of jewelry and crafted objects.
⁵² In all, the gold that the generals and captains presented as a gift to the LORD weighed about 420 pounds.
⁵³ All the fighting men had taken some of the plunder for themselves.
⁵⁴ So Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gifts from the generals and captains and brought the gold to the Tabernacle as a reminder to the LORD that the people of Israel belong to him.