Numbers 31 11

Numbers 31:11 kjv

And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.

Numbers 31:11 nkjv

And they took all the spoil and all the booty?of man and beast.

Numbers 31:11 niv

They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals,

Numbers 31:11 esv

and took all the spoil and all the plunder, both of man and of beast.

Numbers 31:11 nlt

After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals,

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 11 Meaning

Numbers chapter 31 verse 11 describes the initial action of the Israelite army following their successful military campaign against the Midianites: they meticulously took possession of all captured assets. This included not only inanimate valuables such as possessions and goods, referred to as "plunder," but also living beings, encompassing both human captives and livestock, designated as "capture." This thorough seizure set the stage for subsequent divine instructions regarding purification, division, and distribution, highlighting God's meticulous oversight even in the context of warfare and spoils.

Numbers 31 11 Context

Numbers chapter 31 describes a divinely commanded act of retribution against the Midianites, serving as a judgment for their role in enticing Israel into sin at Baal Peor (Num 25). This conflict, the last major military action undertaken before Israel enters Canaan, emphasizes the thoroughness of God's judgment and Israel's obedience. Verse 11, specifically, records the outcome of the initial military success: the taking of war booty. This detail is crucial as it precedes further instructions regarding the processing, purification, and distribution of these spoils among the soldiers, the congregation, the Levites, and finally, a portion dedicated to the Lord. The meticulous accounting of "all the plunder and all the capture, both man and beast" highlights the comprehensive nature of the victory and lays the groundwork for God's detailed instructions concerning what was deemed permissible to keep and what needed to be dealt with (e.g., the women and children who had previously seduced Israel, Num 31:15-18), showing the boundaries of permissible war conduct. Historically, this aligns with ancient Near Eastern practices of collecting spoils after battle, but here, it is specifically under the detailed command and guidance of Yahweh, distinct from indiscriminate pagan pillaging.

Numbers 31 11 Word analysis

• וַיִּקְחוּ (va-yiq-ḥū): "And they took/captured." This verb signifies an active, deliberate action of seizure and possession. It is a direct fulfillment of God's command to exact vengeance.
• אֶת־כָּל־ (ʾet-kāl-): "all." The particle ʾet marks the direct object, emphasizing that it was the entirety of the "spoil." "All" signifies completeness and comprehensiveness; nothing was to be overlooked or left behind.
• הַשָּׁלָל (ha-šā-lāl): "the plunder/spoil." This noun (from the root š-l-l "to strip, plunder") refers to general military booty, goods, movable property, or valuables seized from the defeated enemy. It implies things taken as material gain from war.
• וְאֵת (wĕ-ʾēt): "and." Conjunction joining the two categories of captured items.
• כָּל־ (kāl-): "all." Reiterated, it reinforces the totality of the subsequent category of capture.
• הַמַּלְקוֹחַ (ha-mal-qō-aḥ): "the capture/prey." This noun (from the root l-q-ḥ "to take, seize, receive") specifically denotes that which is taken alive, particularly persons and livestock. It distinguishes from šālāl (inanimate goods) by emphasizing the living elements of the captured spoils. The repetition of "all" with this word stresses the full scope of their victory over all things and persons of Midian.
• הָאָדָם (hā-ʾā-ḏām): "the man/human." Explicitly refers to human beings captured during the conflict. This is a critical detail that leads directly to the controversial divine instructions in later verses regarding the fate of certain groups of captives (Num 31:15-18). It underscores the harsh realities of ancient warfare and divine judgment.
• וְהַבְּהֵמָה (wĕ-hab-bĕ-hē-māh): "and the beast/livestock." Refers to all captured animals suitable for domestic use, food, or labor. Along with human captives, these represent the living "capture" which would have immediate utility and value to the Israelites.

Words-group analysis:

• "And they took all the plunder": Highlights the active, obedient, and thorough taking of material possessions, confirming the Israelites executed the divine command for retribution and resource acquisition from the defeated Midianites. This wasn't incidental taking, but a strategic and commanded action to divest the enemy completely.
• "and all the capture, the man and the beast": This phrase differentiates the two major categories of spoil: inanimate objects (plunder) and living beings (capture). The explicit mention of "man and beast" is critical. It sets the scene for the complex divine laws and procedures that follow in the chapter concerning how these specific "captures" are to be handled, purified, and distributed, acknowledging the immediate moral and ritual implications of taking life (even in war) and assimilating individuals from an enemy nation into Israel's camp. This demonstrates the detailed extent of God's providence and meticulous order even in wartime, where human life is involved.

Numbers 31 11 Bonus section

The significant distinction between šālāl (general goods) and malqōaḥ (living beings) in ancient Hebrew thought and this verse's specific use highlights the different post-capture requirements. While material goods (plunder) generally required simple counting and division, living captives (capture, specifically human captives in this context) had complex implications for ritual purity, integration (or separation, as later commands show), and their role within the conquering society. This distinction reveals God's meticulous care even amidst the brutalities of war, legislating on all aspects of His people's conduct. It underscores that taking spoil was not an arbitrary act but governed by divine law, differing markedly from common Near Eastern practices where victors often indiscriminately ravaged populations or integrated captives without specific cultic purifications. The ultimate division of these spoils into specified portions for the warriors, the congregation, and then dedicated portions for the Levites and the Lord Himself (Num 31:25-47) demonstrates a precise theological and logistical framework for the handling of acquired wealth under divine oversight.

Numbers 31 11 Commentary

Numbers 31:11 details the practical outcome of Israel's divinely empowered victory against Midian. It marks the complete success of the campaign, where the Israelites thoroughly gathered all available resources and beings from their defeated enemy. This action was not mere opportunism but an obedient execution of God's command. The meticulous capturing of both inanimate "plunder" and living "capture" (human and animal) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the Midianites' defeat and their full divestment. This total acquisition was crucial for several reasons: it served as material retribution for Midian's sins, it provided substantial wealth and resources for the congregation of Israel (reflecting God's provision), and it set the stage for the rigorous process of purification and distribution that followed, revealing God's detailed law even for spoils of war, differentiating Israelite practices from unbridled pagan warfare.