Numbers 31 26

Numbers 31:26 kjv

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:

Numbers 31:26 nkjv

"Count up the plunder that was taken?of man and beast?you and Eleazar the priest and the chief fathers of the congregation;

Numbers 31:26 niv

"You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured.

Numbers 31:26 esv

"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,

Numbers 31:26 nlt

"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.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 26 Meaning

This verse contains a direct command from God to Moses regarding the management of the spoils of war taken from the Midianites. It instructs Moses to conduct a meticulous accounting, or census, of all captured items, encompassing both people (specifically female captives not identified for execution earlier, and male children who were killed) and animals (livestock). This comprehensive inventory was to be conducted jointly by Moses himself, Eleazar the High Priest, and the leading representatives of each of the Israelite tribes. This process was critical before the captured wealth could be divided, ensuring transparency, accountability, and adherence to divine instruction in the allocation of war spoils.

Numbers 31 26 Context

Numbers 31 describes Israel's war of vengeance against the Midianites, commanded by the Lord due to Midian's role in tempting Israel to idolatry and immorality at Peor (Num 25). The Israelites, led by Phinehas, utterly defeated Midian. Moses initially reacted in anger at the officers for sparing all the women and children (Num 31:13-18), ordering the killing of all adult women and male children. Verse 26 then follows this purging, marking a pivot to the meticulous handling of the vast spoils of war, which included gold, silver, bronze, iron, clothing, and a tremendous number of sheep, cattle, donkeys, and human females. This comprehensive accounting precedes the detailed purification rituals and specific divine instructions for distributing the spoil between the warriors, the congregation, and ultimately setting aside shares for the Levites and the Lord Himself. Historically, this occurs as Israel prepares to enter Canaan, highlighting divine justice and ordered communal life even in war's aftermath. The entire process served as a practical demonstration of divine command governing every aspect of Israel's life, including conquest and the management of resources.

Numbers 31 26 Word analysis

• Take (נָשָׂא - nasa'): Hebrew verb meaning "to lift, carry, bear, take away." Here, it's an imperative, "you must take." It implies undertaking a responsibility, burden, or an action requiring effort and careful attention. The act of "taking" a sum or census indicates assuming charge and executing a meticulous task.
• the sum (מִסְפַּר - mispar): Hebrew noun meaning "number, sum, tally, count, census." It denotes precise, detailed counting and registration. This isn't an approximation but a definitive, accurate accounting, highlighting God's demand for meticulousness in managing resources and people.
• of the booty (מַלְקוֹחַ - malqoach): Hebrew noun meaning "plunder, spoil, prey." This refers specifically to the goods, livestock, and captives seized from the enemy during warfare. Its use here signifies items acquired through God's provision and victory.
• that was captured (לָכַד - lakad): Hebrew verb meaning "to seize, catch, capture, take." It confirms the origin of the malqoach as war spoils, legally acquired through conquest.
• both of man (אָדָם - adam): Hebrew noun meaning "humanity, person, man, male." Here, it refers specifically to the human captives (women and female children spared from earlier directives), emphasizing that human lives, even in war, are not treated merely as commodities but must be precisely accounted for.
• and of beast (בְּהֵמָה - behemah): Hebrew noun meaning "domestic animals, cattle, beasts." This specifies the vast amount of livestock captured, a significant form of wealth in ancient societies. Its inclusion underscores the totality of the inventory.
• you (אַתָּה - attah): Second person singular pronoun, directly addressing Moses. It indicates his primary and foundational role in executing this divine command, reinforcing his authority and responsibility as God's chosen leader.
• and Eleazar the priest (אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן - Eleazar ha-kohen): Eleazar, Aaron's son, held the office of High Priest. His involvement signifies the sacred nature of the process. His presence ensured spiritual oversight, purification of the spoil (as per Num 31:22-23), and adherence to the divine law concerning sacred dues from the spoil. This underscores that even secular-seeming matters of war spoils had a priestly, holy dimension under the covenant.
• and the heads of the fathers' houses (רָאשֵׁי אָבוֹת - rashei avot): Refers to the chieftains or leading elders of the ancestral clans or tribal divisions of Israel. Their inclusion ensures broader communal representation, transparency, and agreement in the process. It symbolizes a collaborative leadership approach where tribal concerns are acknowledged and involved in distribution, preventing potential grievances or perceived injustice among the people.
• of the congregation (עֵדָה - edah): Hebrew noun meaning "congregation, assembly, community." It signifies the collective body of Israel, indicating that this entire process was for the benefit and order of the entire community, not just for individual profit or a select few. The shared responsibility and ultimate distribution benefited the whole congregation, including their communal worship and welfare.

• "Take the sum of the booty": This phrase commands a full and accurate inventory, not an estimate. It emphasizes divine requirement for exactitude and accountability in managing acquired wealth, especially that given by God in victory. This precision serves to prevent corruption, favoritism, and disputes over allocation, reinforcing a system of justice.
• "both of man and of beast": This grouping highlights the dual nature of the spoil: human lives and material wealth. It is a striking aspect given the previous commands regarding the human captives, showing meticulous care in identifying every component of the war acquisition before its prescribed division.
• "you and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the fathers' houses of the congregation": This tripartite leadership structure (Moses: civil/executive; Eleazar: spiritual/priestly; Heads of houses: tribal/representative) emphasizes communal responsibility, checks and balances, and ensures divine approval alongside practical fairness. It represents the collective will and authority necessary for such a weighty task to be accepted by all Israelites. This prevents any one party from abusing power or the spoils.

Numbers 31 26 Bonus section

The requirement to count both "man and beast" is particularly significant given the previous severe instructions regarding human captives in Num 31:17-18. While adult Midianite women who caused Israel to stumble and male children were to be killed, the virgins and the vast animal herds were spared. Listing them together in the inventory implies that all surviving assets, human or animal, now fell under Israelite law and God's detailed system of management. This ensured no ad hoc appropriation or illicit hiding of spoils, enforcing the purification rites that followed for objects and persons coming from a pagan context into the holy nation. The meticulousness also supported the forthcoming intricate division formula where specific shares of plunder (a "levy") were to be set aside for the priests and Levites (Num 31:28-30, 41-47), financially supporting those dedicated to God’s service, linking victory directly to communal spiritual upkeep.

Numbers 31 26 Commentary

Numbers 31:26 functions as a pivotal command in the aftermath of the Midianite war, dictating meticulous accountability over the vast spoils before distribution. This seemingly administrative detail highlights profound theological principles. First, it underscores God's sovereignty over all things, even war and its spoils; nothing is outside His providential ordering. The directive for a precise "sum" or census of every item, whether living or inanimate, emphasizes divine insistence on order, thoroughness, and transparency. This precision stands in stark contrast to chaotic plunder often seen in ancient warfare, serving as a subtle polemic demonstrating the superiority of God's holy and ordered ways.

Furthermore, the mandated leadership for this task—Moses, Eleazar the High Priest, and the tribal heads—illustrates the interconnectedness of civil, spiritual, and representative communal authority in Israel. Moses provides executive leadership; Eleazar ensures the sacred sanctity and ritual purity requirements are met, representing divine presence and law; and the tribal heads guarantee fairness and consensus across the Israelite clans. This collaborative leadership ensures impartiality, prevents fraud, and upholds the covenant community's standards of justice. It prepares the way for the prescribed division of the spoils, which included special portions for the Levites and the Lord, thereby acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and source of all victory and wealth.

For practical usage, this verse exemplifies:

• The importance of accurate record-keeping and accountability in managing resources, whether personal or communal.
• The value of shared responsibility and diverse perspectives in decision-making, especially when allocating valuable assets.
• That even seemingly mundane tasks, when performed under God's command, have spiritual significance and require diligence and integrity.