Numbers 31 27

Numbers 31:27 kjv

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:

Numbers 31:27 nkjv

and divide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

Numbers 31:27 niv

Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community.

Numbers 31:27 esv

and divide the plunder into two parts between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.

Numbers 31:27 nlt

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.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 27 Meaning

Numbers 31:27 details the divine instruction for dividing the plunder acquired from the Midianite campaign. This verse mandates that the vast spoils are to be split equally into two halves: one portion designated for the warriors who actively engaged in battle, and the other half for the entire remainder of the Israelite congregation. This ensures a distribution that acknowledges the direct participants in the war while also extending the blessings of victory to the entire covenant community, emphasizing a shared national benefit.

Numbers 31 27 Context

Numbers chapter 31 describes a decisive military campaign commanded by God against the Midianites. This punitive expedition was initiated as a direct consequence of Midian's role in enticing Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal Peor (Numbers 25), leading to a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. Moses, acting on God's command, sends 12,000 Israelite warriors into battle. The outcome is a complete victory for Israel, with all Midianite males, including their five kings, killed. The Israelites capture vast amounts of livestock, property, and women.

Following the initial command for the war and its execution, the chapter focuses on the purification rituals required after contact with the dead and pagan materials, and crucially, the meticulous rules for the distribution of the enormous plunder. Verse 27, therefore, is a pivotal instruction outlining the primary division principle before further specific deductions (for the priests and Levites) are made from each half, solidifying a divinely ordained system of wealth management within the community. The overall context underscores God's justice against unrighteousness and His provision for His covenant people.

Numbers 31 27 Word Analysis

• וַחֲלַקְתָּ֨ (wa·ḥa·laḳ·tā)

  • Meaning: "and you shall divide" or "you shall separate." This is the Qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular form of the verb חָלַק (ḥālaq), which means "to divide, share, distribute, allot."
  • Significance: The use of the direct address to Moses ("you shall divide") signifies a divine command through Moses to the entire nation. It implies a definitive, mandatory action. This is not a suggestion but a clear instruction for managing the war's outcome, ensuring orderly and just distribution rather than chaotic plundering.

• אֶת־הַשָּׁלָ֜ל (et-ha·shā·lāl)

  • Meaning: "the plunder" or "the spoil." שָּׁלָל (shalal) specifically refers to booty, spoils, or plunder taken from an enemy in war.
  • Significance: This word emphasizes the vast material gain resulting from the military victory. The amount of "shalal" in Numbers 31 was immense, necessitating precise divine regulation to prevent dispute and establish economic justice. It is distinct from anything considered cherem (dedicated/devoted to God for destruction).

• לַחֵ֖צִי (la·ḥē·ṣî)

  • Meaning: "into two parts" or "into two halves." חֵצִי (ḥeẓî) means "half" or "middle."
  • Significance: This defines the foundational, precise division. It's not a portion for one and another for the rest, but an exact split down the middle. This mathematical exactness reflects divine order and impartiality, setting a standard for equitable distribution.

• בֵּין֙ (bên)

  • Meaning: "between."
  • Significance: This preposition clearly demarcates the two distinct recipient groups, highlighting the two separate beneficiaries of the halved plunder.

• תֹּֽפְשֵׂי֙ הַמִּלְחָמָ֔ה (tō·fə·sê ha·mil·ḥā·māh)

  • Meaning: "those grasping/holding the war" or "the warriors." תֹּפְשֵׂי (tofesim) from תָּפַשׂ (tafas) meaning "to seize, grasp, take hold of." Combined with מִלְחָמָה (milḥamah), "war, battle," it literally describes those who actively engaged in the combat.
  • Significance: This term specifically identifies the direct combatants, differentiating them from the general populace. It acknowledges their unique role, risk, and effort in achieving victory. They are the ones who "held the war" in their hands, bore the brunt of the fighting.

• הַיֹּצְאִ֣ים לַצָּבָ֔א (ha·yoṣ·’îm la·tzā·vā)

  • Meaning: "who went out to the army/campaign." יָצָא (yatsa) "to go out," and צָבָא (tzava) "army, host, service."
  • Significance: This phrase further specifies the "warriors" as those who actively mobilized and deployed for military service. It underlines the physical act of "going out" for war, reinforcing their role as the frontline combatants. It clarifies that this half is specifically for those who endured the hardship of the campaign, not just general military-age men.

• וּבֵין֙ כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה (u·ḇên kāl-hā·‘ê·ḏāh)

  • Meaning: "and between all the congregation/assembly." עֵדָה (ʿedah) is a comprehensive term for the entire Israelite community or assembly.
  • Significance: This encompasses everyone else in the camp who did not participate directly in the fighting, including women, children, the elderly, and those fulfilling non-combatant roles. Their inclusion demonstrates a foundational principle of communal welfare and shared blessings in Israel. It implies that while some fought, the victory and its benefits belong to the entire nation under God, fostered by the whole community's support (e.g., maintaining the camp, praying, sustaining the fighting force).

Numbers 31 27 Bonus section

The system outlined in Numbers 31, beginning with verse 27, highlights a sophisticated approach to managing collective wealth and national resources under God's sovereignty. Beyond simply dividing, this structure immediately integrates the priesthood and Levites (v. 28-30) into the economic gains, illustrating that divine service and the tabernacle worship were not to be sustained solely by tithes and offerings but also from the direct fruits of national victory. This underscores that prosperity in Israel was deeply interconnected with their obedience to God and the maintenance of His sacred service.

Furthermore, this detailed command, given prior to Israel's entry into Canaan, served as a foundational precedent for handling the spoils of future conquests, reinforcing divine economic principles from the outset of their nation-building. It instilled lessons about fairness, interdependence, and God's prior claim over all acquisitions, mitigating potential greed, conflict, or social stratification that often accompany large accumulations of wealth in human history.

Numbers 31 27 Commentary

Numbers 31:27 lays down a fundamental principle for distributing the spoils of war, establishing a divinely commanded economic structure for the newly acquired wealth. The meticulous division into two exact halves—one for the combatants and one for the non-combatant congregation—goes beyond a simple utilitarian arrangement. It embodies crucial theological and societal values within the covenant community.

First, this directive underscores the concept of shared victory and collective blessing. Although specific warriors engaged in the battle, the triumph ultimately belongs to God, who commanded the war and granted the victory, and its fruits are to benefit the entire nation He has chosen. It prevents the creation of a powerful, exclusively wealthy warrior class and ensures that the risks taken by some result in benefits for all.

Second, the system demonstrates an intrinsic fairness and recognition of different contributions to the national welfare. While the fighters directly endured the dangers of battle, the remaining congregation contributed by maintaining the communal life, supporting the camp, praying, and continuing their vital functions, without which the war effort could not have been sustained. Thus, all parts of the body contribute to success and deserve a share in its benefits. This principle resonates with later biblical teachings on the body of Christ, where diverse members contribute to the common good and share in its blessings (1 Cor 12).

Moreover, this principle prefigures future events where equitable sharing of spoils is commanded and praised, such as David's decree in 1 Samuel 30:24-25, "For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage." This continuity suggests an enduring divine value placed on community, equity, and mutual support in God's kingdom endeavors. This initial distribution also sets the stage for God's holy portions, as subsequent verses show how the Levites and priests receive their portions from these two halves, re-emphasizing God's ultimate ownership and the priority of spiritual service.