Numbers 31 34

Numbers 31:34 kjv

And threescore and one thousand asses,

Numbers 31:34 nkjv

sixty-one thousand donkeys,

Numbers 31:34 niv

61,000 donkeys

Numbers 31:34 esv

61,000 donkeys,

Numbers 31:34 nlt

61,000 donkeys,

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 34 Meaning

Numbers 31:34 specifies one component of the war plunder taken from the Midianites: thirty-two thousand "souls of human beings." This refers primarily to the virgin women and female children who were spared from the general slaughter as commanded by Moses, distinguishing them from the material spoils like livestock and goods. These human captives were integrated into the Israelite community, serving various purposes, including as servants or future wives, aligning with ancient Near Eastern practices of incorporating conquered populations into a victor's society, though in this case, it was part of a divine judgment against a corrupted nation.

Numbers 31 34 Context

Numbers 31:34 is a specific detail within the larger narrative of Israel's war against the Midianites. This conflict was not a conventional war of conquest but a divinely ordained act of judgment (Num 31:1-3), commanded by the Lord because Midian had actively led Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality through the Baal-Peor incident (Num 25:1-9, 16-18; 31:16). The Israelites, led by Phinehas, successfully executed this judgment (Num 31:6-7), destroying Midianite cities and slaying all their men.

Moses initially reacted with anger because the returning warriors had spared all the Midianite women (Num 31:15-16), knowing it was the Midianite women who had seduced Israel into sin. Consequently, Moses commanded a specific culling: all Midianite males (including young boys) and all non-virgin Midianite women were to be killed (Num 31:17). The virgins, however, were to be spared and taken as captives (Num 31:18). These "souls of human beings" in verse 34, explicitly defined in verse 35, are those very virgin females. The spoil, including humans and livestock, was then meticulously counted (Num 31:26-30) and divided among the warriors and the entire congregation, with specific portions dedicated to the Lord's priests and Levites (Num 31:28-47). This division highlights God's sovereignty over the outcome of the battle and His detailed instructions for the proper handling of holy war's aftermath.

Numbers 31 34 Word analysis

• וּנְפֶשׁ֙ (u-nefesh):
  • Meaning: "and a soul," "and a living being," or "and a person."
  • Nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ) is a broad Hebrew term encompassing the whole living individual, not just an immaterial soul. It can refer to life, vitality, breath, self, appetite, or simply a person.
  • Significance: In the context of war spoils, nefesh here emphasizes the capture of living persons as distinct from inanimate objects or dead bodies. It humanizes the captives, distinguishing them as sentient beings. Its usage implies that these "souls" had a distinct value or status, even in captivity.
• אָדָ֔ם (adam):
  • Meaning: "of man," "of human being."
  • Adam (אָדָם) broadly refers to humankind or an individual person, male or female.
  • Significance: Coupled with nefesh, it unequivocally refers to human captives. Numbers 31:35 clarifies that these "human beings" were specifically the virgin females, distinguishing them from the general "human being" reference.
• שְׁנַ֤יִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים֙ (sh'nayim u-shloshim):
  • Meaning: "two and thirty," or "thirty-two."
  • Significance: This precise enumeration underscores the immense scale of the spoils. The detailed counting in Numbers 31 demonstrates the divine order and meticulousness expected in managing the aftermath of a holy war.
• אֶ֔לֶף (elef):
  • Meaning: "thousand."
  • Significance: Compounded with the preceding numbers, it quantifies the human spoil at thirty-two thousand, a vast number emphasizing the complete defeat of Midian and the significant influx of new population members (virgins) into the Israelite camp.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• וּנְפֶשׁ אָדָם (u-nefesh adam - "and souls of human beings"): This phrase designates one distinct category of spoil: living people. It sets them apart from the material possessions like sheep, cattle, and donkeys. The use of "nefesh adam" instead of a more generic term like "captives" or "slaves" may imply their continued humanity and potential for integration, albeit in a subordinate role, into the Israelite society. The meticulous enumeration of "souls of human beings" (32,000) along with livestock indicates that even human lives, under the strictures of a divinely commanded war of judgment, became part of the counted and distributed spoil. This was an ancient practice, but uniquely constrained and ordered by God in Israel's case.

Numbers 31 34 Bonus section

The meticulous accounting of the spoils, down to individual numbers for each category—sheep, cattle, donkeys, and human beings—reflects a divine emphasis on order and the exact fulfillment of His commands. This was not a haphazard act of plundering but a regulated distribution following a holy war. The subsequent division of these spoils into shares for the warriors, the congregation, and specifically set aside portions for the priests and Levites (Numbers 31:28-47) underscores the concept that all blessings, even from the battlefield, originate from God and require specific, God-ordained apportionment. The dedicated portions to the Lord's tabernacle and its servants (priests and Levites) reinforce the idea that even the most secular aspects of life (war spoils) are ultimately subject to divine will and service.

Numbers 31 34 Commentary

Numbers 31:34 offers a concise statement regarding the scale of human spoil taken during the Midianite campaign. The "thirty-two thousand souls of human beings" explicitly refer to the virgin Midianite women who were spared according to God's precise command (Num 31:18) – a crucial distinction from the general massacre of all males and non-virgin women. This judgment, carried out by Israel, was God's direct retribution against Midian for seducing His people into apostasy and idolatry at Baal-Peor.

The act of taking human beings as "spoil" reflects ancient Near Eastern military practices, but within Israel, it was regulated by divine law. In the case of Midian, it was not merely about resource acquisition but about enforcing a just divine judgment, cleansing the land of corruption, and preventing further moral contagion. While the slaughter of some populations (the guilty and sexually compromised) was absolute, the sparing of virgins for the Israelite community had multiple implications: they could serve as servants, provide labor, or potentially become wives, contributing to the growth and needs of the expanding Israelite nation. This highlights the dual aspect of God's justice in such holy wars: judgment upon the wicked and provision for His covenant people. It showcases God's intricate directives governing every aspect of Israel's existence, including the sensitive aftermath of warfare and the management of spoils.