Numbers 31 36

Numbers 31:36 kjv

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:

Numbers 31:36 nkjv

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;

Numbers 31:36 niv

The half share of those who fought in the battle was: 337,500 sheep,

Numbers 31:36 esv

And the half, the portion of those who had gone out in the army, numbered 337,500 sheep,

Numbers 31:36 nlt

Half of the plunder was given to the fighting men. It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats,

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 36 Meaning

Numbers 31:36 precisely records the count of sheep designated as "the half belonging to the congregation" from the spoils of war against Midian. This verse signifies the meticulous accounting required by divine command for the distribution of all plunder, emphasizing the exact fulfillment of God's instructions regarding the material resources obtained through divine judgment.

Numbers 31 36 Context

Numbers 31 narrates Israel's victorious military campaign against Midian, enacted as divine retribution for the events at Baal Peor (Numbers 25). After the initial victory, Moses and Eleazar establish God's precise commands for purifying the soldiers and their captured goods, and for meticulously distributing the vast spoils of war. The entire plunder is first accounted for in general terms (Numbers 31:32-35). Verse 36 specifically details the exact number of sheep allocated to "the half belonging to the congregation." This portion, alongside others enumerated in subsequent verses, would then undergo a further sacred subdivision: one specific part (1/50th) would be dedicated to the Levites, who served the Tabernacle. This rigorous distribution highlights the divine order in managing all resources, acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and sovereign over all possessions and their disposition.

Numbers 31 36 Word analysis

• And (וַיְהִי - va·ye·hi): "And it was" or "So it was." This conjunction marks a continuation in the narrative, linking the general summary of total spoils with the specific detailing of their division. It signals the commencement of precise statistical breakdowns of the war booty.
• the half (חֲצִי - ḥă·ṣî): This term refers to one of the two main divisions of the plunder. Following God's instruction, one half was allocated to the fighting men involved in the battle, and the other to the entire community, the "congregation" of Israel, who remained behind. This equitable bipartite division highlights fairness under divine law.
• belonging to the congregation (הָעֵדָה - hā·‘ê·ḏāh): The Hebrew term ‘ēḏāh denotes the assembly, community, or entire collective body of Israel. This specification emphasizes that the people of Israel as a whole, not just the warriors, were intended beneficiaries of the spoils, affirming communal unity and shared blessings according to God's order.
• was (הָיָה - hā·yāh): Though implicitly translated as "was," indicating quantity, the primary verb is captured in va·ye·hi (and it was). This numerical statement denotes factual account.
• of sheep (הַצֹּאן - haṣ·ṣōn): Literally, "the flock" or "the sheep." This specifies the category of livestock being precisely counted in this part of the record. In ancient Israel, sheep were a foundational component of wealth, sustenance, and ritual sacrifice.
• 337,500 (שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף שְׁבַע מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים - šə·lōš mê·’ōṯ ’elep̄ ū·šə·lō·šîm ’elep̄ šə·ḇa‘ mê·’ōṯ wa·ḥă·miš·šîm): This exact numeral signifies a high degree of precision in God's commands and the meticulous adherence required from the Israelites. This numerical precision, common throughout the Pentateuch, underscores the divine attribute of orderliness and emphasizes accurate record-keeping in divine affairs. This number is exactly half of the total 675,000 sheep taken as plunder (Num 31:32).

Words-group analysis:

• "And the half belonging to the congregation": This phrase introduces the specific portion of the vast war spoils allocated to the non-combatant segment of the community. It sets the context for the detailed enumeration that follows, signifying that the entire community shared in the benefits of God's judgment upon Midian, fostering solidarity under divine ordinance.
• "of sheep, 337,500": This precise quantitative statement not only highlights the substantial material wealth acquired from the Midianites but, more profoundly, it underscores the detailed and exact nature of God's command regarding the distribution of these spoils. Such meticulous numerical accounts found consistently throughout the books of the Pentateuch confirm the systematic organization of the Israelite community as divinely instructed and illustrate God's omniscience in providing abundantly for His people.

Numbers 31 36 Bonus section

It is important to note that while this analysis focuses on the standard rendering of Numbers 31:36 (which concerns a large count of sheep for the congregation's half), the user's provided phrasing, "And the fifth share was a thousand and a hundred persons," touches upon themes of "shares" and "persons" that are present elsewhere in Numbers 31, albeit not directly matching this specific verse's content or proportions. In Numbers 31, following the meticulous counting of all plunder, specific "tributes" (mekhes) were indeed designated for the priests and Levites. For instance, from the soldiers' portion of 16,000 human captives, 1/500th (totaling 32 persons) was given to Eleazar the priest as the Lord's tribute (Num 31:40). From the congregation's half of human captives (also 16,000), 1/50th (totaling 320 persons) was given to the Levites (Num 31:47). While neither a "fifth share" (1/5) nor the precise number "1,100" applies to these exact calculations of persons in Numbers 31, the overarching principle of dedicating specific portions of war captives or plunder to sacred service is undeniably central to the chapter's detailed accounting, underscoring God's ultimate ownership and the ordered distribution He commanded.

Numbers 31 36 Commentary

Numbers 31:36 precisely details the number of sheep assigned to the congregation's half of the plunder, acting as a crucial element in the meticulously recorded division of the spoils from the Midianite war. This seemingly simple numerical statement carries deep significance. It exemplifies God's demand for accuracy and order in all matters pertaining to Israel's life, including the acquisition and distribution of material wealth. Furthermore, by stipulating a share for the entire congregation, not just the warriors, the verse highlights communal responsibility and the principle of shared blessings and divine provision for all. This rigorous accounting, part of a larger system detailed in the chapter, ultimately serves to teach that all possessions belong to God and must be managed according to His sovereign and precise commands. It reinforces the paramount importance of obedience and good stewardship within the covenant relationship.