Numbers 31 46

Numbers 31:46 kjv

And sixteen thousand persons;)

Numbers 31:46 nkjv

and sixteen thousand persons?

Numbers 31:46 niv

and 16,000 people.

Numbers 31:46 esv

and 16,000 persons ?

Numbers 31:46 nlt

and 16,000 virgin girls.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 46 Meaning

Numbers 31:46 concisely details the exact number of human captives—forty-five thousand five hundred souls—that were part of the "second half" of the plunder acquired from the Midianite war. This half was designated for and distributed among the general congregation of Israel. This precise tally signifies the tangible outcome of God's punitive victory over Midian and His comprehensive provision for His people through the spoils of war.

Numbers 31 46 Context

Numbers 31:46 is embedded within a meticulous accounting of the spoil from the Midianite war, an event ordained by God as direct retribution for Midian's complicity in seducing Israel into idolatry and immorality at Peor (Numbers 25). Following the Israelites' decisive military victory, Moses received divine instructions (Numbers 31:25) to meticulously purify the warriors and justly divide the vast plunder—consisting of livestock, precious metals, and human captives. Critically, these human captives were solely virgin women, as male children and non-virgin women were, by divine decree, put to death (Numbers 31:17-18). The immediate preceding verses (Numbers 31:42-45) describe the specific half of the spoil designated for the general congregation of Israel. Verse 46 culminates this list by specifying the number of human "souls" within that congregational share, thereby illustrating the scale of the victory and God's abundant provision through it.

Numbers 31 46 Word analysis

• "and": Hebrew waw (ו). This conjunction serves to connect the "souls of the people" as another category in the detailed inventory of items (sheep, cattle, donkeys) allocated to the Israelite congregation. It signifies continuation in the listing of spoil.
• "the souls": Hebrew hãnap̄eš (הַנֶּפֶשׁ). The noun nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) in Hebrew carries a broad semantic range, often denoting "life," "living being," or "person." Here, it specifically quantifies human individuals. Its usage emphasizes that these are living human beings, a distinct and valuable category within the war spoil, whose lives were deliberately spared according to God's precise command.
• "of the people": Hebrew hā'ādām (הָאָדָם). The term ādām (אָדָם) refers generally to mankind or human beings. Coupled with "souls" (nephesh), this phrase "souls of the people" precisely distinguishes these items as human lives from the animals also counted as spoil. It implies their potential integration into Israelite society as servants or members, consistent with the saving of virgin women.
• "forty-five thousand five hundred": Hebrew ḥămishshīm 'eleph vakhămēš me'ôt (חֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת). This exact numerical value underscores the divine attention to detail in the organization of Israel, even concerning war spoils. It quantifies the immense human resources acquired by the non-combatant congregation as a result of God's victory. Note: There is a significant textual variant for this number. While the Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew text) reads 45,500, other ancient manuscripts, including the Septuagint and some Hebrew manuscripts, read 16,000, which aligns more directly with the 32,000 total virgin women captured (half for the warriors, half for the congregation). Regardless of the variant, the underlying meaning remains that a very substantial number of human captives formed part of the spoils for the people.

• "and the souls of the people": This phrase emphasizes the humanity of the spoil, denoting not mere possessions but living individuals, distinct from livestock. The selection of the Hebrew word nephesh for "souls" points to their very essence as living beings. Their continued existence, unlike other Midianites, was by explicit divine command, making their number a testament to God's precise and selective judgment.
• "forty-five thousand five hundred": This significant number (whether taken as 45,500 or the variant 16,000) highlights the considerable extent of Israel's victory over Midian. It represents not only a substantial increase in human population but also an additional source of labor or servants within the Israelite community, thereby marking God's provision for His people through the spoils of war. The precision of the figure underscores the systematic and organized division of spoils under divine law.

Numbers 31 46 Bonus section

The careful cataloging of all items of spoil in Numbers 31, including livestock and precious metals alongside human captives, highlights a key principle of divine economy and providence within the Mosaic covenant. God's interventions, whether in judgment or blessing, are often accompanied by practical outcomes that benefit His people. This detailed enumeration ensured fairness in distribution between the warriors and the rest of the congregation, and also ensured the correct portions were consecrated as a tribute to the Lord and the Levites. This speaks to a divinely ordained system where everything has a place and purpose, even in the chaotic aftermath of war. The very inclusion of "souls" among the plunder signifies God's complete ownership over all life, whether spared for specific purposes or taken in judgment.

Numbers 31 46 Commentary

Numbers 31:46 stands as a culminating statistic in the division of spoils from the Midianite war, reflecting both the devastating judgment of God upon wickedness and His meticulous provision for Israel. The enumeration of "souls"—living persons—among the plunder emphasizes that even in warfare, divine order and specific commands prevailed. These captured individuals, specifically virgin women spared from annihilation, contributed to the prosperity and societal fabric of the Israelite community, serving as a tangible outcome of God's strategic intervention. The precise number underscores God's sovereignty over every aspect, from the commencement of war to the distribution of its yield, demonstrating that His plans are fulfilled with careful and complete accounting.