Numbers 31 53

Numbers 31:53 kjv

(For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

Numbers 31:53 nkjv

(The men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

Numbers 31:53 niv

Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.

Numbers 31:53 esv

(The men in the army had each taken plunder for himself.)

Numbers 31:53 nlt

All the fighting men had taken some of the plunder for themselves.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 53 Meaning

Numbers 31:53 signifies that the individual soldiers participating in the battle against Midian had taken personal spoils for themselves. This private acquisition of plunder occurred prior to, or in addition to, the commanded communal distribution, clarifying the source of the significant gold offering later presented to the Lord as an atonement by the officers from the fighting men. It highlights an accepted custom for warriors in ancient Israelite warfare to retain some personal portion of the war-booty.

Numbers 31 53 Context

Numbers chapter 31 details Israel's divinely commanded war against the Midianites, avenging the Lord for their role in corrupting Israel at Peor (Numbers 25). The war was a complete victory, with all Midianite men killed, but God also gave strict instructions on purifying the plunder and dividing the immense spoils—people, animals, and goods. Moses established a detailed procedure for sharing the spoils between the fighting men and the congregation, with specific levies given to the Levites and Eleazar the priest. Verses 48-54 record a unique incident where the officers of the fighting men (commanders of thousands and hundreds) recognized that no Israelite soldier was lost in the battle and, as a token of atonement and gratitude, brought a significant offering of gold they had acquired. Verse 53 clarifies that this gold was part of what "the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself," explaining how the officers had this personal gold to offer. It reveals a specific detail about the soldiers' custom in ancient warfare and the source of their voluntary sacred gift. Historically, allowing soldiers to keep a personal share of the plunder was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern warfare, serving as an incentive and a form of payment or reward for their service. This verse shows divine allowance and acceptance of this custom within certain boundaries for the Israelite army.

Numbers 31 53 Word analysis

• For (כי - ki): This conjunction serves to introduce an explanation or a reason. It indicates that the subsequent statement clarifies or justifies something that has just been mentioned, likely explaining the origin of the "gold jewelry" given in Num 31:50.
• the men of war (אֲנָשִׁים הַצָּבָא - anshei hatzavá): Literally "men of the army" or "men of the host." This is a standard biblical phrase referring specifically to those who participated in military combat. צָבָא (tzava) means "army, host," but can also mean "service" (e.g., military service). Here, it distinctly identifies the warriors.
• had taken spoil (חַלְלוּ - chalalu): This is a unique and context-specific use of the Hebrew root חלל (ḥālal). While חלל commonly means "to profane," "to defile," or "to pierce/wound," here it specifically denotes "to strip (of spoils)," "to acquire (plunder)," or "to take (booty)." This usage signifies the act of securing possessions from the enemy, rendering them "common" or "available" through the act of war, moving them from enemy possession to personal acquisition. It implies direct individual action in acquiring plunder.
• every man (אִישׁ - ish): Emphasizes individual agency. It refers to each single male member among the "men of war," distinguishing their individual acquisition from the general communal pool of spoils.
• for himself (לַעֲצִמוֹ - la'atzmo): This reflexive pronoun explicitly highlights the personal and individual nature of the acquisition. It indicates that each soldier acquired a portion specifically for their own possession and benefit, rather than for a communal pool.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For the men of war had taken spoil": This phrase explains the source of valuable items possessed by the soldiers. It attributes the act of plundering directly to the warriors themselves. The verb choice chalalu for "taken spoil" is particularly insightful, suggesting not just the collection of goods but perhaps the aggressive 'stripping' of them, a forceful act of acquiring what was formerly untouchable to them.
• "every man for himself": This clarifies the scope of the spoils taking. It was not merely the official, collectively distributed plunder, but rather an individual effort by each soldier to secure personal gains. This right for soldiers to claim private loot was an acknowledged, customary practice in ancient warfare and highlights the direct benefit of participation in battle, going beyond the communal shares designated later. It serves as a justification for why the officers then had substantial gold (from their own share) to bring as a freewill offering.

Numbers 31 53 Bonus section

The concept of "spoil" (שׁלל - shalal) in ancient Israelite warfare often carried multiple layers of meaning, from literal plunder to a symbol of victory and divine blessing. Numbers 31:53 highlights the individual dimension of acquiring shalal, differentiating it from the larger collective portion that would be carefully allocated by God's command. This verse subtly contrasts with instances where all spoils were to be utterly destroyed (e.g., Jericho in Joshua 6) or dedicated wholly to the Lord. The ability for "every man for himself" to take spoil was likely an inherent right or expectation for a soldier in an army during that period, serving as a motivation for combatants. The voluntary gold offering (Num 31:50-54) can therefore be understood as a consecration of these individually acquired assets. This act elevated their personal gain from mere earthly spoils to a sacred offering, acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and the one who spared their lives. This dedication effectively hallowed what they had taken and perhaps compensated for any moral ambiguity of personal appropriation, or more simply, acted as profound gratitude.

Numbers 31 53 Commentary

Numbers 31:53 serves as a crucial parenthetical explanation within the broader account of the Midianite war spoils. It reveals a significant nuance in the handling of war-booty: while much of the spoil was subjected to strict rules for purification and communal distribution, there was also a recognized right for individual soldiers to take personal plunder. This verse directly links to the preceding mention of the officers' remarkable voluntary offering of gold, providing the source for such personal wealth. The phrase "every man for himself" clarifies that this was not merely official allowance but individual initiative and custom. Theologically, this allowance of personal gain, followed by the officers' decision to offer it as an "atonement offering" for their lives (Num 31:50), underscores principles of God's sovereignty over all acquisition, even spoils of war. It also illustrates the ancient concept of giving thanks and recognition to God from what He has provided, even that which came through human effort and customary rights in warfare. This acts as a sanctification of the acquisition, acknowledging divine blessing in their preservation and success.

• Example 1: Like a craftsman who makes goods and then takes a portion of his profits to dedicate to a church building project.
• Example 2: Similar to a modern-day athlete who earns a bonus for a win and decides to donate a significant portion to charity, recognizing divine favor in their success.