Numbers 31
KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 31 of 36
Chapter Summary
God commands Moses to execute vengeance against the Midianites. Israel defeats them completely, killing all males including Balaam. Moses is angry that the women were spared and orders the killing of male children and non-virgin women. The plunder is divided according to God's instructions.
Key Hebrew Words
People & Context
Leader who orders the war of vengeance on Midian and is angry the women were spared
The priest who declares the law of purification and helps divide the plunder
Son of Eleazar, sent to the army with the holy vessels and trumpets
Son of Beor, slain with the sword for counseling Israel's seduction at Peor
Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian killed in battle
Timeline
Moses dispatches 12,000 armed men to execute Jehovah's vengeance on Midian for the incident at Peor. The Israelite army kills every Midianite male, including their five kings and Balaam, and captures the women, children, and plunder.
Numbers 31:1-24The massive spoils of war, including 675,000 sheep, 72,000 oxen, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 virgin women, are divided equally between the soldiers and the congregation. A tribute is levied: one in five hundred from the soldiers' half goes to the priests, and one in fifty from the congregation's half goes to the Levites.
Numbers 31:25-47The military commanders discover that not a single Israelite soldier died in the battle against Midian. In gratitude, they bring an offering of the gold jewelry they plundered, totaling 16,750 shekels, to make atonement before Jehovah.
Numbers 31:48-54Read Numbers 31 in the KJ3 Reader
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