Numbers 31

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 31 of 36

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Execute the vengeance of the sons of Israel against the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.

3 And Moses spoke to the people, saying, Some men of you be armed for the army, and they shall be against Midian, to give the vengeance of Jehovah on Midian;

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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

חֲמֵ֖שֶׁת five H2568 · TWOT 686a
בֶּ֧גֶד treachery H899 · TWOT 198a
מַ֥עַל unfaithful H4604 · TWOT 1230a
שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים thirty H7970 · TWOT 2403d
עָרֵי excitement H5892 · TWOT 1587a

People & Context

War Against Midian

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, in…

Division of Spoil

The 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…

Offerings of the Officers

The military commanders discover that not a single Israelite soldier died in the battle against Midian. In gratitude, they bring an offering of the go…

Timeline

War Against Midian

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 31:1-24
Division of Spoil

The 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 31:25-47
Offerings of the Officers

The 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 31:48-54

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