Numbers 31:25

31:25-31 The plunder was divided into two equal parts, with half going to those who fought against the Midianites and half going to the Israelites who stayed behind (cp. 1 Sam 30:21-25). In this sense, everyone participated in the armed conflict, but the relatively small number of warriors each received a larger portion than the much larger number of those who stayed behind.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Take the sum of the prey that was taken--that is, of the captives and cattle, which, having been first lumped together according to ancient usage (Exo 15:9; Jdg 5:30), were divided into two equal parts: the one to the people at large, who had sustained a common injury from the Midianites and who were all liable to serve: and the other portion to the combatants, who, having encountered the labors and perils of war, justly received the largest share. From both parts, however, a certain deduction was taken for the sanctuary, as a thank offering to God for preservation and for victory. The soldiers had greatly the advantage in the distribution; for a five-hundredth part only of their half went to the priest, while a fiftieth part of the congregation's half was given to the Levites.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

25–54. The apportionment of the spoil. Those who fought and those who remained behind were to receive equal shares. This was an ancient custom, which was traced to the action of David (1Sa_30:24 f.). But before the appropriation by individuals, a religious tax was to be paid. The fighters were to pay from their share 1/500th to the priests, and the others 1/50th to the Levites. Such a tax is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., but perhaps, like the foregoing regulation, it had an ancient custom behind it. Mohammed, whose religion was ultimately based on the O.T., enjoined a similar tax of 1/5th (Koran viii. 42, cited by Gray).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war, which went out to battle,.... That is, out of the part of the prey which was divided to them:

one soul of five hundred, both "of the persons"; or one woman of five hundred, as the Targum of Jonathan:

and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep; that is, one out of five hundred, of each of them also.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Vers. 25-47. The distribution of the spoils.

I GOD TAKES THE DISTRIBUTION INTO HIS OWN HANDS. The victory was his, and it was for him to arrange the spoils as might best serve his own purposes. It was the only effectual way of blighting in the bud all discord and jealousy. It was also the means of teaching important lessons to all in the community who were willing to learn. It helped to manifest afresh the unity of Israel. Those who had gone to the war had gone as representatives of the whole of Israel, hence it was for the whole of Israel to share in the spoil. While part was away, avenging the Lord of Midian, another part stayed at home, also serving God in its own way, and looking after the interests of those who were absent. We must not get into the way of looking at one part of the community as more necessary than another. It was not for the army to say, "What would Israel have done in taking vengeance on Midian but for us?" seeing that God had made it plain how he was working in and through the army. Nor was it for the people who stayed at home to say, "What right have twelve thousand men to half the spoils?" The twelve thousand were not looked at in themselves; they stood for Israel militant. All Israel gained a real blessing by this expedition, and the chief gain to them was in so far as they were effectually warned against the perils of idolatry. Whatever there might be in the way of improved perception of truth and duty and the Divine character was far more than all the spoil. God did not send them against Midian for the sake of the spoil, but for the sake of vengeance.

II THE SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE LEVITES. It was very appropriate that this should be strictly exacted, after all the service which Phinehas had rendered. The tribe of Levi had done its part in a way which could not be mistaken. Upon this great occasion, when so much had to be distributed, God taught the lesson that distribution should be made according to the needs of men. The Levites had need not only to be supported, but well supported. The work they had to do, in the reality, the extent, the continuity, and the minuteness of it, had been lately indicated in more ways than one. Consider all the Levitical service that was involved in the offerings mentioned in chapters 28 and 29. It was becoming more and more clear that Levi must be set apart and properly maintained; for thus only could there be regularity and efficiency in the service of God.

III BALAAM"S ASS WAS PROBABLY AMONG THE ASSES THAT WERE TAKEN (verse 34). It is pleasant to imagine that it may have found its way into the Lord"s tribute, and that the animal which had so long borne a wicked man faithfully, would now with equal faithfulness be able to bear perhaps Eleazar himself. We need much of the spirit of obedience to God to use rightly that vast multitude of the brute creation which God has put under our control. How pitiable to see the horse carefully trained for war, and, as one might almost think, taught to cherish feelings which by nature are alien to it! May we not well wish for the day when not only the sword of the dragoon shall be turned to the ploughshare, but the horse on which he tides shall draw that share along? Think how the horse and other animals are degraded by the occasions for gambling which they furnish. Think of all the cruel field-sports in which man finds such pleasure. When be leaves the pleasures which are appropriate to his nature, what a tyrannous and hideous monster he may become! Man in all his life should be drawing nearer to God, and, rising higher himself, should raise all creation with him. Whereas he is drawn downward, and in his willing descent he degrades even the lower creation. Y.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Distribution of the Booty. - God directed Moses, with Eleazar and the heads of the fathers' houses ("fathers" for "fathers' houses:" see at Exo 6:14) of the congregation, to take the whole of the booty in men and cattle, and divide it into two halves: one for the men of war (המּלחמה תּפשׂי, those who grasped at war, who engaged in war), the other for the congregation, and to levy a tribute upon it (מכס = מכסה, computatio, a certain amount: see Exo 12:4) for Jehovah. Of the half that came to the warriors, one person and one head of cattle were to be handed over to Eleazar the priest out of every 500 (i.e., one-fifth per cent.), as a heave-offering for Jehovah; and of the other half that was set apart for the children of Israel, i.e., for the congregation, one out of every fifty (i.e., 2 per cent.) was to be taken for the Levites. אחז, laid hold of, i.e., snatched out of the whole number during the process of counting; not seized or touched by the lot, as in Ch1 24:6, as there was no reason for resorting to the lot in this instance. The division of the booty into two equal halves, one of which was given to the warriors, and the other to the congregation that had taken no part in the war, was perfectly reasonable and just. As the 12,000 warriors had been chosen out of the whole congregation to carry on the war on their behalf, the congregation itself could properly lay claim to its share of the booty. But as the 12,000 had had all the trouble, hardships, and dangers of the war, they could very properly reckon upon some reward for their service; and this was granted them by their receiving quite as much as the whole of the congregation which had taken no part in the war-in fact, more, because the warriors only gave one-fifth per cent. of their share as a thank-offering for the victory that had been granted them, whilst those who remained at home had to give 2 per cent. of their share to Jehovah for the benefit of the priests and Levites. The arrangement, however, was only made for this particular case, and not as a law for all times, although it was a general rule that those who remained at home received a share of the booty brought back by the warriors (cf. Jos 22:8; Sa1 30:24-25; 2 Macc. 8:28, 30).

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

The Division of the Spoils

v. 25. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

v. 26. Take the sum of the prey that was taken, of everything that was captured in this campaign, both of man and of beast, thou and Eleazar, the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation, the heads of the fathers’ houses, Exo 6:14;

v. 27. and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who assumed the offensive, made the attack, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation. The army received half the spoil, as having been actively engaged in the arduous campaign, but the congregation was also fairly entitled to its share, a rule which was observed also in later times, Jos 22:8; 1Sa 30:24.

v. 28. And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, the female captives, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep, the levy thus being one-fifth of one per cent. ;

v. 29. take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar, the priest, for an heave-offering of the Lord.

v. 30. And of the children of Israelis half, of the portion which had been allotted to the congregation that had remained in camp, thou shall take one portion of fifty, or two per cent. of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord. This special order was intended for only this one case, and was not to be a precedent.

v. 31. And Moses and Eleazar, the priest, did as the Lord commanded Moses.

v. 32. And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, after deducting the persons that were slain by the command of God, and the animals that were consumed during the return to camp, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep (675,000),

v. 33. and threescore and twelve thousand beeves (72,000),

v. 34. and threescore and one thousand asses (61,000),

v. 35. and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.

v. 36. 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 (337,500);

v. 37. and the Lord’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen (675).

v. 38. And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the Lord’s tribute was threescore and twelve (72).

v. 39. And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the Lord’s tribute was threescore and one (61).

v. 40. And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the Lord’s tribute was thirty and two persons.

v. 41. And Moses gave the tribute which was the Lord’s heave-offering unto Eleazar, the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses, undoubtedly for their maintenance, the girls becoming their slaves, and the other property being theirs to dispose of as they saw fit.

v. 42. And of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,

v. 43. (now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

v. 44. and thirty and six thousand beeves,

v. 45. and thirty thousand asses and five hundred,

v. 46. and sixteen thousand persons;)

v. 47. even of the children of Israel’s half Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord, observing all the precepts which pertained to the ministry, as it was entrusted to them, as the Lord commanded Moses. The maintenance of the Old Testament Church was a duty commanded by God and prescribed by Him in detail; that of the New Testament Church is a privilege regulated by our love for the cause of the Lord, surely the greatest inducement to make us willing in His service.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Count all the plundered things that were taken

This can be stated in active form. AT: "Count all of the possessions that the soldiers took" (See: Active or Passive)

plunder

This refers to all the items taken from the people Israel killed or captured in battle.

the leaders of the community's ancestor's clans

"the leaders of each clan"

translationWords

priest

clan

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.