Numbers 31:50

Num 31:50. We have brought an oblation — Finding, to their great joy and surprise, that not a single man was missing of the whole twelve thousand, they unanimously resolved, out of the free plunder, to make a voluntary offering to God, for the service of religion. To make an atonement — For their error, noted Num 31:14-16; and withal for memorial, or by way of gratitude for such a stupendous assistance and deliverance. We should never take any thing to ourselves, in war or trade, of which we cannot in faith consecrate a part to God, who hates robbery for burnt-offerings. But when God has remarkably preserved and succeeded us, he expects we should make some particular return of gratitude to him.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

31:50-54 The commanders gladly offered gold objects in gratitude for a great victory that resulted in no loss of life (cp. Exod 30:12). Ancient art and literature indicate that the Midianites and other desert peoples, both males and females, wore gold jewelry as adornment and as a form of portable wealth (e.g., Judg 8:24-26). Moses and Eleazar brought this large collection to the Tabernacle as a memorial of this special event (cp. Num 16:39-40; Zech 6:14).

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

The captains by the free offering acknowledge the great benefit of God in preserving his people.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 50. We have - brought an oblation for the Lord] So it appears there was a great deal of booty taken which did not come into the general account; and of this the soldiers, of their own will, made a very extensive offering to God, because he had preserved them from falling in battle. That not one man should have been slain is a most extraordinary circumstance, and powerfully marks the peculiar superintendence of God's especial providence. The Midianites must certainly have made some resistance; but that was ineffectual, because it was against the Lord. When any nation undertakes a crusade against those whom they are pleased to call the Lord's enemies, let them bring from the contest this proof of their Divine mission, viz., that not one man of them is either lost or missing; and then, and not till then, shall we believe that God hath sent them.

To make an atonement for our souls] That is, to make an acknowledgment to God for the preservation of their lives. The gold offered on this occasion amounted to 16,750 shekels, equal to £37,869, 16s. 5d. of our money. See Clarke on Ex 25:39, where the true value of the shekel is given, and a rule laid down to reduce it to English money.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

50. jewels of gold] Golden ornaments were taken from the Midianites when Gideon won his victory (Jdg_8:24-26). They were worn by roving nomads and traders, such as the Midianites were (cf. Gen_37:28), more than by the members of settled communities. This seems to be the meaning of the parenthesis in Jdg_8:24, where ‘Ishmaelites’ is apparently a general term for nomads.

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.

The “chains” were “armlets” 2Sa 1:10. The “rings” were “finger-rings,” or “seal-rings;” and the “tablets” were worn suspended from the neck Exo 35:22.

To make an atonement for our souls before the Lord - Compare Exo 30:11-16. The atonement was not for any special offence committed (which would have called for a sacrifice of blood-shedding), but rather like the half-shekel given at the census in the Book of Exodus (loc. cite), was an acknowledgment of having received undeserved mercies. These, if unacknowledged, would have entailed guilt on the soul.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Garters. Septuagint, "bracelets," put on the arm, 2 Kings i. 10. Sometimes the Eastern nations wore large precious rings on their legs. --- Tablets. Hebrew tsamid, an ornament of the hand, Genesis xxiv. 22. The armillæ, or viriliæ, were worn by men near the shoulder. --- Bracelets, (dextralia) for the right hand, Ecclesiasticus xxi. 14. Hebrew hagil, means an ear-ring, Ezechiel xvi. 12. --- Chains of gold and silver interlaced, worn round the neck. (St. Jerome, ep. ad Marcel.) The Madianites went to battle in their richest attire, (Judges vi. 21,) as did also the Persians; (Bellon. 2,) and the Turks do so still, (Calmet) being descended from Ismael, the half brother of Madian, who both settled in Arabia. (Haydock)

His own. Gold, and such ornaments as might easily be concealed by the soldiers, where not required to be brought to the common stock to be equally divided. (Calmet) --- There were 840,000 head of living creatures, including the 32,000 virgins, which were distributed. The gold, which was voluntarily presented to the Lord, amounted to above five talents. (Salien, B.C. 1470.) --- The princes made a voluntary offering of their gold, but the common soldiers retained what each man had gotten. (Du Hamel)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

For their error, noted, Num 31:14-16, and withal

for a memorial, as it is said Num 31:54, or by way of gratitude for such a stupendous assistance and deliverance, as appears from the word therefore in the beginning of this verse, and from Num 31:49.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

50. An oblation for the Lord — A practical expression of gratitude shown by every man for his miraculous preservation.

Jewels — Modern scholarship thus revises this list: ankle chains, (R.V.,) or arm rings, (2Sa_1:10,) bands or bracelets, signet rings, hoops, (Eze_16:12,) earrings, and gold buckles or balls, Or, R.V., armlets, (margin,) necklaces.

An atonement for our souls — Knobel, in his attempt to find some sin to be expiated, fixes upon Israel’s failure to destroy all the Midianites, but Keil and Baumgarten think that the feeling of the soldiers that they were unworthy of any such grace as had been shown them in exemption from death in war justifies this strong expression, “for the expiation of their souls.” Hence the oblation constructively “covers” the guilt incurred by unacknowledged mercies by preventing its imputation. In the same manner the half shekel was an atonement. Exo_30:15. Sin actually incurred was usually expiated by blood, (Leviticus iv and Num_17:11, notes,) but sometimes by intercession (Exo_32:30) or its symbol, the burning of holy incense, (Num_16:46, note,) and once by extraordinary zeal in punishing crime. Num_25:8; Num_25:13.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

What every man hath gotten. The whole, apparently, of their booty in golden ornaments was given up as a thank offering, and in addition to this was all that the soldiers had taken and kept. The abundance of costly ornaments among a race of nomads living in squalid tents and hovels may excite surprise; but it is still the ease (under circumstances far less favourable to the amassing of such wealth) among the Bedawin and kindred tribes. (see also on Jud 8:24-26) Chains. hdxa. Septuagint, clidwna . Clasps for the arm, as in 2Sa_1:10. Tablets. zmWK. Probably golden balls or beads hung round the neck. (see on Exo_35:22) A different word is used in Isa_3:20.

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

An atonement - For their error noted, ver. 14, 15, 16, and withal for a memorial, or by way of gratitude for such a stupendous assistance and deliverance. We should never take any thing to ourselves in war or trade, of which we cannot in faith consecrate a part to God, who hates robbery for burnt-offerings. But when God has remarkably preserved and succeeded us, he expects we should make some particular return of gratitude to him.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

atonement

(See Scofield "Exo 29:33").

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

The officers of the army continue speaking to Moses.

armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces

These are all types of jewelry that people wore.

to make atonement for ourselves before Yahweh

"to thank God for saving our lives"

the gold and all the articles of craftsmanship

"all the articles of gold" or "all the golden jewelry"

translationWords

Yahweh

sacrifice

gold

atonement

Moses

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

אצעדה — These are BANDS FOR THE FOOT (anklets).

וצמיד are BANDS FOR THE HAND (bracelets).

עגיל are EARRINGS.

וכומז is an ornament in the form of the womb — to atone for the thoughts their hearts had entertained for the daughters of Midian (Shabbat 64a).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.