Young’s Literal Translation (EN)

1And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2"Execute the vengeance of the sons of Israel against the Midianites -- afterwards thou art gathered unto thy people." 3And Moses speaketh unto the people, saying, "Be ye armed some of you for the host, and they are against Midian, to put the vengeance of Jehovah on Midian; 4a thousand for a tribe -- a thousand for a tribe, to all the tribes of Israel -- ye do send to the host." 5And there are given out of the thousands of Israel a thousand for a tribe, twelve thousand armed ones of the host; 6and Moses sendeth them, a thousand for a tribe, to the host, them and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, to the host; and the holy vessels, and the trumpets of the shouting, in his hand. 7And they war against Midian, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses, and slay every male; 8and the kings of Midian they have slain, besides their pierced ones, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian; and Balaam son of Beor, they have slain with the sword. 9And the sons of Israel take captive the women of Midian, and their infants; and all their cattle, and all their substance, and all their wealth they have plundered; 10and all their cities, with their habitations, and all their towers, they have burnt with fire. 11And they take all the spoil, and all the prey, among man and among beast; 12and they bring in, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the priest, and unto the company of the sons of Israel, the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto the camp, unto the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan, near Jericho. 13And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the company, go out to meet them, unto the outside of the camp, 14and Moses is wroth against the inspectors of the force, chiefs of the thousands, and chiefs of the hundreds, who are coming in from the host of the battle. 15And Moses saith unto them, "Have ye kept alive every female?  16lo, they -- they have been to the sons of Israel, through the word of Balaam, to cause a trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and the plague is in the company of Jehovah. 17"And now, slay ye every male among the infants, yea, every woman known of man by the lying of a male ye have slain; 18and all the infants among the women, who have not known the lying of a male, ye have kept alive for yourselves. 19"And ye, encamp ye at the outside of the camp seven days -- any who hath slain a person, and any who hath come against a pierced one, ye cleanse yourselves on the third day, and on the seventh day -- ye and your captives; 20and every garment, and every skin vessel, and every work of goats' hair, and every wooden vessel, ye yourselves cleanse." 21And Eleazar the priest saith unto the men of the host who go in to battle, "This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses: 22only, the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23every thing which may go into fire, ye cause to pass over through fire, and it hath been clean; only, with the water of separation it is cleansed, and all that may not go into fire, ye cause to pass over through water; 24and ye have washed your garments on the seventh day, and have been clean, and afterwards ye come in unto the camp." 25And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 26"Take up the sum of the prey of the captives, among man and among beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers of the company; 27and thou hast halved the prey between those handling the battle who go out to the host and all the company; 28and thou hast raised a tribute to Jehovah from the men of war, who go out to the host, one body out of five hundred, of man, and of the herd, and of the asses, and of the flock; 29from their half ye do take, and thou hast given to Eleazar the priest -- the heave-offering of Jehovah. 30"And from the sons of Israel's half thou dost take one possession out of fifty, of man, of the herd, of the asses, and of the flock, of all the cattle, and thou hast given them to the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah." 31And Moses doth -- Eleazar the priest also -- as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 32And the prey, the residue of the spoil which the people of the host have spoiled, is of the flock six hundred thousand, and seventy thousand, and five thousand; 33and of the herd two and seventy thousand; 34and of asses one and sixty thousand; 35and of human beings -- of the women who have not known the lying of a male -- all the persons are two and thirty thousand. 36And the half -- the portion of those who go out into the host -- the number of the flock is three hundred thousand, and thirty thousand, and seven thousand and five hundred. 37And the tribute to Jehovah of the sheep is six hundred five and seventy; 38and the herd is six and thirty thousand, and their tribute to Jehovah is two and seventy; 39and the asses are thirty thousand and five hundred, and their tribute to Jehovah is one and sixty; 40and the human beings are sixteen thousand, and their tribute to Jehovah is two and thirty persons. 41And Moses giveth the tribute -- Jehovah's heave-offering -- to Eleazar the priest, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 42And of the sons of Israel's half, which Moses halved from the men who war -- 43and the company's half is, of the flock three hundred thousand, and thirty thousand, seven thousand and five hundred; 44and of the herd six and thirty thousand; 45and of asses thirty thousand and five hundred; 46and of human beings sixteen thousand -- 47Moses taketh from the sons of Israel's half the one possession from the fifty, of man and of beast, and giveth them to the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses. 48And the inspectors whom the thousands of the host hath, (heads of the thousands and heads of the hundreds), draw near unto Moses, 49and they say unto Moses, "Thy servants have taken up the sum of the men of war who are with us, and not a man of us hath been missed; 50and we bring near Jehovah's offering, each that which he hath found, vessels of gold -- chain, and bracelet, seal-ring, ear -ring, and bead -- to make atonement for ourselves before Jehovah." 51And Moses receiveth -- Eleazar the priest also -- the gold from them, every made vessel, 52and all the gold of the heave-offering which they have lifted up to Jehovah is sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels, from heads of the thousands, and from heads of the hundreds; 53(the men of the host have spoiled each for himself); 54and Moses taketh -- Eleazar the priest also -- the gold from the heads of the thousands and of the hundreds, and they bring it in unto the tent of meeting -- a memorial for the sons of Israel before Jehovah.


Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
 1   Num 31:1 The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain.
Num 31:13 Moses is wroth with the officers, for saving the women alive.
Num 31:19 How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified.
Num 31:25 The proportion in which the prey is to be divided.
Num 31:48 The voluntary oblation unto the treasury of the Lord.
Num 31:1

 2   Avenge.
Num 31:3 Num 25:17 Num 25:18 Deut 32:35 Judg 16:24 Judg 16:28 - Judg 16:30 Ps 94:1 - Ps 94:3 Isa 1:24 Nah 1:2 Luke 21:22 Rom 12:19 Rom 13:4 1Thess 4:6 Heb 10:30 Rev 6:10 Rev 18:20 Rev 19:2
the Midianites.
Num 25:6 Num 25:14 - Num 25:18 Gen 25:1 - Gen 25:4 Exod 2:16
gathered.
Num 27:13 Gen 15:15 Gen 25:8 Gen 25:17 Judg 2:10 Acts 13:36

 3   Arm some.
Exod 17:9 - Exod 17:13
avenge the Lord. It was God's quarrel, not their own, that they were now to take up. These people were idolaters, and had seduced the Israelites to practise the same abominations. Idolatry is an offence against God; and the civil power has no authority to meddle with what belongs to Him, without especial directions, certified, as in this case, in the most unequivocal manner. Private revenge, ambition, or avarice were to have no place in this business: Jehovah is to be avenged; and through Him, the children of Israel, (ver. 2, Num 31:2) because they were nearly ruined by their idolatries. If Jehovah, instead of punishing sinners by earthquakes, pestilence, or famine,is pleased expressly to command any person or people to avenge his cause, this commission justifies, nay sanctifies, war, massacre, or devastation. Though none at present shew such a commission, yet the Israelites could; and it is therefore absurd to censure Moses, Joshua, and Israel, for the dreadful slaughter made by them. God himself passed sentence of condemnation, and employed them merely as ministers of his vengeance; and unless it could be proved that the criminals did not deserve their doom, or that God had no right to punish his rebellious creatures, such objectors only shew their enmity to God by becoming the unsolicited advocates of his enemies.
Num 25:11 Num 25:13 Exod 17:16 Lev 26:25 Judg 5:2 Judg 5:23 2Kgs 9:7 2Kgs 10:30 Jer 46:10 Jer 50:28

 4   Of every tribe a thousand. Heb. A thousand of a tribe, athousand of a tribe. a thousand.
Lev 26:8 Judg 7:2 1Sam 14:6

 5   Num 31:5

 6   a thousand. Twelve thousand in all--a small number in proportion to all Israel, or to the forces which they had to encounter. As they were under the conduct of captains of thousands and hundreds, they probably had no general; for Phinehas seems to have accompanied them simply to take charge of "the holy instruments;" probably the ark and silver trumpets.
Phinehas.
Num 25:7 - Num 25:13
the holy instruments.
Num 14:44 Num 33:20 - Num 33:22 Exod 25:9 Josh 6:4 - Josh 6:6 Josh 6:13 - Josh 6:15 1Sam 4:4 1Sam 4:5 1Sam 4:17 1Sam 14:18 1Sam 23:9 2Sam 11:11
to blow.
Num 10:8 Num 10:9 2Chr 13:12 - 2Chr 13:15

 7   all.
Deut 20:13 Deut 20:14 Judg 21:11 1Sam 27:9 1Kgs 11:15 1Kgs 11:16
the males.
Judg 6:1 Judg 6:2 Judg 6:33

 8   the kings.
Num 22:4 Josh 13:21 Josh 13:22
Zur.
Num 25:15 Num 25:18
Balaam.
Num 22:10 Num 24:25 Josh 13:22 Ps 9:16 Ps 10:2 1Tim 6:9 1Tim 6:10 2Pet 2:15 Jude 1:11 Rev 2:14 Rev 19:20

 9   Num 31:15 Num 31:16 Deut 20:14 2Chr 28:5 2Chr 28:8 - 2Chr 28:10

 10   Josh 6:24 1Sam 30:1 1Kgs 9:16 Isa 1:7 Rev 18:8

 11   Deut 20:14 Josh 8:2

 12   the plains of Moab.
Num 22:1

 13   went forth.
Gen 14:17 1Sam 15:12 1Sam 30:21
without the camp.
Num 31:12 Num 31:22 - Num 31:24 Num 5:2 Num 19:11

 14   wroth.
Num 12:3 Exod 32:19 Exod 32:22 Lev 10:16 1Sam 15:13 1Sam 15:14 1Kgs 20:42 2Kgs 13:19 Eph 4:26
battle. Heb. host of war.


 15   Deut 2:34 Deut 20:13 Deut 20:16 - Deut 20:18 Josh 6:21 Josh 8:25 Josh 10:40 Josh 11:14 1Sam 15:3 Ps 137:8 Ps 137:9 Jer 48:10 Ezek 9:6

 16   these caused.
Num 24:14 Num 25:1 - Num 25:3 Pro 23:27 Eccl 7:26 2Pet 2:15 Rev 2:14
in the matter.
Num 25:18 Deut 4:3 Josh 22:17
and there.
Num 25:9

 17   kill every male. The sword of war should spare women and children, as incapable of resisting; but the sword of justice knows no distinction, except that of guilty or not guilty, or more or less guilty. This was the execution of a righteous sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were the greatest criminals; and it may safely be said, that their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions. With respect to the execution of the male infants, who cannot be supposed to have been guilty, God, the author and supporter of life, who has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper, commanded it; and "shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Judg 21:11 Judg 21:12
him. Heb. a male.


 18   keep alive for yourselves. It has been groundlessly asserted, that Moses here authorised the Israelites to make concubines of the whole number of female children; and an insidious objection against his writings has been grounded upon this monstrous supposition. But the whole tenor of the law, and especially a statute recorded in Deut 21:10 - Deut 21:14, proves most decisively to the contrary. They were merely permitted to possess them as female slaves, educating them in their families, and employing them as domestics; for the laws concerning fornication, concubinage, and marriage, were in full force, and prohibited an Israelite even from marrying a captive, without delays and previous formalities; and if he afterwards divorced her, he was to set here at liberty, "because he had humbled her."
Lev 25:44 Deut 20:14 Deut 21:10 - Deut 21:14 2Chr 28:8 - 2Chr 28:10 Isa 14:2

 19   abide. Though the Israelites had acted by the commission of God, yet they had contracted pollution by touching the dead; and the spoil having been used by idolaters, must also be purified in the prescribed manner.
Num 5:2 Num 19:11 - Num 19:22 1Chr 22:8

 20   raiment.
Num 19:14 - Num 19:16 Num 19:22 Gen 35:2 Exod 19:10
that is made. Heb. instrument, or, vessel.


 21   Num 30:16

 22   Num 31:22

 23   abide.
Isa 43:2 Zech 13:9 Mal 2:2 Mal 2:3 Matt 3:11 1Cor 3:13 1Pet 1:7 1Pet 4:12 Rev 3:18
it shall be purified.
Num 8:7 Num 19:9 Num 19:17
ye shall make.
Lev 11:32 Lev 15:17 Eph 5:26 Titus 3:5 Titus 3:6 1Pet 3:21

 24   Num 19:19 Lev 11:25 Lev 14:9 Lev 15:13

 25   Num 31:25

 26   that was taken. Heb. of the captivity.
Num 31:26

 27   two parts.
Josh 22:8 1Sam 30:4 1Sam 30:24 1Sam 30:25 Ps 68:12

 28   levy.
Gen 14:20 Josh 6:19 Josh 6:24 2Sam 8:11 2Sam 8:12 1Chr 18:11 1Chr 26:26 1Chr 26:27 Pro 3:9 Pro 3:10 Isa 18:7 Isa 23:18 Isa 60:9 Matt 22:21
one soul.
Num 31:30 Num 31:47 Num 18:26

 29   an heave.
Num 18:26 Exod 29:27 Deut 12:12 Deut 12:19

 30   one portion.
Num 31:42 - Num 31:47
flocks, or, goats. and give.
Num 31:28 Num 18:24 - Num 18:28 1Cor 9:13 1Cor 9:14
keep the.
Num 3:7 Num 3:8 Num 3:25 Num 3:31 Num 3:36 - Num 3:39 Num 18:1 - Num 18:5 Num 18:23 1Chr 9:27 - 1Chr 9:29 1Chr 23:32 1Chr 26:20 - 1Chr 26:27 Acts 20:28 1Cor 4:2 Col 4:17 Heb 13:17

 31   Num 31:31

 32   the booty. It appears from the enumeration here, that the Israelites, in this war with the Midianites, took 32,000 female prisoners, 61,000 asses, 72,000 beeves, and 675,000 sheep and small cattle; besides the immense number of males who fell in battle, and the women and children who were slain by the divine command. (ver. 17. Num 31:17) This booty was divided into equal parts, by which partition a far larger share was justly given to the warriors employed on the expedition, who were only 12,000, than to those, who being equally willing to go, were ordered to stay in the camp. Each party was to give a certain proportion to Jehovah, as their sovereign, in grateful acknowledgement that to him they owed their success. The soldiers to give to the Lord one out of every five hundred persons, beeves, asses, and sheep, (ver. 28, Num 31:28) and the people, who by staying at home risked nothing, and had no fatigue, were to give one out of fifty of each of the above to the Levites, who were far more numerous than the priests. (ver. 30. Num 31:30) The booty, its division among the soldiers and people, and the proportion given by each to the Lord and to the Levites, will be seen at one view by the following table:--
Sheep . . . . 675,000 To soldiers . . . 337,500 To God. . . . . . 675 To people . . . . 337,500 To Levites. . . . 6,750
Beeves. . . . 72,000 To soldiers . . . 36,000 To God. . . . . . 72 To people . . . . 36,000 To Levites. . . . 720
Asses . . . . 61,000 To soldiers . . . 30,500 To God. . . . . . 61 To people . . . . 30,500 To Levites. . . . 610
Persons . . . 32,000 To soldiers . . . 16,000 To God. . . . . . 32 To people . . . . 16,000 To Levites. . . . 320
It does not appear that a single ox, sheep, or ass, was required by Moses as his portion; or that there was any given to him by the people; and though he had a family as well as others, yet no provision was made for them above the common lot of Levites!
Num 31:32

 33   Num 31:33

 34   Num 31:34

 35   Num 31:35

 36   Num 31:36

 37   Num 31:37

 38   Num 31:38

 39   Num 31:39

 40   Num 31:40

 41   Eleazar.
Num 31:29 - Num 31:31 Num 18:8 Num 18:19 Matt 10:10 1Cor 9:10 - 1Cor 9:14 Gal 6:6 1Tim 5:17 Heb 7:4 - Heb 7:6 Heb 7:9 - Heb 7:12

 42   Num 31:42

 43   Num 31:43

 44   Num 31:44

 45   Num 31:45

 46   Num 31:46

 47   the Levites.
Num 18:21 - Num 18:24 Deut 12:17 - Deut 12:19 Luke 10:1 - Luke 10:8 1Thess 5:12 1Thess 5:13
kept the charge.
Num 31:30 Ps 134:1 Isa 56:10 Isa 56:11

 48   Num 31:48

 49   charge. Heb. hand. lacketh.
1Sam 30:18 1Sam 30:19 Ps 72:14 John 18:9

 50   therefore brought. The officers of the army having mustered their men, found they had not lost a man in the contest with Midian! Penetrated with gratitude for this most remarkable interposition of Providence in their favour, they now offer to Jehovah the golden jewels which they had found among the spoil, to the amount of 16,750 shekels, equal to Ł37,869 16s. 5d. of our money.
an oblation.
Ps 107:15 Ps 107:21 Ps 107:22 Ps 116:12 Ps 116:17
gotten. Heb. found. an atonement.
Exod 30:12 Exod 30:15 Exod 30:16 Lev 17:11

 51   Num 7:2 - Num 7:6

 52   offering. Heb. heave-offering.
Num 31:52

 53   Deut 20:14

 54   a memorial.
Num 16:40 Exod 30:16 Josh 4:7 Ps 18:49 Ps 103:1 Ps 103:2 Ps 115:1 Ps 145:7 Zech 6:14 Luke 22:19 Acts 10:4