American Standard Version (EN)

1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 2Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.  3And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Jehovah's vengeance on Midian. 4Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. 5So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. 6And Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand. 7And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male. 8And they slew the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. 9And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey. 10And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire. 11And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast. 12And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho. 13And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. 14And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war. 15And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Jehovah. 17Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. 18But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. 19And encamp ye without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, ye and your captives. 20And as to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood, ye shall purify yourselves. 21And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war that went to the battle, This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses: 22howbeit the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make to go through the water. 24And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean; and afterward ye shall come into the camp. 25And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 26Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the congregation; 27and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation. 28And levy a tribute unto Jehovah of the men of war that went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the oxen, and of the asses, and of the flocks: 29take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for Jehovah's heave-offering. 30And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, even of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah. 31And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Jehovah commanded Moses. 32Now the prey, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep, 33and threescore and twelve thousand oxen, 34and threescore and one thousand asses, 35and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of the women that had not known man by lying with him. 36And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep: 37and Jehovah's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen. 38And the oxen were thirty and six thousand; of which Jehovah's tribute was threescore and twelve. 39And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which Jehovah's tribute was threescore and one. 40And the persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Jehovah's tribute was thirty and two persons. 41And Moses gave the tribute, which was Jehovah's heave-offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as Jehovah commanded Moses. 42And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided off from the men that warred 43(now the congregation's half was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand, seven thousand and five hundred sheep, 44and thirty and six thousand oxen, 45and thirty thousand and five hundred asses, 46and sixteen thousand persons), 47even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, that kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses. 48And the officers that were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses; 49and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war that are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. 50And we have brought Jehovah's oblation, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Jehovah. 51And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels. 52And all the gold of the heave-offering that they offered up to Jehovah, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. 53(For the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.) 54And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, for a memorial for the children 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