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31:33 72,000 <0505> <07657> <08147> cattle <01241>, 31:34 61,000 <0505> <08346> <0259> donkeys <02543>, 31:35 and 32,000 <0505> <07970> <08147> young women <0802> who <0834> had never <03808> had sexual intercourse <04904> <03045> with a man <02145>. 31:36 The half-portion <02506> <04275> of those who went <03318> to war <06635> numbered <04557> 337,500 <03967> <02568> <0505> <07651> <0505> <07970> <0505> <03967> <07969> sheep <06629>; 31:37 the Lord’s <03068> tribute <04371> from <04480> the sheep <06629> was <01961> 675 <07657> <02568> <03967> <08337>. 31:38 The cattle <01241> numbered 36,000 <0505> <07970> <08337>; the Lord’s <03068> tribute <04371> was 72 <07657> <08147>. 31:39 The donkeys <02543> were 30,500 <03967> <02568> <0505> <07970>, of which the Lord’s <03068> tribute <04371> was 61 <08346> <0259>. 31:40 The people <0120> <05315> were 16,000 <0505> <06240> <08337>, of which the Lord’s <03068> tribute <04371> was 32 <07970> <08147> people <05315>. 31:41 So Moses <04872> gave <05414> the tribute <04371>, which was the Lord’s <03068> raised offering <08641>, to Eleazar <0499> the priest <03548>, as <0834> the Lord <03068> commanded <06680> Moses <04872>. 31:42 From the Israelites <03478> <01121>’ half-share <04276> that <0834> Moses <04872> had separated <02673> from <04480> the fighting <06633> men <0376>, 31:43 there were <01961> 337,500 <03967> <02568> <0505> <07651> <0505> <07970> <0505> <03967> <07969> sheep <06629> from <04480> the portion <04275> belonging to the community <05712>, 31:44 36,000 <0505> <07970> <08337> cattle <01241>, 31:45 30,500 <03967> <02568> <0505> <07970> donkeys <02543>, 31:46 and 16,000 <0505> <06240> <08337> people <0120> <05315>. 31:47 From the Israelites <03478> <01121>’ share <04276> Moses <04872> took <03947> one <0259> of <04480> every fifty <02572> people <0120> and animals <0929> and gave <05414> them to the Levites <03881> who were responsible <04931> for the care <08104> of the Lord’s <03068> tabernacle <04908>, just as <0834> the Lord <03068> commanded <06680> Moses <04872>. 31:48 Then the officers who were over <06485> the thousands <0505> of the army <06635>, the commanders <08269> over thousands <0505> and the commanders <08269> over hundreds <03967>, approached <0413> <07126> Moses <04872> 31:49 and said <0559> to <0413> him <04872>, “Your servants <05650> have taken <05375> a count <07218> of the men <0376> who were in the battle <04421>, who <0834> were under our authority <03027>, and not one <03808> is missing <06485>. 31:50 So we have brought <07126> as an offering <07133> for the Lord <03068> what <0834> each man <0376> found <04672>: gold <02091> ornaments <03627>, armlets <0685>, bracelets <06781>, signet rings <02885>, earrings <05694>, and necklaces <03558>, to make atonement <03722> for ourselves <05315> before <06440> the Lord <03068>.” 31:51 Moses <04872> and Eleazar <0499> the priest <03548> took <03947> the gold <02091> from them, all <03605> of it in the form <04639> of ornaments <03627>. 31:52 All <03605> the gold <02091> of the offering <08641> they offered up <07311> to the Lord <03068> from the commanders <08269> of thousands <0505> and the <0853> commanders <08269> of hundreds <03967> weighed 16,750 <02572> <03967> <07651> <0505> <06240> <08337> shekels <08255>. 31:53 Each <0376> soldier <06635> had taken plunder <0962> for himself. 31:54 So Moses <04872> and Eleazar <0499> the priest <03548> received <03947> the gold <02091> from the commanders <08269> of thousands <0505> and commanders of hundreds <03967> and brought <0935> it into <0413> the tent <0168> of meeting <04150> as a memorial <02146> for the Israelites <03478> <01121> before <06440> the Lord <03068>.

• Num 31:25-54 -- The Distribution of Spoils

• BOOTY

  [ebd] captives or cattle or objects of value taken in war. In Canaan all that breathed were to be destroyed (Deut. 20: 16). The "pictures and images" of the Canaanites were to be destroyed also (Num. 33:52). The law of booty as to...
  [smith] consisted of captives of both sexes, cattle, and whatever a captured city might contain, especially metallic treasures. Within the limits of Canaan no captives were to be made, (20:14,16) beyond these limits, in case of warli...
  

• MOSES

  [isbe] MOSES - mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet. I. LIFE 1. Son of Levi 2. Foundling Prince 3. Friend of the Pe...
  

• Midianites

  [nave] MIDIANITES Descendants of Midian, son of Abraham by Keturah, Gen. 25:1, 2, 4; 1 Chr. 1:32, 33. Called Ishmaelites, Gen. 37:25, 28; Judg. 8:24. Were merchantmen, Gen. 37:28. Buy Joseph and sell him to Potiphar, Gen. 37:28,...
  

• Spoils

  [nave] SPOILS Of war, Gen. 14:11, 12; Num. 31:9, 10; Deut. 2:35. Divided between the combatants and non-combatants of the Israelites, including priests and Levites, Num. 31:25-54; 1 Sam. 30:24. Dedicated to the Lord, 1 Sam. 15:15...
  

• Wars of the Lord, The Book of the

  [ebd] (Num. 21:14, 15), some unknown book so called (comp. Gen. 14:14-16; Ex. 17:8-16; Num. 14:40-45; 21:1-3, 21-25, 33-35; 31. The wars here recorded might be thus designated).
  

• BALAAM

  [isbe] BALAAM - ba'-lam bil`am, "devourer"): The son of Beor, from a city in Mesopotamia called Pethor, a man possessing the gift of prophecy, whose remarkable history may be found in Nu 22:2 through 24:25; compare Num 31:8,16; Dt ...
  

• ABEL-SHITTIM

  [isbe] ABEL-SHITTIM - a'-bel-shit'-tim ('abhel ha-shiTTim, "the meadow of the Acacias"): The name appears only in Nu 33:49; but the name Shittim is used to denote the same locality (Nu 25:1; Josh 2:1; 3:1; Mic 6:5). The name always...
  

• Israel

  [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...
  

• Armies

  [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...
  

• Servant

  [nave] SERVANT Distinguished as bond servant, who was a slave, and hired servant. Bond Laws of Moses concerning, Ex. 21:1-11, 20, 21, 26, 27, 32; Lev. 19:20-22; 25:6, 10, 35-55; Deut. 15:12, 14, 18; 24:7. Kidnapping forbidden, D...
  

• PRIEST

  [smith] The English word is derived from the Greek presbyter , signifying an "elder" (Heb. cohen). Origin. --The idea of a priesthood connects itself in all its forms, pure or corrupted, with the consciousness, more or less distinct ...
  

• METALS

  [smith] The Hebrews, in common with other ancient nations, were acquainted with nearly all the metals known to modern metallurgy, whether as the products of their own soil or the results of intercourse with foreigners. One of the ear...
  

• Liberality

  [nave] LIBERALITY. Ex. 22:29, 30 Ex. 13:2, 12. Ex. 23:15 Ex. 34:20. Ex. 25:1-8; Ex. 35:4-29; Ex. 36:3-6; Ex. 38:8; Lev. 19:5 Lev. 22:29; Num. 35:8. Deut. 12:11, 12, 17-19; Deut. 14:27-29; Deut. 15:7-18; Deut. 16:10, 17; Deut. 18:1...
  

• Levites

  [nave] LEVITES The descendants of Levi. Set apart as ministers of religion, Num. 1:47-54; 3:6-16; 16:9; 26:57-62; Deut. 10:8; 1 Chr. 15:2. Substituted in the place of the firstborn, Num. 3:12, 41-45; 8:14, 16-18; 18:6. Religious ...
  

• Thankfulness

  [nave] THANKFULNESS Jesus set an example of, Matt. 11:25; 26:27; John 11:41. The heavenly host engage in, Rev. 4:9; 7:11, 12; 11:16, 17. Commanded, Psa. 50:14. Should be offered to God, Psa. 50:14; to Christ, 1 Tim. 1:12; throug...
  

• TRIBUTE

  [isbe] TRIBUTE - trib'-ut (mac, "tribute," really meaning "forced laborers," "labor gang" (1 Ki 4:6; 9:15,21); also "forced service," "serfdom"; possibly "forced payment" is meant in Est 10:1; the idea contained in the modern word ...
  

• Gold

  [isbe] GOLD - gold (zahabh; chrusos): 1. Terms: No metal has been more frequently mentioned in Old Testament writings than gold, and none has had more terms applied to it. Among these terms the one most used is zahabh. The Arabic e...
  [nave] GOLD Exported from Havilah, Gen. 2:11, 12. From Ophir, 1 Kin. 9:28; 10:11; 1 Chr. 29:4; 2 Chr. 8:18; Job 22:24; Tarshish, 1 Kin. 22:48; Parvaim, 2 Chr. 3:6; Sheba, 1 Kin. 10:10; 2 Chr. 9:9; Psa. 72:15; Uphaz, Jer. 10:9. Re...
  

• Jericho

  [ebd] place of fragrance, a fenced city in the midst of a vast grove of palm trees, in the plain of Jordan, over against the place where that river was crossed by the Israelites (Josh. 3:16). Its site was near the 'Ain es-Sultan, ...
  

• Jewels

  [nave] JEWELS Betrothal presents of, Gen. 24:53. Borrowed from Egyptians by Israelites, Ex. 3:22; 11:2; 12:35. Dedicated to the tabernacle, Ex. 35:22; Num. 31:50-52. Regarded by Jacob as obnoxious to holiness, Gen. 35:4; Ex. 33:...
  

• Beeves

  [ebd] (an old English plural of the word beef), a name applicable to all ruminating animals except camels, and especially to the Bovidce, or horned cattle (Lev. 22:19, 21; Num. 31:28, 30, 33, 38, 44).
  

• Vengeance on the Midianites

  

• How could a loving God tell the Israelites to kill their enemies, even children?
  First, just as a beginning, it should be noted that the Israelites were not always commanded to annihilate all their enemies, only certain ones. The reasons will be suggested below. Second, if there is plenty of evidence ...

Slavery

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