Numbers Chapter 31
Conquest of the Midianites
1 Yahveh told Moses, 2 “Take revenge for Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you’ll pass on to your people.”
3 Moses told the people, “Arm men to attack Midian and carry out Yahveh’s revenge on it. 4 Send 1,000 men from each tribe.”
5 They provided 12,000 men. 6 Moses sent them to war with Phinehas Ben-Eleazar the priest along with the holy items from the sanctuary and bugles for signaling. 7 They fought Midian and killed every male, 8 including its five kings: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, Reba. They also killed Balaam Ben-Beor with a sword. 9 They took the women and children, their cattle, flocks, and possessions. 10 They burned their towns, houses, and camps; 11 and took the spoil—people and animals. 12 They brought the captives, prey, and spoil to Moses, Eleazar, and the community on the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.
Num 31:1-12
13 Moses, Eleazar, and the leaders of the community met them outside the camp. 14 Moses was mad at the officers of the army and the commanders of thousands and hundreds.
15 “You’ve saved the women alive? 16 They’re what got Israel to sin against Yahveh at Peor, and a plague came into the community by Balaam’s advice. 17 So kill every male child and every woman that has had intercourse with a man. 18 Keep alive for yourselves the young girls that are virgins. 19 Camp outside the camp for a week. Whoever has killed anybody or touched a slain body, purify yourself on the third day and seventh day, you and your captives. 20 Purify every piece of clothing, anything made out of skin, goat hair, or wood.”
21 Eleazar told the men that fought,
“Yahveh commanded Moses this statute. 22 ‘The gold, silver, brass, iron, tin, and lead— 23 anything that doesn’t burn—put through fire to cleanse it; then purify it with water. Anything that will burn, purify with water. 24 Wash your clothes the seventh day. You’ll be ceremonially clean then, and you can come into the camp.” Num 31:13-24
25 Yahveh told Moses,
26 “You, Eleazar, and heads of families, count the spoil—people and animals— 27 and divide it between soldiers and community. 28 Levy a tax for Yahveh from the soldiers’ spoil: 1 per 500 persons, cattle, donkeys, and sheep. 29 Give this share to Eleazar as a heave offering to Yahveh. 30 From Israel’s half, take 1 from every 50 persons, cattle, donkeys, and sheep, and give them to the Levites that take care of the Tabernacle.”
31 Moses and Eleazar did that.
32 The prey that was left from the soldiers’ spoil was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys, 35 32,000 virgins.
36 The soldiers’ half was 337,500 sheep; 37 Yahveh’s levy, 675.
38 There were 36,000 cattle; Yahveh’s levy, 72.
39 There were 30,500 donkeys; Yahveh’s levy, 61.
40 There were 16,000 persons; Yahveh’s levy, 32.
41 Moses gave Yahveh’s levy to Eleazar the priest.
Num 31:25-41
42 Israel’s half was 43 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys, 46 and 16,000 persons. 47 From Israel’s half Moses took out one from every 50 people and animals, and gave them to the Levites that take care of the Tabernacle.
48 The commanders of thousands and hundreds came to Moses,
49 “We’ve counted the men who fought and not a one is missing. 50 So, from what each man found, we’ve brought an offering to Yahveh: articles of gold, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and neck chains to atone for ourselves.”
51 Moses and Eleazar took the gold and crafted articles, 52 418¾ lbs 16,750 shekels worth. 53 Each soldier had taken spoil. 54 Moses and Eleazar brought the commanders’ gold to the Tent of Meeting as a memorial to Israel before Yahveh.
Num 31:42-54