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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 31:25 - 31:47
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The Division of the Spoils
v. 25. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
v. 26. Take the sum of the prey that was taken, of everything that was captured in this campaign, both of man and of beast, thou and Eleazar, the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation, the heads of the fathers' houses, Exo_6:14;
v. 27. and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who assumed the offensive, made the attack, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation. The army received half the spoil, as having been actively engaged in the arduous campaign, but the congregation was also fairly entitled to its share, a rule which was observed also in later times, Jos_22:8; 1Sa_30:24.
v. 28. And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, the female captives, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep, the levy thus being one-fifth of one per cent. ;
v. 29. take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar, the priest, for an heave-offering of the Lord.
v. 30. And of the children of Israelis half, of the portion which had been allotted to the congregation that had remained in camp, thou shall take one portion of fifty, or two per cent. of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord. This special order was intended for only this one case, and was not to be a precedent.
v. 31. And Moses and Eleazar, the priest, did as the Lord commanded Moses.
v. 32. And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, after deducting the persons that were slain by the command of God, and the animals that were consumed during the return to camp, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep (675,000),
v. 33. and threescore and twelve thousand beeves (72,000),
v. 34. and threescore and one thousand asses (61,000),
v. 35. and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.
v. 36. And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep (337,500);
v. 37. and the Lord's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen (675).
v. 38. And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the Lord's tribute was threescore and twelve (72).
v. 39. And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the Lord's tribute was threescore and one (61).
v. 40. And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the Lord's tribute was thirty and two persons.
v. 41. And Moses gave the tribute which was the Lord's heave-offering unto Eleazar, the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses, undoubtedly for their maintenance, the girls becoming their slaves, and the other property being theirs to dispose of as they saw fit.
v. 42. And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,
v. 43. (now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,
v. 44. and thirty and six thousand beeves,
v. 45. and thirty thousand asses and five hundred,
v. 46. and sixteen thousand persons;)
v. 47. even of the children of Israel's half Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord, observing all the precepts which pertained to the ministry, as it was entrusted to them, as the Lord commanded Moses. The maintenance of the Old Testament Church was a duty commanded by God and prescribed by Him in detail; that of the New Testament Church is a privilege regulated by our love for the cause of the Lord, surely the greatest inducement to make us willing in His service.