Thematic Bible
Numbers 31:1 (show verse)
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Numbers 31:2 (show verse)
“Take vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people [in death].”
Numbers 31:3 (show verse)
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, so that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian [for seducing Israel to participate in idolatry].
Numbers 31:4 (show verse)
A thousand [fighting men] from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.”
Numbers 31:5 (show verse)
So out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe were selected, twelve thousand armed for war.
Numbers 31:6 (show verse)
Moses sent them, a thousand from each tribe, to the war, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to war with them, and the sacred vessels [of the sanctuary] and the trumpets to blow the alarm in his hand.
the Armies of israel » Attended by priest with trumpets
the Armies of israel » Men selected from, for difficult enterprises
Midianites » With the moabites » Punished for seducing israel
Phinehas » Sent to sound the trumpets in the battle with the midianites
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » A second priest, under the high priest
Priest » Duties of » Sound the trumpet in summoning assemblies and in battle
Trumpet » Used for » Sounding for a memorial when the people went into battle
Trumpet » To summon soldiers » By phinehas
the Armies of israel » Men selected from, for difficult enterprises
Midianites » With the moabites » Punished for seducing israel
Phinehas » Sent to sound the trumpets in the battle with the midianites
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » A second priest, under the high priest
Priest » Duties of » Sound the trumpet in summoning assemblies and in battle
Trumpet » Used for » Sounding for a memorial when the people went into battle
Trumpet » To summon soldiers » By phinehas
Numbers 31:7 (show verse)
They made war against Midian, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
Canaan, land of » Miscellaneous topics » Wars of extermination waged against early inhabitants of
Extermination » Wars of extermination waged against early inhabitants of
Homicide » Justifiable, described as » Killing enemies in battle
Massacre » Instances of » Midianites
Midianites » With the moabites » Punished for seducing israel
Trumpet » Used for » Sounding for a memorial when the people went into battle
War » Of extermination
Extermination » Wars of extermination waged against early inhabitants of
Homicide » Justifiable, described as » Killing enemies in battle
Massacre » Instances of » Midianites
Midianites » With the moabites » Punished for seducing israel
Trumpet » Used for » Sounding for a memorial when the people went into battle
War » Of extermination
Numbers 31:8 (show verse)
They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur [the father of Cozbi] and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; also Balaam the son of Beor they killed with the sword.
balaam » General references to
balaam » Death of
Evi » Prince of midian, killed
Homicide » Justifiable, described as » Killing enemies in battle
Hur » King of midian
Massacre » Instances of » Midianites
Midianites » With the moabites » Punished for seducing israel
Midianites » Governed by kings
Reba » Killed by the israelites
Rekem » King of the midianites » Killed » By israelites
War » Of extermination
Zur » A prince of midian
balaam » Death of
Evi » Prince of midian, killed
Homicide » Justifiable, described as » Killing enemies in battle
Hur » King of midian
Massacre » Instances of » Midianites
Midianites » With the moabites » Punished for seducing israel
Midianites » Governed by kings
Reba » Killed by the israelites
Rekem » King of the midianites » Killed » By israelites
War » Of extermination
Zur » A prince of midian
Numbers 31:9 (show verse)
The sons of Israel captured the women of Midian and their children; and all their cattle, all their livestock, and all their property they took as spoil [of war].
Numbers 31:10 (show verse)
They burned all the cities where they lived, and all their encampments with fire.
Numbers 31:11 (show verse)
They took all the plunder and all the spoils of war, both people and livestock.
Numbers 31:12 (show verse)
Then they brought the captives, the spoils, and the plunder to Moses and to Eleazar the priest and to the congregation of the Israelites at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan [River] across from Jericho.
Numbers 31:13 (show verse)
Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the congregation went out to meet them outside the camp.
Numbers 31:14 (show verse)
But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, who served in the war.
Numbers 31:15 (show verse)
And Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live?
Numbers 31:16 (show verse)
Look, these [are the women who] caused the Israelites, by the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and so a plague came among the congregation of the Lord.
balaam » General references to
balaam » Counsel of, an occasion of israel's corruption with the midianites
balaam » evil counsellor
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
Church of israel » Called the » Congregation of the lord
Counsel » Evil
Evil » Results of » Counsel
Offence » Exemplified
Sanitation » Quarantine
War » Of extermination
Woman » Frequently » Active in instigating to iniquity
Women » Active in instigating to iniquity
balaam » Counsel of, an occasion of israel's corruption with the midianites
balaam » evil counsellor
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
Church of israel » Called the » Congregation of the lord
Counsel » Evil
Evil » Results of » Counsel
Offence » Exemplified
Sanitation » Quarantine
War » Of extermination
Woman » Frequently » Active in instigating to iniquity
Women » Active in instigating to iniquity
Numbers 31:17 (show verse)
Now therefore, kill every male among the children, and kill every woman who is not a virgin.
Numbers 31:18 (show verse)
But all the young girls who have not known a man intimately, keep alive for yourselves [to marry].
Numbers 31:19 (show verse)
Camp outside the camp for seven days; whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any dead body, purify yourselves and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.
Armies » March in ranks » Purifications
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
Defilement » Caused by » Touching the dead
Defilement » Caused by » Killing in battle
Disease » Remedies » Quarantine
Mourning » Caused ceremonial defilement
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Sanitation » Disinfection
Sanitation » Carcasses
Sanitation » Quarantine
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
Defilement » Caused by » Touching the dead
Defilement » Caused by » Killing in battle
Disease » Remedies » Quarantine
Mourning » Caused ceremonial defilement
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Sanitation » Disinfection
Sanitation » Carcasses
Sanitation » Quarantine
Numbers 31:20 (show verse)
You shall purify every garment and every article made of leather and all the things made of goats’ hair, and every article made of wood.”
Armies » March in ranks » Purifications
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
Defilement » Caused by » Touching the dead
Defilement » Caused by » Killing in battle
Dress » Ceremonial purification of
Garments » Cleansed by water from ceremonial uncleanness
Goat » Hair of, used for clothing
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Sanitation » Disinfection
Sanitation » Quarantine
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Captive » Cruelty to » Putting to death
Defilement » Caused by » Touching the dead
Defilement » Caused by » Killing in battle
Dress » Ceremonial purification of
Garments » Cleansed by water from ceremonial uncleanness
Goat » Hair of, used for clothing
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Sanitation » Disinfection
Sanitation » Quarantine
Numbers 31:21 (show verse)
Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone to battle, “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded Moses:
Numbers 31:22 (show verse)
only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
Armies » March in ranks » Purifications
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Brass » Taken in war » Cleansed by fire
Iron » Mode of purifying, taken in war
Lead » Purified by fire
Metals » Ceremonially cleansed by fire
Metals » Mentioned in scripture » Tin
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Sanitation » Disinfection
Silver » Taken in war purified by fire
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Brass » Taken in war » Cleansed by fire
Iron » Mode of purifying, taken in war
Lead » Purified by fire
Metals » Ceremonially cleansed by fire
Metals » Mentioned in scripture » Tin
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Sanitation » Disinfection
Silver » Taken in war purified by fire
Numbers 31:23 (show verse)
everything that can stand fire, you shall pass through fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless, it shall also be purified with the water of purification [to remove its impurity]; and all that cannot stand fire [such as fabrics] you shall pass through water.
Armies » March in ranks » Purifications
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Brass » Taken in war » Cleansed by fire
Fire » As a purifier
Fire » Characterized as » Purifying
Iron » Mode of purifying, taken in war
Metals » Ceremonially cleansed by fire
Purification » Water of
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Purification » By fire, for things that resist fire
Sanitation » Disinfection
Silver » Taken in war purified by fire
the Armies of israel » Purified on returning from war
Brass » Taken in war » Cleansed by fire
Fire » As a purifier
Fire » Characterized as » Purifying
Iron » Mode of purifying, taken in war
Metals » Ceremonially cleansed by fire
Purification » Water of
Purification » For those who had recently killed someone in battle
Purification » By fire, for things that resist fire
Sanitation » Disinfection
Silver » Taken in war purified by fire
Numbers 31:24 (show verse)
And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day and be clean, and afterward you may come into the camp.”
Numbers 31:25 (show verse)
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
Numbers 31:26 (show verse)
“You and Eleazar the priest and the leaders of the fathers’ households of the congregation are to take a count of the spoil of war that was captured, both people and livestock.
Numbers 31:27 (show verse)
Divide the spoil into two [equal] parts between those who were involved in the war, that is, those who went out to battle and all [the rest of] the congregation.
Numbers 31:28 (show verse)
Levy a tax for the Lord from the warriors who went to battle, one in five hundred of the persons, the oxen, the donkeys, and the flocks.
Armies » March in ranks » A share the spoils
Heave-offering » Consisted of » Part of spoil taken in war
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » Distribute the plunder of war
Priest » Benefits of » Part of the plunder of war, including captives
Servant » Bond » Captive bondservants shared by priests and levites
Spoils » Divided
Heave-offering » Consisted of » Part of spoil taken in war
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » Distribute the plunder of war
Priest » Benefits of » Part of the plunder of war, including captives
Servant » Bond » Captive bondservants shared by priests and levites
Spoils » Divided
Numbers 31:29 (show verse)
Take this tribute from the warriors’ half and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the Lord.
Armies » March in ranks » A share the spoils
Dedication » Personal of offerings » Heave
Heave-offering » Consisted of » Part of spoil taken in war
Offerings » Heave
Offerings » Heave » Plunder, including captives and other articles of war
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » Distribute the plunder of war
Priest » Benefits of » Part of the plunder of war, including captives
priests » Revenues of » A fixed portion of the spoil taken in war
Servant » Bond » Captive bondservants shared by priests and levites
Spoils » Divided
Dedication » Personal of offerings » Heave
Heave-offering » Consisted of » Part of spoil taken in war
Offerings » Heave
Offerings » Heave » Plunder, including captives and other articles of war
Priest » The function he served was superior to that of other priests » Distribute the plunder of war
Priest » Benefits of » Part of the plunder of war, including captives
priests » Revenues of » A fixed portion of the spoil taken in war
Servant » Bond » Captive bondservants shared by priests and levites
Spoils » Divided
Numbers 31:30 (show verse)
From the Israelites’ half [of the spoil] you shall take one out of every fifty of the persons, the oxen, the donkeys, the flocks, and of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites who are in charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.”
Numbers 31:31 (show verse)
Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Numbers 31:32 (show verse)
The plunder that remained from the spoil of war which the warriors had taken, was 675,000 sheep,
Numbers 31:33 (show verse)
and 72,000 cattle,
Numbers 31:34 (show verse)
and 61,000 donkeys,
Numbers 31:35 (show verse)
and 32,000 persons in all, of the [Midianite] women who were virgins.
Numbers 31:36 (show verse)
The half share, the portion of those who went to war, was 337,500 sheep in number,
Numbers 31:37 (show verse)
and the Lord’s levy (tax) of the sheep was 675;
Numbers 31:38 (show verse)
the cattle were 36,000, from which the Lord’s levy was 72;
Numbers 31:39 (show verse)
the donkeys were 30,500, from which the Lord’s levy was 61;
Numbers 31:40 (show verse)
the persons were 16,000, from whom the Lord’s levy was 32 persons.
Numbers 31:41 (show verse)
Moses gave the levy which was the Lord’s offering to Eleazar the priest, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Armies » March in ranks » A share the spoils
Heave-offering » Consisted of » Part of spoil taken in war
Offerings » Heave » Plunder, including captives and other articles of war
priests » Revenues of » A fixed portion of the spoil taken in war
Servant » Bond » Captive bondservants shared by priests and levites
Spoils » Divided
Heave-offering » Consisted of » Part of spoil taken in war
Offerings » Heave » Plunder, including captives and other articles of war
priests » Revenues of » A fixed portion of the spoil taken in war
Servant » Bond » Captive bondservants shared by priests and levites
Spoils » Divided
Numbers 31:42 (show verse)
As for the Israelites’ half, which Moses separated from that of the warriors—
Numbers 31:43 (show verse)
now the congregation’s half was 337,500 sheep,
Numbers 31:44 (show verse)
and 36,000 cattle,
Numbers 31:45 (show verse)
and 30,500 donkeys,
Numbers 31:46 (show verse)
and 16,000 people—
Numbers 31:47 (show verse)
and from the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty, both of persons and animals, and gave them to the Levites, who were in charge of the tabernacle of the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Numbers 31:48 (show verse)
Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, approached Moses,
Numbers 31:49 (show verse)
and they said to him, “Your servants have counted the warriors under our command, and not one man of us is missing.
Numbers 31:50 (show verse)
So we have brought as an offering to the Lord what each man obtained—articles of gold, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”
Adorning » Rich apparel » Earrings
Adorning » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Adorning » Jewels » General references to
Adorning » Jewels » Brought as offerings to God
Atonement » By jewels
Bracelet » Taken as spoils
Bracelet » Dedicated to the tabernacle
Chains » Worn » Ankles
Giving » To God, general references to
Gold » Used in the arts » Into ornaments
Jewels » General references to
Jewels » Brought as offerings to God
Jewels » Dedicated to the tabernacle
Liberality » Instances of » Israelites at the erection of the tabernacle
Necklace » Av, tablets, rv, armlet
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Earrings
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Ornaments » Jewels » General references to
Ornaments » Jewels » Brought as offerings to God
Ring » Offerings of, to the tabernacle
Ring » Of gold
Rings » Made of gold and set with precious stones
Rings » Numbers of, taken from midianites
Spoils » Divided
Thankfulness » To God, instances of » Of the people of israel
Adorning » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Adorning » Jewels » General references to
Adorning » Jewels » Brought as offerings to God
Atonement » By jewels
Bracelet » Taken as spoils
Bracelet » Dedicated to the tabernacle
Chains » Worn » Ankles
Giving » To God, general references to
Gold » Used in the arts » Into ornaments
Jewels » General references to
Jewels » Brought as offerings to God
Jewels » Dedicated to the tabernacle
Liberality » Instances of » Israelites at the erection of the tabernacle
Necklace » Av, tablets, rv, armlet
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Earrings
Ornaments » Rich apparel » Bracelets
Ornaments » Jewels » General references to
Ornaments » Jewels » Brought as offerings to God
Ring » Offerings of, to the tabernacle
Ring » Of gold
Rings » Made of gold and set with precious stones
Rings » Numbers of, taken from midianites
Spoils » Divided
Thankfulness » To God, instances of » Of the people of israel
Numbers 31:51 (show verse)
Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all the handmade articles.
Numbers 31:52 (show verse)
All the gold of the offering which they presented to the Lord from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds was 16,750 shekels.
Numbers 31:53 (show verse)
For the men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.
Numbers 31:54 (show verse)
So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) as a memorial for the sons of Israel before the Lord.