Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 31:25
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,
25 54. The apportionment of the spoil. Those who fought and those who remained behind were to receive equal shares. This was an ancient custom, which was traced to the action of David (1Sa 30:24 f.). But before the appropriation by individuals, a religious tax was to be paid. The fighters were to pay from their share 1/500th to the priests, and the others 1/50th to the Levites. Such a tax is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., but perhaps, like the foregoing regulation, it had an ancient custom behind it. Mohammed, whose religion was ultimately based on the O.T., enjoined a similar tax of 1/5th ( Koran viii. 42, cited by Gray).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
25-39. Take the sum of the prey thatwas takenthat is, of the captives and cattle, which, havingbeen first lumped together according to ancient usage (Exo 15:9;Jdg 5:30), were divided into twoequal parts: the one to the people at large, who had sustained acommon injury from the Midianites and who were all liable to serve:and the other portion to the combatants, who, having encountered thelabors and perils of war, justly received the largest share. Fromboth parts, however, a certain deduction was taken for the sanctuary,as a thank offering to God for preservation and for victory. Thesoldiers had greatly the advantage in the distribution; for afive-hundredth part only of their half went to the priest, while afiftieth part of the congregation’s half was given to the Levites.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord spake unto Moses,…. After the purification of the soldiers, their captives, and spoil:
saying; as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Distribution of the Booty. – God directed Moses, with Eleazar and the heads of the fathers’ houses (“fathers” for “fathers’ houses:” see at Exo 6:14) of the congregation, to take the whole of the booty in men and cattle, and divide it into two halves: one for the men of war ( , those who grasped at war, who engaged in war), the other for the congregation, and to levy a tribute upon it ( = , computatio , a certain amount: see Exo 12:4) for Jehovah. Of the half that came to the warriors, one person and one head of cattle were to be handed over to Eleazar the priest out of every 500 (i.e., one-fifth per cent.), as a heave-offering for Jehovah; and of the other half that was set apart for the children of Israel, i.e., for the congregation, one out of every fifty (i.e., 2 per cent.) was to be taken for the Levites. , laid hold of, i.e., snatched out of the whole number during the process of counting; not seized or touched by the lot, as in 1Ch 24:6, as there was no reason for resorting to the lot in this instance. The division of the booty into two equal halves, one of which was given to the warriors, and the other to the congregation that had taken no part in the war, was perfectly reasonable and just. As the 12,000 warriors had been chosen out of the whole congregation to carry on the war on their behalf, the congregation itself could properly lay claim to its share of the booty. But as the 12,000 had had all the trouble, hardships, and dangers of the war, they could very properly reckon upon some reward for their service; and this was granted them by their receiving quite as much as the whole of the congregation which had taken no part in the war-in fact, more, because the warriors only gave one-fifth per cent. of their share as a thank-offering for the victory that had been granted them, whilst those who remained at home had to give 2 per cent. of their share to Jehovah for the benefit of the priests and Levites. The arrangement, however, was only made for this particular case, and not as a law for all times, although it was a general rule that those who remained at home received a share of the booty brought back by the warriors (cf. Jos 22:8; 1Sa 30:24-25; 2 Macc. 8:28, 30).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Distribution of the Spoil. | B. C. 1452. |
25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation: 27 And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation: 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, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep: 29 Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD. 30 And of the children of Israel’s half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, 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. 31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses. 32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep, 33 And threescore and twelve thousand beeves, 34 And threescore and one thousand asses, 35 And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. 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: 37 And the LORD‘s tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen. 38 And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD‘s tribute was threescore and twelve. 39 And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD‘s tribute was threescore and one. 40 And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD‘s tribute was thirty and two persons. 41 And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD‘s heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses. 42 And of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided from the men that warred, 43 (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep, 44 And thirty and six thousand beeves, 45 And thirty thousand asses and five hundred, 46 And sixteen thousand persons;) 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; as the LORD commanded Moses.
We have here the distribution of the spoil which was taken in this expedition against Midian. God himself directed how it should be distributed, and Moses and Eleazar did according to the directions, and thus unhappy contests among themselves were prevented and the victory was made to turn to the common benefit. It was fit that he who gave them the prey should order the disposal of it. All we have is from God, and therefore must be subject to his will.
I. The prey is ordered to be divided into two parts, one for the 12,000 men that undertook the war, and the other for the congregation. The prey that was divided seems to have been only the captives and the cattle; as for the plate, and jewels, and other goods, every man kept what he took, as is intimated, v. 50-53. That only was distributed which would be of use for the stocking of that good land into which they were going. Now observe, 1. That the one half of the prey was given to the whole congregation, Moses allotting to each tribe its share, and then leaving it to the heads of the tribes to divide their respective shares among themselves, according to their families. The war was undertaken on the behalf of the whole congregation; they would all have been ready to go to the help of the Lord against the mighty, if they had been so ordered, and they did help, it is likely, by their prayers; and therefore God appoints that those that tarried at home should divide the spoil, Ps. lxviii. 12. David, in his time, made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel, that, as his part is that goes down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff,1Sa 30:24; 1Sa 30:25. Those that are employed in public trusts must not think to benefit themselves only by their toils and hazards, but must aim at the advantage of the community. 2. That yet the 12,000 that went to the battle had as much for their share as the whole congregation (which were fifty times as many) had for theirs; so that the particular persons of the soldiery had a much better share than any of their brethren that tarried at home: and good reason they should. The greater pains we take, and the greater hazards we run, in the service of God and our generation, the greater will our recompence be at last; for God is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love.
II. God was to have a tribute out of it, as an acknowledgment of his sovereignty over them in general, and that he was their king to whom tribute was due, and particularly of his interest in this war and the gains of it, he having given them their success; and that the priests, the Lord’s receivers, might have something added to the provision made for their maintenance. Note, Whatever we have, God must have his dues out of it. And here (as before) the soldiers are favoured above the rest of the congregation, for out of the people’s share God required one in fifty, but out of the soldier’s share only one in 500, because the people got theirs easily, without any peril or fatigue. The less opportunity we have of honouring God with our personal services the more it is expected we should honour him with our substance. The tribute out of the soldiers’ half was given to the priests (v. 29), that out of the people’s half was given to the Levites, v. 30. For the priests were taken from among the Levites, as these soldiers from among the people, for special and hazardous service, and their pay was proportioned accordingly.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 25-30:
Moses commanded that an inventory be taken of all the spoils of war. This list included persons, livestock, and all other goods. The entire sum was to be divided equally, half going to those who fought in the battle, and the other half to the rest of the congregation.
God instructed that a levy (tax) be raised from each half. This consisted of:
(1) One “soul” out of five hundred, of persons and livestock. This was to be given to Eleazar the high priest, as his portion. This was to be a “heave offering” unto the Lord.
(2) One “soul” out of fifty, of persons and livestock. This levy was for the Levites, who ministered in the Tabernacle service, as their portion.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
25. And the Lord spake unto Moses. A most equitable distribution of the booty is here described, in which the law of proportion was so well observed that, whilst the soldiers were not defrauded of the reward of their labor, at the same time some advantage accrued to the rest of the people in whose name the war was carried on. The share of the multitude was indeed small, for the same proportion was awarded to the 12,000 as to the remaining 600,000. But, since the booty had been already won by the soldiers in right of their victory, it ought not to have been a cause of complaint to the people who had not borne arms, that they received an honorary gift, although it might be of little value. And assuredly it would have been a shame that those who remained in the camp should be altogether without any part of the spoil, as if they had been convicted of cowardice, whereas it did not depend on themselves that they had not taken part with their brethren in the conquest of the enemy. For it was from no want of courage that they had escaped the burden and the perils of war, but they had modestly allowed the general glory to be appropriated by a few, because it had so pleased God. But, whilst it was just that some of the fruits of the victory should be communicated to all, so it. was no less right that the fuller and more liberal reward should be received by those who had borne the whole brunt of the war.
It appears to some that David pursued the same rule, when he distributed the spoil equally amongst his followers who had gone down to the battle, and those who had stood by the baggage. (1Sa 30:24.) In my opinion, however, what David then decided was very different; for if the portion of those who remained with the baggage had been equal with that of those who were actually engaged, it would have been far more advantageous to remain out of the reach of the weapons. For, when a battle is fought, only a few men out of a large army are generally left with the baggage, and thus half the booty would have accrued to a few idlers. The partition, therefore, which is there mentioned, must have been an equal distribution to each individual; and very justly did David enjoin that those who remained stationed in the camp should have a full share of the spoil, lest (210) the condition of those should be dissimilar who were under the operation of the same rule. But in this case the actual warriors are justly rewarded above those who quietly attended to their own domestic cares.
(210) The Fr. gives a different turn to the sentence, “veu que tous a la verite guerroyoyent;” seeing that in truth all were alike engaged in the war.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
D. DIVISION OF THE BOOTY vv. 2554
TEXT
Num. 31:25. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 26. Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation: 27. And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation. 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, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep: 29. Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for a heave offering of the Lord. 30. And of the children of Israels half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and given them unto the Levites, Which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord. 31. And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses. 32. And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep, 33. And threescore and twelve thousand beeves, 34. And threescore and one thousand asses, 35. And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. 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: 37. And the Lords tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen. 38. And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the Lords tribute was threescore and twelve. 39. And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the Lords tribute was threescore and one. 40. And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the Lords tribute was thirty and two persons. 41. And Moses gave the tribute, which was the Lords heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses. 42. And of the children of Israels half, which Moses divided from the men that warred, 43. (now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep, 44. And thirty and six thousand beeves, 45. And thirty thousand asses and five hundred, 46. And sixteen thousand persons,) 47. Even of the children of Israels half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of men and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord: as the Lord commanded Moses.
48. And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses: 49. And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us. 50. We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord. 51. And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels. 52. And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the Lord, 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 spoil, every man for himself.) 54. And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.
PARPAHRASE
Num. 31:25. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, You and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers households of the congregation shall take a count of the loot which was taken, of both man and animal; 27. and divide the loot between the warriors who went out into battle and all the congregation. 28. And you shall levy a tax for the Lord from the warriors who went out to battle, one in five hundred of the people and of the cattle, and of the donkeys and of the sheep; 29. take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to the Lord. 30. And from the half belonging to the children of Israel you shall take one of each fifty of the people, of the cattle, of the donkeys and of the sheep, from all the animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord. 31. So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses. 32. And the booty which remained from the loot which the warriors had taken was 675,000 sheep, 33. and 72,000 cattle, 34. and 61,000 donkeys; 35. and of people, of the women who had not lain with a man, the total number of women was 32,000. 36. And the half which was the allotment of those who went to war was the following: the number of sheep was 337,500, 37. and the Lords tax of the sheep was 675, 38. and the number of cattle was 36,000, from which the Lords tax was 72. 39. And there were 30,500 donkeys, from which the Lords tax was 61. 40. And there were 16,000 people, from whom the Lords levy was 32 people. 41. And Moses gave the tax which was the Lords offering to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 42. And from the half belonging to the children of Israel, which Moses received from the men who had gone to war 43. (now the congregations half was 337,500 sheep, 44. and 36,000 cattle, 45. and 30,500 donkeys; 46. and there were 16,000 people), 47. and from the half belonging to the children of Isreal, Moses took one chosen from every fifty, of both man and animals, and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the Tabernacle of the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
48. Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, came to Moses. 49. And they said to Moses, Your servants have taken a census of the warriors who are under our command, and not one man is missing. 50. So we have brought as an offering to the Lord what each man found, items of gold, jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and belts, to make atonement for our souls before the Lord. 51. Then Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all kinds of wrought jewelry. 52. And all the gold of the offering which they offered up to the Lord from the captains of the hundreds was 16,750 shekels. 53. (Now the warriors had taken loot, every man for himself.) 54. Now Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it to the Tent of Meeting as a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.
COMMENTARY
Everything taken in war against the Midianites was first divided into two equal portions. These were shared alike by those who had gone to battle and those who had not. David would later base his distribution of loot from war upon this principle (see 1Sa. 30:24 ff.): it is implicit in Joshuas words to the people when the two and one-half tribes settled east of the Jordan (Jos. 22:8).
When the equal division was completed, the booty was assessed for a tribute unto the Lord. One-fifth of one percent of that which was designated for the warriors was to be given Eleazar for a heave offering unto the Lord. The same portion was taken from those given the congregation, and these portions were taken for the Levites. Although the total portions taken were identical, the proportions differed greatly: .2% of the soldiers booty, but 2% of the booty of the people. This would recognize the active service of the warriors. If the number of animals taken seems large, let the later reference of Jdg. 6:3-5 be considered, where the Midianites herds and flocks are compared to grasshoppers in multitude, and their camels are said to have been without number.
The soldiers were obviously pleased with their rewards (Num. 31:49); and an even more intriguing item is the note that not one man was missing from their ranks. This latter fact has been attributed to the protection of God, to the lack of resistance from the Midianites, and to the full obedience and sound faith of the participants. The passage does not assign a cause.
A number of items of jewelry appear in the detailing of the booty. We should not wonder that a nomadic people possessed such items, since this was a custom of antiquity among the Bedouins, whose jewelry represented the total of their wealth, apart from their flocks. The Israelites themselves had produced a sufficient quantity to more than provide for the necessities of construction of the Tabernacle. All of the gold so taken was given to the Lord, and was doubtless used to support the tabernacle services.
QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS
576.
Compare the amount of booty allocated to the soldiers with that shared by the people.
577.
On what basis were the soldiers allowed the greater shares?
578.
What explanations have been offered for the fact that not one of the Israelite soldiers was lost in this battle? Defend the one you accept.
579.
Is it reasonable to believe that a nomadic people could have as much gold as Israel took from the Midianites? Explain your answer.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(ii) The Division of the Spoils ( Num 31:25-54 ).
This whole passage follows the following pattern.
a The sum of the prey that was taken and the levies commanded (Num 31:25-31).
b Division between the men of war, Yahweh (the priests), the people and the Levites (Num 31:32-47).
a The sum of the men of war and their freewill gift to the Sanctuary (Num 31:48-54)
These sections can then be analysed as follows:
The Sum of The Prey That Was Taken and The Levies which Were To Be Exacted ( Num 31:25-31 ).
a Yahweh speaks to Moses. With Eleazar he is to take the sum of the prey which has been captured (Num 31:25-26).
b The prey to be divided into two parts between the men who went to war and the remainder of the congregation (Num 31:27).
b A levy to be made on the soldiers’ share for Yahweh and given to Eleazar the Priest as a contribution offering and a levy to be made on the congregation’s share for the Levites who keep the charge of the Dwellingplace (Num 31:28-30).
a Moses and Eleazar do as Yahweh commanded (Num 31:31).
Num 31:25
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,’
Once more it is emphasised that these were the words of Yahweh to Moses.
Num 31:26-27
‘Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the congregation; and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation.’
The first step with regard to the booty was a division between the men who went to war and the rest of Israel. We learn later that this was an equal division, and the fact that the skilled men of war were specifically distinguished here confirms that they each received the larger portion as a reward for risking their lives in battle.
So Moses, Eleazar and the tribal chieftains were first to assess the amount of the booty, including the young women (‘of man’) and were then to divide it into two parts.
Num 31:28-29
‘And levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who 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: take it of their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh’s heave-offering.’
Then of the share that went to the men of war one individual woman or animal out of every ‘five hundred’ (a half flock or five small groups) was to be given to Eleazar the Priest as Yahweh’s contribution offering. This would include young women, probably to serve in the outer Sanctuary, although they may have become servants in the priests’ households, as well as oxen, asses and flocks.
“Counting” would simply be by setting aside physically and apportioning accordingly. Very few could count. They would assess with the eye in terms of ‘thousands’ (flocks), ‘hundreds’ (smaller groupings), fifties’ (even smaller groupings’), and so on. Number words in those ancient days would have a different significance than they would have later, and would be fluid. The number of flocks may indicate how many men there had been in the Midianite camps (675), each family having a ‘flock’ which would not have been large, the number of herds may indicate the number of more wealthy Midianites (72) and so on.
Num 31:30
‘And of the children of Israel’s half, you shall 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 to the Levites, who keep the charge of the tabernacle of Yahweh.’
And of the share that went to the children of Israel, one out of every smaller group was to be given to the Levites who had the charge of the Sanctuary.
Num 31:31
‘And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses.’
And Moses and Eleazar did as Yahweh commanded them. They divided up the spoils of war in the way that He had instructed.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
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, v. 27. and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, 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, 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, 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, v. 33. and threescore and twelve thousand beeves v. 34. and threescore and one thousand asses 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 v. 37. and the Lord’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen v. 38. And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the Lord’s tribute was threescore and twelve v. 39. And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the Lord’s tribute was threescore and one 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, 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,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
I think it not necessary to break the chain of those verses, when one general observation may be properly made from the whole taken together. It is worthy of remark, how graciously the LORD, by taking a portion to himself, hath taught us to consider from whom all blessings flow, and therefore to whom tribute should return, in a perpetual thanksgiving. It is suitable in all our alms, to the poor, to keep in view that they are the LORD’S poor, and therefore the gift is first and principally on his account. Reader! I would recommend you to be very jealous, over your own heart in this particular. Search the motives of your alms-giving to the bottom; and always ask yourself, Is it on the LORD’S account this charity is exercised? The apostle’s argument is founded on this. 1Jn 3:16-17 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
spake. See note on Num 1:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Num 31:25-54. The Division of the Booty.The principle of equal division between those who went forth to fight, and those who remained in the camp was observed by David (1Sa 30:22-25), who seems to have been the first to establish such a rule. The tax of 500 of the combatants share for the priests and of 50 of the residue for the Levites is not elsewhere mentioned.
Num 31:50. ankle chains: the use of these made the steps of the wearers short and tripping (Isa 3:16*, Isa 3:20). But some translate bracelets (cf. 2Sa 1:10), and render the next word wristlets.to make atonement, etc.: see Exo 30:11-16. The offence thought to be involved in taking the number of the people (cf. 2Sa 24:1*, 1Ch 21:1), was perhaps originally due to the feeling that a Divine prerogative had been trenched upon, for to number Israel was believed to be as hard a task as to number the stars (Gen 15:5), and only God was equal to the latter (Psa 147:4, Isa 40:26).
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
The warriors shared the booty equally with the Israelites who remained in the camp. They were no privileged class nor did they receive a special reward for their actions. They simply served one function and the other Israelites served another in carrying out the will of God (cf. 1Sa 30:24-25). From the warriors’ share 1/500 went to the priests and from the congregation’s share 1/50 went to the Levites (cf. Num 18:26).
The 32 virgins that the priests received (Num 31:40) probably became servants in the tabernacle (cf. Exo 38:8; 1Sa 2:22).
Not one Israelite soldier died in this battle (Num 31:49). God gave His people a complete victory. This unusual record makes sense in part because the Midianites were not a warring people. They were nomads who normally moved on when they encountered trouble. Apparently they were not ready to defend themselves against the attacking Israelites. However there is a more important reason for Israel’s success.
"There is a clear line that runs from Num 31:1-24 to the conquest of Jericho according to Joshua 6, 7. For in fact that city fell not by military violence but by the force of Israel’s obedient faith. And the same thing is true of the conquest of Midian described in Judges 7 : it was not the military might of Gideon’s band that was decisive but rather the power of faith. In all three cases the stories have about them something unnatural, something unreal, something exaggerated, and in all three it was obedience to God’s command that turned the tide." [Note: Maarsingh, p. 107.]
The officers brought a large gift to the Lord to recompense Him for the lives of the Israelite soldiers He had granted Israel in this victory, (Num 31:50). This payment was an "atonement" (ransom) in that it replaced the Israelite lives that God had spared. The officers realized that He could have taken many of the Israelites’ lives in the battle. The gift consisted of a large quantity of gold jewelry that the soldiers had captured. Midianite traders had a great love for gold jewelry (cf. Jdg 8:26). The people made this gift a memorial of this victory and kept it in the tabernacle (Num 31:54).
In this chapter we have a basic model for Israel’s battles with the Canaanites in the land. This battle with the Midianites was a preparation for those later encounters. It was also a great encouragement to the Israelites as they looked forward to more battles like this one. [Note: On Israel’s policy of completely annihilating the Canaanites, see John W. Wenham, The Goodness of God, especially ch. 8.]