Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 31:48-54
The Sum of The Surviving Men of War and Their Freewill Gift to The Sanctuary Of Their Personal Spoil (Numbers 31:48).
a The assessing of the men of war, not one is missing (num 8-49).
b They offer the gold from their personal spoils to Yahweh to make atonement for themselves before Yahweh (Numbers 31:50).
c Moses and Eleazar accept the gold and wrought jewels of their offering (Numbers 31:51).
c The sum of the offering made to Yahweh (Numbers 31:52).
b The explanation of where the personal spoils came from (Numbers 31:53).
a Moses and Eleazar take the gold into the Dwellingplace of the congregation for a memorial of the children of Israel before Yahweh (Numbers 31:54).
‘And the officers who were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses, and they said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our charge, and there lacks not one man of us.”
Then the officers and NCOs approached Moses and said that they had checked who were still alive and had discovered that not a single man had died. While gratifying this was not as remarkable as it might at first seem. If they had caught the enemy by surprise, attacking in larger numbers, panic would have set in early and the whole affair been a rout.
Examples from throughout history demonstrate how often even quite large battles could end with very few having died. Weaponry was limited and not as lethal as modern days. The high level of deaths took place after the battle when the losers were sought out and killed. Tacitus, a Roman historian, for example, mentions the Romans as having slaughtered all the foe without losing a single man on the capture of a Parthian castle, while Strabo tells of a battle in which 1000 Arabs were slain, while only 2 Romans died.
“ And we have brought Yahweh's oblation, what every man has obtained of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, earrings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh.'
Because of their heartfelt gratitude the men had determined to give their personal booty to Yahweh. This was not only a dedicatory and worship gift, but also an act of atonement and reconciliation for any wrong that they might have done. It was to their credit that they did not find easy the slaughter in which they had had to participate, even though there had been little alternative. The jewels, ankle chains, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and armlets were typical of what Midianites would wear.
‘And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, even all wrought jewels.'
On behalf of Yahweh Moses and Eleazar received the gold and the jewels for placing in Yahweh's treasury.
‘And all the gold of the contribution (heave-offering) which they offered up to Yahweh, from the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.'
And the amount of gold was sixteen and three quarter weightings, a good quantity.
‘(For the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)'
This was the private booty that the men had taken for themselves, stripping the bodies of their enemies, taking it from the womenfolk and looting the tents.
‘And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh.'
So Moses and Eleazar took the gold and laid it up in the Tent of meeting as a memorial on Israel's behalf before Yahweh.
What with the prey seized from the Amorites and the wealth seized here the Israelites would enter the land far more wealthy than when they first entered the plains of Moab. It is probable that much of what was seized was kept in Transjordan territory while the initial invasion was going on. Again we must note that the actual carrying out of the invasion would have to be carefully planned, and they would not want too much encumbrance.