Numbers 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 (1 Samuel 30:22), who seems to have been the first to establish such a rule. The tax of ⅟? 500 of the combatants'share for the priests and of ⅟? 50 of the residue for the Levites is not elsewhere mentioned.

Numbers 31:50. ankle chains: the use of these made the steps of the wearers short and tripping (Isaiah 3:16 *, Isaiah 3:20). But some translate bracelets (cf. 2 Samuel 1:10), and render the next word wristlets. to make atonement, etc.: see Exodus 30:11. The offence thought to be involved in taking the number of the people (cf. 2 Samuel 24:1 *, 1 Chronicles 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 (Genesis 15:5), and only God was equal to the latter (Psalms 147:4; Isaiah 40:26).