Numbers 31:1

CHAPTER XXXI

The command of the Lord to make war on the Midianites, 1, 2.

One thousand men are chosen out of each of the twelve tribes,

and sent with Phinehas against the Midianites, 3-6.

They slay all the males, 7;

their five kings and Balaam, 8.

They take all the women captives, with the flocks and goods, 9;

burn their cities, and bring away the spoil, 10,11.

They bring the captives, c., to Moses, who is wroth with the

officers for sparing the women, who had formerly been the cause

of their transgression and punishment, 12-16.

He commands all the male children and all the grown up females

to be slain, 17, 18.

How the soldiers were to purify themselves, 19, 20

and the different articles taken in war, 21-24.

They are commanded to take the sum of the prey, to divide it

into two parts; one for the 12,000 warriors, and the other for

the rest of the congregation, 25-27.

One of 500, both of persons and cattle, of the share of the

warriors, to be given to the Lord, 28, 29;

and one part of fifty, of the people's share, to be given to the

Levites, 30.

The sum of the prey remaining after the above division; sheep

675,000, beeves 72,000, asses 61,000, young women 32,000,

ver. 31-35.

How the soldiers' part was divided, 36-40.

How the part belonging to the congregation was divided, 41-47.

The officers report that they had not lost a man in this war,

48, 49.

They bring a voluntary oblation to God, of gold and ornaments,

50, 51;

the amount of which was 16,750 shekels, 52, 53.

Moses and Eleazar bring the gold into the tabernacle for a

memorial, 54.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXXI