Israel Divides the Plunder

​Israel Divides the Plunder

The Lord said to Moses, 

“You and Eleazar, the priest, and the family leaders of each tribe… are to make a list of all the plunder, taken in the battle, including the people and animals. 

Then, divide the plunder into two parts, and give half to the men who fought the battle …and half to the rest of the people. 

From the army’s portion, first give the Lord His share of the plunder—one of every 500, of the prisoners …and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats. 

Give this share, of the army’s half, to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to the Lord. 

From the half that belongs to the people of Israel, take one of every fifty, of the prisoners …and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, and other animals. 

Give this share to the Levites, who are in charge of maintaining the Lord’s Tabernacle.” 

So Moses and Eleazar, the priest, did as the Lord commanded Moses. 

The plunder remaining, from everything the fighting men had taken, totaled 675,000 sheep and goats, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 virgin girls. 

Half, of the plunder, was given to the fighting men. 

It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats, of which 675 were the Lord’s share; 36,000 cattle, of which 72 were the Lord’s share; 30,500 donkeys, of which 61 were the Lord’s share; and 16,000 virgin girls, of whom 32 were the Lord’s share. 

Moses gave all, of the Lord’s share, to Eleazar the priest, just as the Lord had directed him. 

Half, of the plunder, belonged to the people of Israel, and Moses separated it, from the half belonging to the fighting men. 

It totaled 337,500 sheep and goats, 36,000 cattle, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000 virgin girls. 

From the half-share, which was given to the people, Moses took one, of every fifty prisoners and animals …and gave them to the Levites, who maintained the Lord’s Tabernacle. 

All this was done, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 

Then, all the generals and captains came to Moses and said, 

“We, your servants, have accounted, for all the men, who went out to battle, under our command; not one of us is missing! 

So, we are presenting the items, of gold, which we captured, as an offering to the Lord, from our share of the plunder—armbands, bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. 

This will purify our lives before the Lord and make us right with him.” 

So, Moses and Eleazar, the priest, received the gold from all the military commanders—all kinds of jewelry and crafted objects. 

In all, the gold, that the generals and captains presented, as a gift to the Lord, weighed about 420 pounds. 

All the fighting men had taken some of the plunder, for themselves. 

So, Moses and Eleazar, the priest, accepted the gifts, from the generals and captains …and brought the gold to the Tabernacle, as a reminder to the Lord, that the people of Israel belong to Him. 

Numbers 31:25–54 (NLT)

Praise be to God!