And take it of their half ,.... Of the half part of the prey divided to the soldiers: and give it unto Eleazar the priest for an heave offering of the Lord ; by way of thanksgiving for the success and victory, God had given them, by means of which so much booty had fallen into their hands. read more
An heave-offering - Render simply an offering, and compare Numbers 18:24. The verb from which the word here rendered “heave-offering” is derived, is rightly translated “levy” in Numbers 31:28. read more
Numbers 31:29-30. A heave-offering In thankfulness to God for their preservation and good success. One of fifty Whereas the former part was one of five hundred; the reason of the difference Isaiah , 1 st, Because this was taken out of the people’s portion, whose hazards being less than the others, their gains also, in all reason, were to be less. 2d, Because this was to be distributed into more hands, the Levites being now more numerous, whereas the priests were but few. read more
Judgment on Midian (31:1-54)God now sent Israel to carry out his judgment on the Midianites (and Balaam with them) for the evil they did to Israel at Peor (see 25:1-9,14-17). Since it was a ‘holy’ war, the person who led the Israelite forces was not the army general Joshua, but the priest Phinehas (see 25:10-13). The Israelites were to destroy the Midianite fighting forces and burn their settlements. All captives and goods seized in battle were to be given to God, represented by the high... read more
give it. An extra portion in addition to Deuteronomy 18:1 , Deuteronomy 18:2 and Numbers 18:19 . So Abram, Genesis 14:20 . read more
Numbers 31:28-29. A tribute unto the Lord—one soul of five hundred— As the word soul refers to the cattle as well as to the men, it would be better to render this, one life, or living being, of five hundred. God being the sovereign of the nation, this tribute was an homage of submission and gratitude justly due to him; and the custom was imitated by the heathens. The Philistines hung up the arms of Saul in the temple of Ashteroth; 1Sa 31:10 and the Greeks and Romans, in like manner, consecrated... read more
3. Reprisal against the Midianites and the settlement of the Transjordanian tribes chs. 31-32Moses’ last campaign ch. 31The writer now recorded the fulfillment of God’s instructions to Moses that Israel should destroy the Midianites (Numbers 25:16-18). In this account, the aftermath of the battle receives more attention than the battle itself. Evidently God included this chapter here for two reasons at least. It records Israel’s victory over one of her enemies, and it explains the way she... read more
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. 1 Samuel 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. Numbers 18:26).The 32 virgins that the priests received (Numbers 31:40) probably... read more
War against MidianThis chapter contains an account of the fulfilment of the decree of extermination passed upon the Midianites as being the occasion of Israel’s apostasy in the plains of Moab: see on Numbers 25:16-18.6. The holy instruments and the trumpets] On the use of the silver trumpets in time of war see on Numbers 10:9. It is not clear whether the ark was taken into battle on this occasion. It is possible to translate ’the holy instruments, even the trumpets.’ On other occasions,... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 31:25-47
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... read more