Verses 25-54
Numbers 31:25-1 Timothy : . 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-Lamentations :), 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-Nehemiah :. 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).
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