Numbers 31:29 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

Numbers 31:29

27 and ^adivide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

28 And levy a tribute for the Lord on the men of war who went out to battle: ^aone of every five hundred of the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep;

29 take it from their half, and ^agive it to Eleazar the priest as a heave offering to the Lord.

30 And from the children of Israel’s half you shall take ^aone of every fifty, drawn from the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep, from all the livestock, and give them to the Levites ^bwho keep charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.”

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

32 The booty remaining from the plunder, which the men of war had taken, was six hundred and seventy-five thousand sheep,

33 seventy-two thousand cattle,

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Numbers 31:25-39

Take the sum of the prey that was taken—that is, of the captives and cattle, which, having been first lumped together according to ancient usage (Exodus 15:9; Judges 5:30), were divided into two equal parts: the one to the people at large, who had sustained a common injury from the Midianites and who were all liable to serve: and the other portion to the combatants, who, having encountered the labors and perils of war, justly received the largest share. From both parts, however, a certain deduction was taken for the sanctuary, as a thank offering to God for preservation and for victory. The soldiers had greatly the advantage in the distribution; for a five-hundredth part only of their half went to the priest, while a fiftieth part of the congregation's half was given to the Levites.

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