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Numbers 31:25–47 — Division of the Spoils. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

The LORD said to Moses,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

Yah·weh way·yō·mer ’el- mō·šeh lê·mōr

Word by word5 · parsed

יְהוָ֖הYah·wehThe LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

Yahweh, the covenant name, stands first in the Hebrew clause — it is the LORD, not Moses, who initiates the division of the spoil. Every command in this unit descends from this single Speaker.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·mersaidH559

√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

Wayyiqtol of ’āmar — the workhorse narrative verb. Gill notes the timing: this word came “after the purification of the soldiers, their captives, and spoil” (vv. 19–24). Holiness precedes accounting.

אֶל־’el-toH413

√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition

מֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šehMosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

לֵּאמֹֽר׃lê·mōr. . .H559

√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Preposition-lVerbQalInfinitive construct

lēmōr, “saying” — the verse breaks off mid-breath, the formula that introduces the actual commission.

“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the congregation are to take a count of what was captured, both of man and beast.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’at·tāh wə·’el·‘ā·zār hak·kō·hên ’ă·ḇō·wṯ wə·rā·šê hā·‘ê·ḏāh śā ’êṯ rōš mal·qō·w·aḥ haš·šə·ḇî bā·’ā·ḏām ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh

Word by word13 · parsed

אַתָּה֙’at·tāhYouH859

√ ʼattâh — thou and thee, or (plural) ye and youPronounsecond person masculine singular

וְאֶלְעָזָ֣רwə·’el·‘ā·zārand EleazarH499

√ ʼElʻâzâr — Elazar, the name of seven IsraelitesConjunctive wawNounpropermasculine singular

Eleazar, not Moses, is named beside him — the priesthood is built into the accounting from the start, because a portion is bound for the sanctuary (vv. 28–29).

הַכֹּהֵ֔ןhak·kō·hênthe priestH3548

√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular

אֲב֥וֹת’ă·ḇō·wṯand the familyH1

√ ʼâb — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote applicationNounmasculine plural construct

וְרָאשֵׁ֖יwə·rā·šêheadsH7218

√ rôʼsh — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itcConjunctive wawNounmasculine plural construct

הָעֵדָֽה׃hā·‘ê·ḏāhof the congregationH5712

√ ʻêdâh — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)ArticleNounfeminine singular

שָׂ֗אśāare to take a countH5375

√ nâsâʼ — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relativeVerbQalImperativemasculine singular

śāʼ — the census imperative. Authority is delegated to a panel (Moses, the high priest, the tribal fathers): a transparent, witnessed reckoning, not a single man’s tally.

אֵ֣ת’êṯH853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

רֹ֤אשׁrōšH7218

√ rôʼsh — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itcNounmasculine singular construct

מַלְק֙וֹחַ֙mal·qō·w·aḥof what was capturedH4455

√ malqôwach — transitively (in dual) the jaws (as taking food)Nounmasculine singular construct

malqôwach: the living booty. The same rare lexeme links this verse to v. 11 (the gathering of the prey) and, strikingly, to Isaiah’s “prey of the mighty” (Isa 49:24–25).

הַשְּׁבִ֔יhaš·šə·ḇî. . .H7628

√ shᵉbîy — exiledArticleNounmasculine singular

בָּאָדָ֖םbā·’ā·ḏām[both] of manH120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iPreposition-b, ArticleNounmasculine singular

וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑הū·ḇab·bə·hê·māhand beastH929

√ bᵉhêmâh — properly, a dumb beastConjunctive waw, Preposition-b, ArticleNounfeminine singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“Take the head-count of the captured-prey, of man and of beast — you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers of the congregation.”

Where the English smooths the original

שָׂ֗א The imperative is שָׂא (nāśāʼ, “lift up”) joined to רֹאשׁ (rōʼš, “head”): the idiom is literally “lift the head of” — the technical census formula (cf. Num 1:2). “Take a count” renders the sense but loses the picture of heads being raised and reckoned.
מַלְק֙וֹחַ֙ מַלְקוֹחַ (malqôwach) is a rare word — only eight occurrences — for living things seized as prey: the captives and cattle, not the metal “spoil” (bāz) of v. 32. “What was captured” is accurate but flattens a pointed term.
אֲב֥וֹת אֲבוֹת is simply “fathers”; the BSB’s “family heads” supplies bêṯ (“house”). The Pulpit Commentary and K&D both flag that ’ăḇôṯ here stands for “fathers’ houses.”

The Voices✦ 3 public domain

Joseph BensonCommentary on the Old and New Testaments1810s

The congregation was to have some share, because the warriors went in the name of all, and because all having been injured by the Midianites, all were to have some share in the reparations: but the warriors, who were but twelve thousand, were to have a far greater share than their brethren, because they underwent greater pains and dangers.

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Charles EllicottCommentary for English Readers1878

It was reasonable that those who had encountered the perils and hardships of the war should receive a larger share of the spoil than those who had remained in the camp. It was equally reasonable that the latter should not be left without some substantial benefit

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John GillExposition of the Entire Bible1746–63

and by this it appears that they went voluntarily and cheerfully

source ↗

Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ḥā·ṣî·ṯā ’eṯ- ham·mal·qō·w·aḥ bên tō·p̄ə·śê ham·mil·ḥā·māh hay·yō·ṣə·’îm laṣ·ṣā·ḇā ū·ḇên kāl- hā·‘ê·ḏāh

Word by word11 · parsed

וְחָצִ֙יתָ֙wə·ḥā·ṣî·ṯāThen divideH2673

√ châtsâh — to cut or split in twoConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectsecond person masculine singular

chātsâh, “to halve.” Benson and Poole give the rationale: the congregation shares because “the warriors went in the name of all,” yet the 12,000 receive far more per head, “because they underwent greater pains and dangers.”

אֶת־’eṯ-H853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַham·mal·qō·w·aḥthe captivesH4455

√ malqôwach — transitively (in dual) the jaws (as taking food)ArticleNounmasculine singular

בֵּ֚יןbênbetweenH996

√ bêyn — between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)Preposition

תֹּפְשֵׂ֣יtō·p̄ə·śêthe troopsH8610

√ tâphas — to manipulate, iVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural construct

tōp̄ə¹ê ham-milchāmâh — “the graspers of the war.” The participle frames the soldiers by the risk they seized, grounding the larger share they will be granted.

הַמִּלְחָמָ֔הham·mil·ḥā·māh. . .H4421

√ milchâmâh — a battle (iArticleNounfeminine singular

הַיֹּצְאִ֖יםhay·yō·ṣə·’îmwho went outH3318

√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximArticleVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural

לַצָּבָ֑אlaṣ·ṣā·ḇāto battleH6635

√ tsâbâʼ — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially regPreposition-l, ArticleNouncommon singular

וּבֵ֖יןū·ḇên. . .H996

√ bêyn — between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)Conjunctive wawPreposition

כָּל־kāl-and the rest ofH3605

√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct

הָעֵדָֽה׃hā·‘ê·ḏāhthe congregationH5712

√ ʻêdâh — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)ArticleNounfeminine singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“And-you-shall-halve the captured-prey between the graspers of war, those going out to the host, and between all the congregation.”

Where the English smooths the original

וְחָצִ֙יתָ֙ וְחָצִיתָ (chātsâh) means specifically “to cut / split in two” — not merely “divide” but to make exactly two halves. The fifty-fifty split between fighters and stay-at-homes is written into the very verb.
תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י תֹּפְשֵׂי הַמִּלְחָמָה is literally “those who grasped the war” (K&D: “those who grasped at war, who engaged in war”). “The troops” is smoother but loses the vivid tāphas, “to seize / lay hold of.”
לַצָּבָ֑א צָבָא (tsāḇāʼ) is the “host / muster” — an army as a mass mobilized for war; the BSB’s “to battle” collapses the noun of organized force into an event.

Set aside a tribute for the LORD from what belongs to the soldiers who went into battle: one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, or sheep.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wa·hă·rê·mō·ṯā me·ḵes Yah·weh mê·’êṯ ham·mil·ḥā·māh ’an·šê hay·yō·ṣə·’îm laṣ·ṣā·ḇā ’e·ḥāḏ ne·p̄eš ū·min- mê·ḥă·mêš ham·mê·’ō·wṯ min- hā·’ā·ḏām hab·bā·qār ū·min- ha·ḥă·mō·rîm ū·min- haṣ·ṣōn

Word by word20 · parsed

וַהֲרֵמֹתָ֨wa·hă·rê·mō·ṯāSet asideH7311

√ rûwm — to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbHifilConjunctive perfectsecond person masculine singular

wa-hărēmōṯā — “you shall heave up.” The same root rûm stands behind tᵉrûmâh, “heave-offering,” in v. 29: the levy is liturgical before it is fiscal.

מֶ֜כֶסme·ḵesa tributeH4371

√ mekeç — an assessment (as based upon a census)Nounmasculine singular

mekes, a tax reckoned off the count. The soldiers’ rate is 1 in 500 (one-fifth of one percent) — deliberately light, set against the congregation’s 1 in 50 (v. 30).

לַֽיהוָ֗הYah·wehfor the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

מֵאֵ֞תmê·’êṯfrom what belongsH854

√ ʼêth — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), nearPreposition-mDirect object marker

הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ham·mil·ḥā·māhto the soldiersH4421

√ milchâmâh — a battle (iArticleNounfeminine singular

אַנְשֵׁ֤י’an·šê. . .H582

√ ʼĕnôwsh — a man in general (singly or collectively)Nounmasculine plural construct

הַיֹּצְאִ֣יםhay·yō·ṣə·’îmwho wentH3318

√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximArticleVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural

לַצָּבָ֔אlaṣ·ṣā·ḇāinto battleH6635

√ tsâbâʼ — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially regPreposition-l, ArticleNouncommon singular

אֶחָ֣ד’e·ḥāḏoneH259

√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumbermasculine singular construct

נֶ֔פֶשׁne·p̄eš. . .H5315

√ nephesh — properly, a breathing creature, iNounfeminine singular

nephesh (H5315), “a breathing creature” (Strong’s), is the single unit of the levy — one head, counted alike whether human captive or animal. Cambridge notes it “denotes the life or animating principle of every living creature, man or beast.” The same word that names the imperilled life elsewhere (Gen 9:5; Lev 17:11, “the life of the flesh is in the blood”) is here flattened to a tally-mark — a usage the apparatus does not soften.

וּמִן־ū·min-out ofH4480

√ min — properly, a part ofConjunctive wawPreposition

מֵחֲמֵ֖שׁmê·ḥă·mêševery fiveH2568

√ châmêsh — fivePreposition-mNumberfeminine singular construct

הַמֵּא֑וֹתham·mê·’ō·wṯhundredH3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredArticleNumberfeminine plural

מִן־min-H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הָאָדָם֙hā·’ā·ḏāmwhether personsH120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iArticleNounmasculine singular

הַבָּקָ֔רhab·bā·qārcattleH1241

√ bâqâr — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing)ArticleNounmasculine singular

וּמִן־ū·min-. . .H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofConjunctive wawPreposition

הַחֲמֹרִ֖יםha·ḥă·mō·rîmdonkeysH2543

√ chămôwr — a male ass (from its dun red)ArticleNounmasculine plural

וּמִן־ū·min-. . .H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofConjunctive wawPreposition

הַצֹּֽאן׃haṣ·ṣōnor sheepH6629

√ tsôʼn — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats)ArticleNouncommon singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“And-you-shall-lift a tribute for YHWH from the men of war who went out to the host: one soul out of every five hundred — of man, of cattle, of donkeys, and of sheep.”

Where the English smooths the original

וַהֲרֵמֹתָ֨ וַהֲרֵמֹתָ is the Hiphil of rûm, “to lift / raise up” — Ellicott: “literally, and thou shalt lift up (or, heave).” The cultic gesture of the heave-offering is in the verb itself; “set aside” is functional but un-pictured.
מֶ֜כֶס מֶכֶס (mekes) is a rare term — an assessment based on a census (K&D: “a certain amount”, equating it with miksâh). “Tribute” carries it, but the word ties the levy back to the head-count of v. 26.
נֶ֔פֶשׁ נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh), “soul,” here counts a single head — person or animal alike (Cambridge: “an ‘individual’ person or a ‘head’ of cattle”). The BSB “whether persons…” splits what one Hebrew word holds together.

Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

tiq·qā·ḥū mim·ma·ḥă·ṣî·ṯām wə·nā·ṯat·tāh lə·’el·‘ā·zār hak·kō·hên tə·rū·maṯ Yah·weh

Word by word7 · parsed

תִּקָּ֑חוּtiq·qā·ḥūTake itH3947

√ lâqach — to take (in the widest variety of applications)VerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine plural

מִמַּֽחֲצִיתָ֖םmim·ma·ḥă·ṣî·ṯāmfrom their halfH4276

√ machătsîyth — a halving or the middlePreposition-mNounfeminine singular constructthird person masculine plural

וְנָתַתָּ֛הwə·nā·ṯat·tāhand giveH5414

√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectsecond person masculine singular

wᵉnāṯattâ, “and you shall give” — the levy does not stay with the warriors; it is handed up to the priesthood. Benson reads the priests’ lighter rate as fitting their smaller number against the many Levites.

לְאֶלְעָזָ֥רlə·’el·‘ā·zārit to EleazarH499

√ ʼElʻâzâr — Elazar, the name of seven IsraelitesPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

הַכֹּהֵ֖ןhak·kō·hênthe priestH3548

√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular

תְּרוּמַ֥תtə·rū·maṯas an offeringH8641

√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeNounfeminine singular construct

tᵉrûmâh: the heave-offering. The same word governs the sanctuary’s contributions (Ex 25:2; 30:13–15); here the spoils of war are drawn into the grammar of worship.

יְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehto the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“From their half you shall take it, and you-shall-give it to Eleazar the priest as a heave-offering of YHWH.”

Where the English smooths the original

תְּרוּמַ֥ת תְּרוּמַת יְהוָה (tᵉrûmaṯ YHWH) is a “heave-offering of the LORD,” from rûm, “to lift” — a portion lifted off and dedicated. The Pulpit Commentary notes the root “had practically lost its literal significance,” so it often means simply “that which is set aside as an offering.” “Offering” is right; the lifting-gesture is lost.
מִמַּֽחֲצִיתָ֖ם מִמַּחֲצִיתָם is “from their half” — the noun machătsîyth, “the halving / the middle,” the same root as the verb “halve” in v. 27. The portion for the priest is carved precisely out of the soldiers’ fifty-percent share.

The Voices✦ 3 public domain

Matthew PooleAnnotations upon the Holy Bible1685

whereas the former part was one of five hundred: the reason of the difference is, partly 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; partly because this was to be distributed into more hands, the Levites being now numerous, when the priests were but few.

source ↗

The Pulpit CommentarySpence & Exell, eds.1880s

This probably corresponded very closely to the number of Levites as compared with the twelve tribes, and would tend to show that God intended the Levites to be neither better nor worse off than their neighbours.

source ↗

Charles EllicottCommentary for English Readers1878

The Levites were much more numerous than the priests, and consequently it was ordered that they should have two per cent. of the spoil which fell to the congregation, whereas the priests had only one-fifth percent, of a like amount.

source ↗

From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

min- bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ū·mim·ma·ḥă·ṣiṯ tiq·qaḥ ’e·ḥāḏ ’ā·ḥuz min- ha·ḥă·miš·šîm hā·’ā·ḏām min- hab·bā·qār min- ha·ḥă·mō·rîm ū·min- haṣ·ṣōn mik·kāl hab·bə·hê·māh wə·nā·ṯat·tāh ’ō·ṯām lal·wî·yim šō·mə·rê miš·me·reṯ miš·kan Yah·weh

Word by word25 · parsed

מִן־min-FromH4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-the Israelites’H1121

√ bên — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etcNounmasculine plural construct

יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478

√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular

וּמִמַּחֲצִ֨תū·mim·ma·ḥă·ṣiṯhalfH4276

√ machătsîyth — a halving or the middleConjunctive waw, Preposition-mNounfeminine singular construct

תִּקַּ֣ח׀tiq·qaḥtakeH3947

√ lâqach — to take (in the widest variety of applications)VerbQalImperfectsecond person masculine singular

אֶחָ֣ד׀’e·ḥāḏoneH259

√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumbermasculine singular

אָחֻ֣ז’ā·ḥuz. . .H270

√ ʼâchaz — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)VerbQalQalPassParticiplemasculine singular

’āchuz, “seized” — K&D insists this is taken by counting, not by lot: an orderly tithe, not a gamble.

מִן־min-out ofH4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הַחֲמִשִּׁ֗יםha·ḥă·miš·šîmevery fiftyH2572

√ chămishshîym — fiftyArticleNumbercommon plural

ha-chămiššîm, “the fifties.” The Pulpit Commentary suggests the 2 percent roughly matched the Levites’ proportion to the tribes — God meant them “neither better nor worse off than their neighbours.”

הָאָדָ֧םhā·’ā·ḏāmwhether personsH120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iArticleNounmasculine singular

מִן־min-H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הַבָּקָ֛רhab·bā·qārcattleH1241

√ bâqâr — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing)ArticleNounmasculine singular

מִן־min-. . .H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הַחֲמֹרִ֥יםha·ḥă·mō·rîmdonkeysH2543

√ chămôwr — a male ass (from its dun red)ArticleNounmasculine plural

וּמִן־ū·min-. . .H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofConjunctive wawPreposition

הַצֹּ֖אןhaṣ·ṣōnsheepH6629

√ tsôʼn — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats)ArticleNouncommon singular

מִכָּל־mik·kāl[or] otherH3605

√ kôl — properly, the wholePreposition-mNounmasculine singular construct

הַבְּהֵמָ֑הhab·bə·hê·māhanimalsH929

√ bᵉhêmâh — properly, a dumb beastArticleNounfeminine singular

וְנָתַתָּ֤הwə·nā·ṯat·tāhand giveH5414

√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive perfectsecond person masculine singular

אֹתָם֙’ō·ṯāmthemH853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural

לַלְוִיִּ֔םlal·wî·yimto the LevitesH3881

√ Lêvîyîy — a Levite or descendant of LeviPreposition-lNounpropermasculine plural

lalwiyyim — the Levites, distinct from the priests of v. 29: the congregation’s heavier levy supports the larger Levitical order (cf. Num 18:24).

שֹׁמְרֵ֕יšō·mə·rêwho keepH8104

√ shâmar — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), iVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural construct

מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶתmiš·me·reṯchargeH4931

√ mishmereth — watch, iNounfeminine singular construct

מִשְׁכַּ֥ןmiš·kanof the tabernacleH4908

√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveNounmasculine singular construct

יְהוָֽה׃Yah·wehof the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“And from the sons-of-Israel’s half you shall take one, seized out of every fifty — of man, of cattle, of donkeys, of sheep, of all the beasts — and you-shall-give them to the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the tabernacle of YHWH.”

Where the English smooths the original

אָחֻ֣ז אָחֻז (’āchuz, passive of ’āchaz) means “laid hold of, seized”. K&D: it was “snatched out of the whole number during the process of counting; not seized or touched by the lot.” The BSB’s plain “take one” omits this picture of grasping the fiftieth head as it passes.
הַחֲמִשִּׁ֗ים הַחֲמִשִּׁים is “the fifties” — one in fifty (2 percent), ten times the soldiers’ rate of one in five hundred. The numerical contrast is the whole point of vv. 28–30 and is easy to miss in translation.
שֹׁמְרֵ֕י שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת (šōmᵉrê mišmereṯ) is a cognate construction, “keepers of the keeping” — those who guard the guard-duty of the tabernacle. English “who keep charge” cannot echo the root-doubling.

So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD had commanded Moses,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mō·šeh wə·’el·‘ā·zār hak·kō·hên way·ya·‘aś ka·’ă·šer Yah·weh ’eṯ- ṣiw·wāh mō·šeh

Word by word9 · parsed

מֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šehSo MosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

וְאֶלְעָזָ֖רwə·’el·‘ā·zārand EleazarH499

√ ʼElʻâzâr — Elazar, the name of seven IsraelitesConjunctive wawNounpropermasculine singular

הַכֹּהֵ֑ןhak·kō·hênthe priestH3548

√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular

וַיַּ֣עַשׂway·ya·‘aśdidH6213

√ ʻâsâh — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest applicationConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

way-ya¹a¹, “and he did.” The execution mirrors the command word-for-word: Gill summarizes — they “took an account… divided it equally… and levied a part out of each as a tribute for the Lord.”

כַּאֲשֶׁ֛רka·’ă·šerasH834

√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative

יְהוָ֖הYah·wehthe LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

אֶת־’eṯ-H853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

צִוָּ֥הṣiw·wāhhad commandedH6680

√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular

tsiwwâh, “had commanded” — the Piel of charge. This clause is the unit’s heartbeat: command, then exact compliance.

מֹשֶֽׁה׃mō·šehMosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

and this plunder remained from the spoils the soldiers had taken: 675,000 sheep,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·hî ham·mal·qō·w·aḥ ye·ṯer hab·bāz ’ă·šer ‘am haṣ·ṣā·ḇā bā·zə·zū šêš- mê·’ō·wṯ ’e·lep̄ wə·šiḇ·‘îm ’e·lep̄ wa·ḥă·mê·šeṯ- ’ă·lā·p̄îm ṣōn

Word by word16 · parsed

וַיְהִי֙way·hî[and]H1961

√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַham·mal·qō·w·aḥthis plunderH4455

√ malqôwach — transitively (in dual) the jaws (as taking food)ArticleNounmasculine singular

ham-malqôwach — the living booty resumes from v. 26, opening the great inventory (vv. 32–47). The same rare lexeme links here to Psalm 22:15, though there it bears its other sense, “jaws” (see the apparatus).

יֶ֣תֶרye·ṯerremainedH3499

√ yether — properly, an overhanging, iNounmasculine singular construct

הַבָּ֔זhab·bāzfrom the spoilsH957

√ baz — plunderArticleNounmasculine singular

אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerH834

√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative

עַ֣ם‘amthe soldiersH5971

√ ʻam — a people (as a congregated unit)Nounmasculine singular construct

הַצָּבָ֑אhaṣ·ṣā·ḇā. . .H6635

√ tsâbâʼ — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially regArticleNouncommon singular

בָּזְז֖וּbā·zə·zūhad takenH962

√ bâzaz — to plunderVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural

שֵׁשׁ־šêš-675,000 {}H8337

√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numberfeminine singular construct

The numbers are round — Barnes and the Pulpit Commentary both note this is the Israelite habit of enumeration, which is why the 1-in-500 tithe also lands on round figures.

מֵא֥וֹתmê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

אֶ֛לֶף’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וְשִׁבְעִ֥יםwə·šiḇ·‘îm. . .H7657

√ shibʻîym — seventyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אֶ֖לֶף’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וַחֲמֵֽשֶׁת־wa·ḥă·mê·šeṯ-. . .H2568

√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumbermasculine singular construct

אֲלָפִֽים׃’ă·lā·p̄îm. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine plural

צֹ֗אןṣōnsheepH6629

√ tsôʼn — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats)Nouncommon singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“And the captured-prey was — the remainder of the spoil which the people of the host had plundered — six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,”

Where the English smooths the original

הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַ The Pulpit Commentary parses the Hebrew tightly: “the prey (הַמַּלְקוֹחַ …), to wit, the rest of the booty (הַבָּז).” Two distinct words — malqôwach (living prey) and bāz (plunder) — are flattened into the single English “plunder…spoils.”
יֶ֣תֶר יֶתֶר (yether) is the “remainder / what overhangs” — what was left after the slaughter of v. 17 and the consumption of cattle on the march (Poole: “some of the cattle was spent for the necessary provisions of the army”). “Remained” keeps the sense but not the leftover-edge of the noun.
בָּזְז֖וּ בָּזְזוּ (bāzᵉzû) is the verb bāzaz, “to plunder,” cognate with the noun bāz just before it — a figura etymologica (“the spoil they spoiled”) that English cannot reproduce.

72,000 cattle,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šə·na·yim wə·šiḇ·‘îm ’ā·lep̄ ū·ḇā·qār

Word by word4 · parsed

שְׁנַ֥יִםšə·na·yim72,000 {}H8147

√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermd

וְשִׁבְעִ֖יםwə·šiḇ·‘îm. . .H7657

√ shibʻîym — seventyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אָֽלֶף׃’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וּבָקָ֕רū·ḇā·qārcattleH1241

√ bâqâr — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular

bāqār, the ox-herd — one of the four standing categories (sheep, cattle, donkeys, persons) tracked through the whole tally. JFB lays the figures in a single grid: 72,000 oxen, halved to 36,000, tithed to 72.

61,000 donkeys,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’e·ḥāḏ wə·šiš·šîm ’ā·lep̄ wa·ḥă·mō·rîm

Word by word4 · parsed

אֶחָ֥ד’e·ḥāḏ61,000 {}H259

√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumbermasculine singular

וְשִׁשִּׁ֖יםwə·šiš·šîm. . .H8346

√ shishshîym — sixtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אָֽלֶף׃’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וַחֲמֹרִ֕יםwa·ḥă·mō·rîmdonkeysH2543

√ chămôwr — a male ass (from its dun red)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine plural

chămôrîm — the donkeys, beasts of burden and transport, here counted as plunder. Barnes ties the sheer scale of Midian’s livestock to the wealth of these herding peoples (cf. Judg 6:5).

and 32,000 women who had not slept with a man.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·ne·p̄eš ’ā·ḏām min- šə·na·yim ū·šə·lō·šîm ’ā·lep̄ kāl- ne·p̄eš han·nā·šîm ’ă·šer lō- yā·ḏə·‘ū miš·kaḇ zā·ḵār

Word by word14 · parsed

וְנֶ֣פֶשׁwə·ne·p̄ešandH5315

√ nephesh — properly, a breathing creature, iConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular construct

אָדָ֔ם’ā·ḏāmH120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iNounmasculine singular

מִן־min-H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

שְׁנַ֥יִםšə·na·yim32,000 {}H8147

√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermd

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםū·šə·lō·šîm. . .H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אָֽלֶף׃’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

כָּל־kāl-H3605

√ kôl — properly, the wholeNounmasculine singular construct

נֶ֕פֶשׁne·p̄ešH5315

√ nephesh — properly, a breathing creature, iNounfeminine singular

הַ֨נָּשִׁ֔יםhan·nā·šîmwomenH802

√ ʼishshâh — a womanArticleNounfeminine plural

han-nāšîm — the surviving women, the only human prey kept (per the grim sentence of vv. 17–18). They are folded into the same tribute-arithmetic as the herds: 32,000, halved, tithed to 32 (v. 40).

אֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerwhoH834

√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative

לֹֽא־lō-had notH3808

√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle

יָדְע֖וּyā·ḏə·‘ūslept withH3045

√ yâdaʻ — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing)VerbQalPerfectthird person common plural

yādᵉ‘û, “they knew” — the verb of intimate knowledge, here negated to mark the criterion of who was spared.

מִשְׁכַּ֣בmiš·kaḇ. . .H4904

√ mishkâb — a bed (figuratively, a bier)Nounmasculine singular construct

זָכָ֑רzā·ḵāra manH2145

√ zâkâr — properly, remembered, iNounmasculine singular

This was the half portion for those who had gone to war: 337,500 sheep,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wat·tə·hî ham·me·ḥĕ·ṣāh ḥê·leq hay·yō·ṣə·’îm baṣ·ṣā·ḇā mis·par šə·lōš- mê·’ō·wṯ ’e·lep̄ ū·šə·lō·šîm ’e·lep̄ wə·šiḇ·‘aṯ ’ă·lā·p̄îm wa·ḥă·mêš mê·’ō·wṯ haṣ·ṣōn

Word by word16 · parsed

וַתְּהִי֙wat·tə·hîH1961

√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person feminine singular

הַֽמֶּחֱצָ֔הham·me·ḥĕ·ṣāhThis [was] the halfH4275

√ mechĕtsâh — a halvingArticleNounfeminine singular

ham-mecheṣâh — the soldiers’ exact half (337,500 sheep), the figure K&D derives by halving the 675,000 of v. 32.

חֵ֕לֶקḥê·leqportionH2506

√ chêleq — properly, smoothness (of the tongue)Nounmasculine singular

הַיֹּצְאִ֖יםhay·yō·ṣə·’îmfor those who had goneH3318

√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximArticleVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural

hay-yōṣᵉ’îm, “those going out” — the participle that brands the warriors throughout (vv. 27, 28, 36), the men who marched to the host.

בַּצָּבָ֑אbaṣ·ṣā·ḇāto warH6635

√ tsâbâʼ — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially regPreposition-b, ArticleNouncommon singular

מִסְפַּ֣רmis·parH4557

√ miçpâr — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerableNounmasculine singular construct

שְׁלֹשׁ־šə·lōš-337,500H7969

√ shâlôwsh — threeNumberfeminine singular construct

מֵא֥וֹתmê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

אֶ֙לֶף֙’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםū·šə·lō·šîm. . .H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אֶ֔לֶף’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וְשִׁבְעַ֥תwə·šiḇ·‘aṯ. . .H7651

√ shebaʻ — seven (as the sacred full one)Conjunctive wawNumbermasculine singular construct

אֲלָפִ֖ים’ă·lā·p̄îm. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine plural

וַחֲמֵ֥שׁwa·ḥă·mêš. . .H2568

√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumberfeminine singular construct

מֵאֽוֹת׃mê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

הַצֹּ֗אןhaṣ·ṣōnsheepH6629

√ tsôʼn — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats)ArticleNouncommon singular

including a tribute to the LORD of 675,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·hî ham·me·ḵes Yah·weh šêš mê·’ō·wṯ ḥā·mêš wə·šiḇ·‘îm min- haṣ·ṣōn

Word by word9 · parsed

וַיְהִ֛יway·hîincludingH1961

√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

הַמֶּ֥כֶסham·me·ḵesa tributeH4371

√ mekeç — an assessment (as based upon a census)ArticleNounmasculine singular

ham-mekes la-YHWH — “the LORD’s levy.” The first of four tithe-figures (sheep, cattle, donkeys, persons) drawn off the warriors’ half: 675 of 337,500, precisely one in five hundred.

לַֽיהוָ֖הYah·wehto the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

שֵׁ֥שׁšêšof 675H8337

√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numberfeminine singular construct

מֵא֖וֹתmê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

חָמֵ֥שׁḥā·mêš. . .H2568

√ châmêsh — fiveNumberfeminine singular

וְשִׁבְעִֽים׃wə·šiḇ·‘îm. . .H7657

√ shibʻîym — seventyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

מִן־min-H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הַצֹּ֑אןhaṣ·ṣōnH6629

√ tsôʼn — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats)ArticleNouncommon singular

36,000 cattle, including a tribute to the LORD of 72,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šiš·šāh ū·šə·lō·šîm ’ā·lep̄ wə·hab·bā·qār ū·miḵ·sām Yah·weh šə·na·yim wə·šiḇ·‘îm

Word by word8 · parsed

שִׁשָּׁ֥הšiš·šāh36,000 {}H8337

√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numbermasculine singular

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםū·šə·lō·šîm. . .H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אָ֑לֶף’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וְהַ֨בָּקָ֔רwə·hab·bā·qārcattleH1241

√ bâqâr — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing)Conjunctive waw, ArticleNounmasculine singular

וּמִכְסָ֥םū·miḵ·sāmincluding a tributeH4371

√ mekeç — an assessment (as based upon a census)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural

miḵsām, “their levy” — 72 oxen, the 500th of 36,000. The grammar binds each tithe to its herd.

לַיהוָ֖הYah·wehto the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

שְׁנַ֥יִםšə·na·yimof 72H8147

√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermd

וְשִׁבְעִֽים׃wə·šiḇ·‘îm. . .H7657

√ shibʻîym — seventyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

30,500 donkeys, including a tribute to the LORD of 61,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šə·lō·šîm ’e·lep̄ wa·ḥă·mêš mê·’ō·wṯ wa·ḥă·mō·rîm ū·miḵ·sām Yah·weh ’e·ḥāḏ wə·šiš·šîm

Word by word9 · parsed

שְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםšə·lō·šîm{} 30,500H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyNumbercommon plural

אֶ֖לֶף’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וַחֲמֵ֣שׁwa·ḥă·mêš. . .H2568

√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumberfeminine singular construct

מֵא֑וֹתmê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

וַחֲמֹרִ֕יםwa·ḥă·mō·rîmdonkeysH2543

√ chămôwr — a male ass (from its dun red)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine plural

וּמִכְסָ֥םū·miḵ·sāmincluding a tributeH4371

√ mekeç — an assessment (as based upon a census)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural

miḵsām la-YHWH — 61 donkeys for the LORD, the third tithe-line. Unlike clean animals these could not be offered; K&D notes the priests would simply “sell the asses.”

לַֽיהוָ֖הYah·wehto the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

אֶחָ֥ד’e·ḥāḏof 61H259

√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumbermasculine singular

וְשִׁשִּֽׁים׃wə·šiš·šîm. . .H8346

√ shishshîym — sixtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

and 16,000 people, including a tribute to the LORD of 32.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šiš·šāh ‘ā·śār ’ā·lep̄ wə·ne·p̄eš ’ā·ḏām ū·miḵ·sām Yah·weh šə·na·yim ū·šə·lō·šîm nā·p̄eš

Word by word10 · parsed

שִׁשָּׁ֥הšiš·šāhand 16,000H8337

√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numbermasculine singular

עָשָׂ֖ר‘ā·śār. . .H6240

√ ʻâsâr — ten (only in combination), iNumbermasculine singular

אָ֑לֶף’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וְנֶ֣פֶשׁwə·ne·p̄ešpeopleH5315

√ nephesh — properly, a breathing creature, iConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular construct

nephesh ’āḏām — “souls of man.” The fourth and last category, completing the inventory. These 32 pass to Eleazar (v. 41), to serve at the sanctuary.

אָדָ֔ם’ā·ḏām. . .H120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iNounmasculine singular

וּמִכְסָם֙ū·miḵ·sāmincluding a tributeH4371

√ mekeç — an assessment (as based upon a census)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural

לַֽיהוָ֔הYah·wehto the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

שְׁנַ֥יִםšə·na·yimof 32H8147

√ shᵉnayim — twoNumbermd

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםū·šə·lō·šîm. . .H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

נָֽפֶשׁ׃nā·p̄ešH5315

√ nephesh — properly, a breathing creature, iNounfeminine singular

Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as an offering for the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mō·šeh ’eṯ- way·yit·tên me·ḵes lə·’el·‘ā·zār hak·kō·hên tə·rū·maṯ Yah·weh ka·’ă·šer Yah·weh ’eṯ- ṣiw·wāh mō·šeh

Word by word13 · parsed

מֹשֶׁ֗הmō·šehMosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

אֶת־’eṯ-H853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

וַיִּתֵּ֣ןway·yit·têngaveH5414

√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

way-yittēn, “and he gave” — the priests’ portion is handed over. K&D: Moses delivered it to Eleazar “for the maintenance of the priests, in the same manner as the tithes.”

מֶ֙כֶס֙me·ḵesthe tributeH4371

√ mekeç — an assessment (as based upon a census)Nounmasculine singular construct

לְאֶלְעָזָ֖רlə·’el·‘ā·zārto EleazarH499

√ ʼElʻâzâr — Elazar, the name of seven IsraelitesPreposition-lNounpropermasculine singular

הַכֹּהֵ֑ןhak·kō·hênthe priestH3548

√ kôhên — literally one officiating, a priestArticleNounmasculine singular

תְּרוּמַ֣תtə·rū·maṯas an offeringH8641

√ tᵉrûwmâh — a present (as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tributeNounfeminine singular construct

tᵉrûmaṯ YHWH — “the LORD’s heave-offering,” the standing name for the dedicated portion (cf. Ex 30:13–15).

יְהוָ֔הYah·wehfor the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

כַּאֲשֶׁ֛רka·’ă·šerasH834

√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative

יְהוָ֖הYah·wehthe LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

אֶת־’eṯ-H853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

צִוָּ֥הṣiw·wāhhad commandedH6680

√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular

מֹשֶֽׁה׃mō·šehMosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

From the Israelites’ half, which Moses had set apart from the men who had gone to war,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

min- bə·nê yiś·rā·’êl ū·mim·ma·ḥă·ṣîṯ ’ă·šer mō·šeh ḥā·ṣāh hā·’ă·nā·šîm haṣ·ṣō·ḇə·’îm

Word by word9 · parsed

מִן־min-FromH4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

בְּנֵ֣יbə·nêthe Israelites’H1121

יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478

√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular

וּמִֽמַּחֲצִ֖יתū·mim·ma·ḥă·ṣîṯhalfH4276

√ machătsîyth — a halving or the middleConjunctive waw, Preposition-mNounfeminine singular construct

mim-machătsîyṯ — “from the half.” The Geneva note marks it: the congregation’s half, “that part which was given to them in dividing the spoil.” The verse opens the second ledger (vv. 42–47).

אֲשֶׁר֙’ă·šerwhichH834

√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPronounrelative

מֹשֶׁ֔הmō·šehMosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

חָצָ֣הḥā·ṣāhhad set apartH2673

√ châtsâh — to cut or split in twoVerbQalPerfectthird person masculine singular

chāṣâh, “he halved” — the dividing verb returns, sealing that the split of v. 27 was carried out exactly.

הָאֲנָשִׁ֖יםhā·’ă·nā·šîmfrom the menH582

√ ʼĕnôwsh — a man in general (singly or collectively)ArticleNounmasculine plural

הַצֹּבְאִֽים׃haṣ·ṣō·ḇə·’îmwho had gone to warH6633

√ tsâbâʼ — to mass (an army or servants)ArticleVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural

this half belonged to the congregation: 337,500 sheep,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

me·ḥĕ·ṣaṯ wat·tə·hî hā·‘ê·ḏāh min- šə·lōš- mê·’ō·wṯ ’e·lep̄ ū·šə·lō·šîm ’e·lep̄ šiḇ·‘aṯ ’ă·lā·p̄îm wa·ḥă·mêš mê·’ō·wṯ haṣ·ṣōn

Word by word14 · parsed

מֶחֱצַ֥תme·ḥĕ·ṣaṯthis half belonged toH4275

√ mechĕtsâh — a halvingNounfeminine singular construct

וַתְּהִ֛יwat·tə·hîH1961

√ hâyâh — to exist, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person feminine singular

הָעֵדָ֖הhā·‘ê·ḏāhthe congregationH5712

√ ʻêdâh — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)ArticleNounfeminine singular

hā-‘êḏâh — the congregation. Their half exactly mirrors the soldiers’ in every column, the visible fairness of the fifty-fifty cut (v. 27).

מִן־min-. . .H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

שְׁלֹשׁ־šə·lōš-337,500H7969

√ shâlôwsh — threeNumberfeminine singular construct

מֵא֥וֹתmê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

אֶ֙לֶף֙’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםū·šə·lō·šîm. . .H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אֶ֔לֶף’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

שִׁבְעַ֥תšiḇ·‘aṯ. . .H7651

√ shebaʻ — seven (as the sacred full one)Numbermasculine singular construct

אֲלָפִ֖ים’ă·lā·p̄îm. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine plural

וַחֲמֵ֥שׁwa·ḥă·mêš. . .H2568

√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumberfeminine singular construct

מֵאֽוֹת׃mê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

הַצֹּ֑אןhaṣ·ṣōnsheepH6629

√ tsôʼn — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats)ArticleNouncommon singular

36,000 cattle,

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šiš·šāh ū·šə·lō·šîm ’ā·lep̄ ū·ḇā·qār

Word by word4 · parsed

שִׁשָּׁ֥הšiš·šāh36,000 {}H8337

√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numbermasculine singular

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖יםū·šə·lō·šîm. . .H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyConjunctive wawNumbercommon plural

אָֽלֶף׃’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וּבָקָ֕רū·ḇā·qārcattleH1241

√ bâqâr — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular

ū-ḇāqār — the congregation’s 36,000 oxen, identical to the warriors’ half, from which the Levites’ 720 (1-in-50) will be drawn (v. 47).

30,500 donkeys,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šə·lō·šîm ’e·lep̄ wa·ḥă·mêš mê·’ō·wṯ wa·ḥă·mō·rîm

Word by word5 · parsed

שְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםšə·lō·šîm30,500H7970

√ shᵉlôwshîym — thirtyNumbercommon plural

אֶ֖לֶף’e·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וַחֲמֵ֥שׁwa·ḥă·mêš. . .H2568

√ châmêsh — fiveConjunctive wawNumberfeminine singular construct

מֵאֽוֹת׃mê·’ō·wṯ. . .H3967

√ mêʼâh — a hundredNumberfeminine plural

וַחֲמֹרִ֕יםwa·ḥă·mō·rîmdonkeysH2543

√ chămôwr — a male ass (from its dun red)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine plural

wa-chămōrîm — 30,500 donkeys, the congregation’s share, mirroring the soldiers’ column and feeding the Levitical tithe of v. 47.

and 16,000 people.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šiš·šāh ‘ā·śār ’ā·lep̄ wə·ne·p̄eš ’ā·ḏām

Word by word5 · parsed

שִׁשָּׁ֥הšiš·šāhand 16,000H8337

√ shêsh — six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand)Numbermasculine singular

עָשָׂ֖ר‘ā·śār. . .H6240

√ ʻâsâr — ten (only in combination), iNumbermasculine singular

אָֽלֶף׃’ā·lep̄. . .H505

√ ʼeleph — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousandNumbermasculine singular

וְנֶ֣פֶשׁwə·ne·p̄ešpeopleH5315

√ nephesh — properly, a breathing creature, iConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular construct

wᵉnephesh ’āḏām — the last figure of the inventory. From these 16,000, one in fifty (320) will go to the Levites (v. 47).

אָדָ֔ם’ā·ḏām. . .H120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iNounmasculine singular

From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded him.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

way·yiq·qaḥ bə·nê- yiś·rā·’êl ’eṯ- mim·ma·ḥă·ṣiṯ mō·šeh hā·’ā·ḥuz ’e·ḥāḏ min- ha·ḥă·miš·šîm min- hā·’ā·ḏām ū·min- hab·bə·hê·māh way·yit·tên ’ō·ṯām lal·wî·yim šō·mə·rê miš·me·reṯ miš·kan Yah·weh ka·’ă·šer Yah·weh ’eṯ- ṣiw·wāh mō·šeh

Word by word26 · parsed

וַיִּקַּ֨חway·yiq·qaḥH3947

√ lâqach — to take (in the widest variety of applications)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

בְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-From the Israelites’H1121

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êl. . .H3478

√ Yisrâʼêl — Jisrael, a symbolical name of JacobNounpropermasculine singular

אֶת־’eṯ-H853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

מִמַּחֲצִ֣תmim·ma·ḥă·ṣiṯhalfH4276

√ machătsîyth — a halving or the middlePreposition-mNounfeminine singular construct

מֹשֶׁ֜הmō·šehMosesH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

הָֽאָחֻז֙hā·’ā·ḥuztookH270

√ ʼâchaz — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)ArticleVerbQalQalPassParticiplemasculine singular

hā-’āchuz — “the seized,” resuming v. 30. The congregation’s heavier 1-in-50 is carried out, supplying the Levites their portion.

אֶחָ֣ד’e·ḥāḏoneH259

√ ʼechâd — properly, united, iNumbermasculine singular

מִן־min-out ofH4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הַחֲמִשִּׁ֔יםha·ḥă·miš·šîmevery fiftyH2572

√ chămishshîym — fiftyArticleNumbercommon plural

מִן־min-H4480

√ min — properly, a part ofPreposition

הָאָדָ֖םhā·’ā·ḏāmpersonsH120

√ ʼâdâm — ruddy iArticleNounmasculine singular

וּמִן־ū·min-andH4480

√ min — properly, a part ofConjunctive wawPreposition

הַבְּהֵמָ֑הhab·bə·hê·māhanimalsH929

√ bᵉhêmâh — properly, a dumb beastArticleNounfeminine singular

וַיִּתֵּ֨ןway·yit·tênand gaveH5414

√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular

אֹתָ֜ם’ō·ṯāmthemH853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object markerthird person masculine plural

לַלְוִיִּ֗םlal·wî·yimto the LevitesH3881

√ Lêvîyîy — a Levite or descendant of LeviPreposition-lNounpropermasculine plural

שֹֽׁמְרֵי֙šō·mə·rêwho keptH8104

√ shâmar — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), iVerbQalParticiplemasculine plural construct

šōmᵉrê mišmereṯ — “keepers of the charge.” The Levites are defined by their guard over the tabernacle (cf. v. 30); because they serve the sanctuary, they receive their share of the levy lifted to the LORD.

מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙miš·me·reṯchargeH4931

√ mishmereth — watch, iNounfeminine singular construct

מִשְׁכַּ֣ןmiš·kanof the tabernacleH4908

√ mishkân — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the graveNounmasculine singular construct

יְהוָ֔הYah·wehof the LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

כַּאֲשֶׁ֛רka·’ă·šerasH834

√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative

יְהוָ֖הYah·wehthe LORDH3068

√ Yᵉhôvâh — Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodNounpropermasculine singular

אֶת־’eṯ-H853

√ ʼêth — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)Direct object marker

צִוָּ֥הṣiw·wāhhad commandedH6680

√ tsâvâh — (intensively) to constitute, enjoinVerbPielPerfectthird person masculine singular

tsiwwâh, “commanded” — the Piel of charge, closing the unit on the note it opened: the LORD spoke (v. 25), and it was done exactly so.

מֹשֶֽׁה׃mō·šehhimH4872

√ Môsheh — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiverNounpropermasculine singular

Literal — word-for-word from the original

“and-Moses took from the sons-of-Israel’s half the one seized out of every fifty, of man and of beast, and-he-gave them to the Levites, the keepers of the charge of the tabernacle of YHWH, as YHWH had commanded Moses.”

Where the English smooths the original

הָֽאָחֻז֙ הָאָחֻז (hā-’āchuz, “the seized one”) repeats the passive participle of v. 30: the fiftieth head was grasped during the count, not chosen by lot (K&D). The BSB’s “took one out of every fifty” obeys the command without echoing its distinctive verb.
שֹֽׁמְרֵי֙ שֹׁמְרֵי מִשְׁמֶרֶת — the cognate “keepers of the keeping” of v. 30, now in the execution. The Levites are defined by their guard over the tabernacle; English “who kept charge” cannot double the root.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר The unit closes as it ran: כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה, “as YHWH commanded Moses.” The third occurrence of the obedience-refrain (vv. 31, 41, 47) frames the whole transaction in exact compliance.

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

⚙

Grand Commentary — the unit, read whole

synthesis · verify

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. The Word that orders the spoil — 25–30

The unit opens not with a soldier but with a sentence: “And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying” (v. 25). Gill marks the timing — the command falls “after the purification of the soldiers, their captives, and spoil” — so that holiness precedes accounting. The reckoning itself is delegated and witnessed: Moses, Eleazar, and “the heads of the fathers” (v. 26), whom Gill calls “all men of authority and character… of whose capacity and fidelity there could be no doubt.” The verb of v. 26 is the census idiom śāʼ rōʼš — literally “lift the head of” — applied to the malqôwach, the living prey.

The division (v. 27) is built into a single verb, chātsâh, “to cut in two.” Benson states the equity plainly: the congregation shares “because the warriors went in the name of all,” yet the twelve thousand receive far more per head “because they underwent greater pains and dangers.” Out of each half a portion is lifted to God (the Hiphil of rûm, v. 28) — one in five hundred from the soldiers, one in fifty from the people. Poole and Ellicott give the reason for the tenfold gap: the people’s hazards were less, so their gains were less, and the larger Levitical order needed more than the few priests. The Pulpit Commentary adds that the 2-percent rate “probably corresponded very closely to the number of Levites… God intended the Levites to be neither better nor worse off than their neighbours.”

ii. The audited inventory — 31–47

Then the text does something rare in Torah: it shows its work. Verse 31 records exact compliance — “Moses and Eleazar… did as the LORD commanded” — and vv. 32–47 lay out the full ledger. The Pulpit Commentary parses the opening of v. 32 against the grain of the smoothed English: “the prey (הַמַּלְקוֹחַ), to wit, the rest of the booty (הַבָּז).” Poole explains why it is only the rest: “some of the persons were since killed… and some of the cattle was spent for the necessary provisions of the army.” The totals are round — Barnes notes they are “given… in round thousands,” which is precisely why the 500th-part tithe also “comes out… in round numbers.”

What follows is an audit in four columns — sheep, cattle, donkeys, persons — halved, then tithed, with every figure reconciling. JFB sets the whole thing in a single grid (675,000 sheep → 337,500 each half → 675 to God → 6,750 to the Levites), and K&D confirms the priests’ take (675 small cattle, 72 oxen, 61 asses, 32 maidens) against the Levites’ (6,750, 720, 610, 320). The arithmetic is exact and the categories are unflinching: captive women are counted in the same word, nephesh, as the herds (vv. 35, 40, 46). Three times the refrain falls — “as the LORD commanded Moses” (vv. 31, 41, 47) — bracketing the ledger so that the columns are not bookkeeping but obedience. K&D is careful to limit the precedent: “the arrangement… was only made for this particular case, and not as a law for all times,” though the principle that those who stay home still share the spoil recurs at Joshua 22:8 and becomes statute under David (1 Sam 30:24–25).

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

Read under Sola Scriptura, this passage is the Bible auditing itself. A spoil seized in a war of judgment is not waved through as plunder; it is counted, halved, and taxed by the same God who commanded the battle, and the first claim on it is His. The honest difficulty must be named, not smoothed: the surviving women are tallied in the identical word, nephesh, as the donkeys and oxen, and 32 of them are “lifted” to the sanctuary. The text neither hides this nor celebrates it — it records it with the same flat precision it gives the sheep. My fallible reading is that the chapter’s relentless arithmetic is itself a restraint: by binding even the victors’ gain to a fixed levy “for the LORD,” it denies the soldier the unbounded appetite of the conqueror, and by mirroring the stay-at-home’s half exactly to the warrior’s, it denies the strong man his contempt for the weak. The greater burden falls on those who risked least; the lighter on those who bled. That is not the ethic of plunder. Whether the underlying war can be vindicated is a question this unit does not answer and I will not pretend it does — weigh that against the whole counsel of Scripture and the cross, where the only spoil God ultimately claims is the captives themselves, set free (Isa 49:24–25; Eph 4:8).

The God who commands the sword also audits the spoil — and takes His tenth in mercy, that no victor may take all.

⚙

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripture

cross-refs · verify

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

The living prey — malqôwach across the chapter verbal / quotation — confirmed

The rare noun malqôwach (only eight occurrences in the Hebrew Bible) frames the whole transaction: the prey is first gathered (v. 11), then counted (v. 26), then inventoried as the remainder (v. 32). The same word stitches the command to its fulfilment within the chapter — a genuine verbal seam, not a thematic guess.

Numbers 31:11 · Numbers 31:26 · Numbers 31:32

basis: Verifier: shared rare lexeme H4455 malqôwach (in 8 vv) across 31:11 / 31:26 / 31:32; low frequency makes the verbal link secure.

Halving the host — chātsâh and the spoils of war structural / thematic — confirmed

The dividing verb chātsâh (“to cut in two,” 14 occurrences) governs v. 27 and recurs as Moses ‘halves’ the share in v. 42. It also stands behind Jacob’s prudent splitting of his company into two camps (Gen 32:7), and the equity it enacts — stay-at-home and combatant sharing alike — is the same principle later applied at Joshua 22:8 and made statute under David (1 Sam 30:24, sharing milchâmâh, “the battle”).

Numbers 31:27 · Genesis 32:7 · 1 Samuel 30:24

basis: Verifier: 31:27↔Gen 32:7 share H2673 châtsâh (in 14 vv); 31:27↔1 Sam 30:24 share H4421 milchâmâh — shared motif of dividing, no quotation claimed.

The heave-offering and the half — spoil drawn into the sanctuary structural / thematic — confirmed

The levy is named a tᵉrûmâh, “heave-offering” (v. 29, v. 41), and is carved from the machătsîyth, the “half” (vv. 29, 30, 42). Both terms belong to the tabernacle vocabulary: the half-shekel atonement-money and its tᵉrûmâh in Exodus 30:13–15, the census-half of Exodus 38:26. The war-spoil is thus folded into the same grammar of dedication that funds the sanctuary — a structural echo of cultic language, not a citation.

Numbers 31:29 · Numbers 31:30 · Exodus 30:13 · Exodus 38:26

basis: Verifier: 31:29↔Ex 30:13 share H4276 machătsîyth + H8641 tᵉrûwmâh; 31:30↔Ex 38:26 share H4276 machătsîyth + H2572 chămishshîym — shared sanctuary-levy vocabulary, no quotation.

The prey of the mighty — reversed (Isaiah) verbal / quotation — confirmed

The same rare Hebrew pair that governs Numbers 31:26 — malqôwach (“prey”) and shᵉbîy (“captives”) — recurs in Isaiah 49:24–25, but with the lens turned around. Where Numbers tallies the captives of the mighty as spoil, Isaiah asks whether the prey can be taken from the mighty and answers that even “the prey of the terrible shall be delivered”: the LORD will contend with the captor and rescue the captives. The lexical link (both Hebrew, both low-frequency) is secure and rare; the reading of it as a deliberate reversal of the war-spoil motif is interpretive on our part, not a claim that Isaiah is quoting Numbers.

Numbers 31:26 · Isaiah 49:24 · Isaiah 49:25

basis: Verifier: 31:26↔Isa 49:25 share rare H4455 malqôwach (in 8 vv) + H7628 shᵉbîy (in 47 vv); both Hebrew, low-frequency — verbal link secure. The reading of it as reversal is interpretive, not lexical.

⚙Christ in the Unittypology · verify

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The Redeemer who takes the captives, not the spoil ancient/widely-held

Numbers 31 binds the warrior to surrender a fixed portion of his prey to the LORD. Isaiah, with the same rare Hebrew words (malqôwach, shᵉbîy), turns the picture inside out: the LORD himself becomes the mightier warrior who wrests the captives from the captor — “even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered” (Isa 49:25). The motif carries forward to the victory-procession of Ephesians 4:8: “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive.” Two cautions, honestly: Paul there is quoting Psalm 68:18, not Numbers or Isaiah, and the link from this unit to Ephesians is thematic (the captivity-taken-captive motif), not a shared-lexeme chain — a Hebrew text and a Greek one cannot be tied by Strong’s number. What is genuinely traceable is the inner-Hebrew reversal Isaiah works on the war-spoil vocabulary; the figural application to Christ’s ascension-triumph is the church’s long-held reading, offered as such. The trajectory: the only spoil God finally claims is the prisoners — set free.

Numbers 31:26 · Isaiah 49:24 · Isaiah 49:25 · Ephesians 4:8

A priest who receives the offering of the LORD novel

Twice the dedicated portion is delivered into a priest’s hand — “give it to Eleazar the priest as a heave-offering of the LORD” (v. 29), “Moses gave the tribute… to Eleazar the priest” (v. 41). The tᵉrûmâh does not stay with the one who won it; it passes through the mediating priesthood to God. Read forward, the pattern anticipates the one High Priest who both presents and is the offering (Heb 7:27; 9:11–12) — though here the type is faint, carried by the office of Eleazar rather than by any explicit promise. Held loosely, it points to Christ receiving and perfecting what fallible hands could only hand on.

Numbers 31:29 · Numbers 31:41 · Hebrews 7:27

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible (1834)
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, — (1880s)
Charles Ellicott, Commentary for English Readers (1878)
Geneva Study Bible, Marginal Notes (1599)
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871)
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63)
Joseph Benson, Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1810s)
Keil & Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1860s)
Matthew Henry, Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706)
Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1685)
The Pulpit Commentary, Spence & Exell, eds. (1880s)

A lexical caution worth flagging: the Verifier surfaces Psalm 22:15 as sharing Strong’s H4455 with this unit. That is a homonym collision, not a real link — in Numbers 31 malqôwach means “prey/booty,” while in Psalm 22:15 the same consonants carry the root’s other sense, “jaws/gums” (“my tongue cleaveth to my jaws”). Strong’s own gloss flags the double meaning (“transitively, in dual, the jaws”). We have therefore not built a thread on it; shared numbers are not shared meaning.

On the custom behind the law: the Cambridge Bible observes that the equal division between fighters and stay-at-homes was “an ancient custom, which was traced to the action of David ( 1 Samuel 30:24 f.),” and that the religious tax “is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., but perhaps, like the foregoing regulation, it had an ancient custom behind it.” The same note flags a comparative parallel — Mohammed “enjoined a similar tax of 1/5th ( Koran viii. 42, cited by Gray).” We record this as the commentator’s historical observation, not as a claim of dependence; the text itself grounds the levy in YHWH’s command (v. 25), and K&D is careful that “the arrangement… was only made for this particular case, and not as a law for all times.”

On provenance: the bulk-quoted blocks from Matthew Henry (the single 31:25–47 note), JFB (the 25–39 / 32–47 summaries), and Keil & Delitzsch (one running paragraph) repeat across many verses in the source feed; we have excerpted each only where it bears on the verse at hand, and named the work each time. Albert Barnes’ verse-25/26/27 entry in the feed is a mis-attached note on “brass/copper” that belongs to v. 22; we did not use it, drawing instead on his genuine note from v. 32 onward.

On the figures: every number here is the Masoretic round total; the priests’ 1-in-500 and the Levites’ 1-in-50 reconcile exactly (JFB’s and K&D’s tables agree). The translation choices flagged in the divergences (heave/lift for rûm, “soul” for nephesh, “halve” for chātsâh) follow the Hebrew lexicon and the public-domain commentators; the theological weighing of the war itself is deliberately left to the whole counsel of Scripture and is not asserted here.

✦ = human, public-domain source, quoted and named. ⚙ = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Grand Commentary — the unit, read whole

i. The Word that orders the spoil — 25&ndash;30

ii. The audited inventory — 31&ndash;47

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripture

The living prey &mdash; malqôwach across the chapter verbal / quotation — confirmed

Halving the host &mdash; chātsâh and the spoils of war structural / thematic — confirmed

The heave-offering and the half &mdash; spoil drawn into the sanctuary structural / thematic — confirmed

The prey of the mighty &mdash; reversed (Isaiah) verbal / quotation — confirmed

The Redeemer who takes the captives, not the spoil ancient/widely-held

A priest who receives the offering of the LORD novel

Apparatus & Provenance

i. The Word that orders the spoil — 25–30

ii. The audited inventory — 31–47

The living prey — malqôwach across the chapter verbal / quotation — confirmed

Halving the host — chātsâh and the spoils of war structural / thematic — confirmed

The heave-offering and the half — spoil drawn into the sanctuary structural / thematic — confirmed

The prey of the mighty — reversed (Isaiah) verbal / quotation — confirmed