Numbers 31:25-40

New International Version

Dividing the Spoils

²⁵The Lord said to Moses, ²⁶“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads^(A) of the community are to count all the people^(B) and animals that were captured.^(C) ²⁷Divide^(D) the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. ²⁸From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the Lord^(E) one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. ²⁹Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part. ³⁰From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.^(F)” ³¹So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.

³²The plunder remaining from the spoils^(G) that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, ³³72,000 cattle, ³⁴61,000 donkeys ³⁵and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

³⁶The half share of those who fought in the battle was:

337,500 sheep, ³⁷of which the tribute for the Lord^(H) was 675;

³⁸36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the Lord was 72;

³⁹30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the Lord was 61;

⁴⁰16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the Lord was 32.

Read full chapter