CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 31 NIV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/numbers/31.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/numbers/31-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NIV</a> > Numbers 31</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../numbers/30.htm" title="Numbers 30">◄</a> Numbers 31 <a href="../numbers/32.htm" title="Numbers 32">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New International Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/niv/esv/numbers/31.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="sectionhead">Vengeance on the Midianites</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> said to Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>“Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s vengeance on them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>They fought against Midian, as the <span class="name">Lord</span> commanded Moses, and killed every man. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the <span class="name">Lord</span> in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s people. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>“Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the <span class="name">Lord</span> gave Moses: <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”</p> <p class="sectionhead">Dividing the Spoils</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>The <span class="name">Lord</span> said to Moses, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the <span class="name">Lord</span> one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s part. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>From 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 <span class="name">Lord</span>’s tabernacle.” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the <span class="name">Lord</span> commanded Moses.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>72,000 cattle, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>61,000 donkeys <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>The half share of those who fought in the battle was:</p><div class="outlinelist"><p class="item1">337,500 sheep, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>of which the tribute for the <span class="name">Lord</span> was 675;</p> <p class="item1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the <span class="name">Lord</span> was 72;</p> <p class="item1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the <span class="name">Lord</span> was 61;</p> <p class="item1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the <span class="name">Lord</span> was 32.</p></div> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s part, as the <span class="name">Lord</span> commanded Moses.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men— <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>36,000 cattle, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>30,500 donkeys <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>and 16,000 people. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span>From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and animals, as the <span class="name">Lord</span> commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the <span class="name">Lord</span>’s tabernacle.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span>Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span>and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-50.htm"><b>50</b></a></span>So we have brought as an offering to the <span class="name">Lord</span> the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the <span class="name">Lord</span>.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-51.htm"><b>51</b></a></span>Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-52.htm"><b>52</b></a></span>All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the <span class="name">Lord</span> weighed 16,750 shekels. <span class="nivfootnote"><sup><a href="#footnotes" title="That is, about 420 pounds or about 190 kilograms">a</a></sup></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-53.htm"><b>53</b></a></span>Each soldier had taken plunder for himself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/numbers/31-54.htm"><b>54</b></a></span>Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the <span class="name">Lord</span>.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="footnotes"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="nivfootnotesbot">a</span> <span class="fnverse">52</span> <span class="footnotebot">That is, about 420 pounds or about 190 kilograms</span><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center"><p class="ntext"><a href="http://niv.scripturetext.com/version.htm">New International Version</a> (NIV)</p><p class="ntext2">Holy Bible, New International Version&reg, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by <a href="http://biblica.com">Biblica, Inc.</a>® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.</p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../numbers/30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../numbers/32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/numbers/31-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenubib2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>