Numbers 31:25-47

New International Reader's Version

The People Divide Up What They Had Taken

²⁵The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, ²⁶“Here is what you and Eleazar the priest and the family leaders of the community must do. You must count all the people and animals you captured. ²⁷Divide up some of what you took with the soldiers who fought in the battle. Divide up the rest with the others in the community. ²⁸Set apart a gift for me. Take something from the soldiers who fought in the battle. Set apart one out of every 500 people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. ²⁹Take my gift from the soldiers’ half. Give it to Eleazar the priest. It is my share. ³⁰Also take something from the half that belongs to the Israelites. Choose one out of every 50 people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites. They are responsible for taking care of my holy tent.” ³¹So Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

³²What the soldiers took included 675,000 sheep. ³³There were also 72,000 cattle ³⁴and 61,000 donkeys. ³⁵And there were 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

³⁶Here is the half that belonged to those who had fought in the battle.

There were 337,500 sheep. ³⁷From among them, the Lord’s gift was 675.

³⁸There were 36,000 cattle. From among them, the Lord’s gift was 72.

³⁹There were 30,500 donkeys. From among them, the Lord’s gift was 61.

⁴⁰There were 16,000 women. From among them, the Lord’s gift was 32.

⁴¹Moses gave the gift to Eleazar the priest. It was the Lord’s share. Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him.

⁴²The other half belonged to the Israelites. Moses set it apart from what belonged to the fighting men. ⁴³The community’s half was 337,500 sheep, ⁴⁴36,000 cattle, ⁴⁵30,500 donkeys ⁴⁶and 16,000 women. ⁴⁷Moses chose one out of every 50 people and animals. He gave them to the Levites. They were accountable for taking care of the Lord’s holy tent. Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him.