31 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian.

Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.

So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.

And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.

10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.

11 And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.

12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.

13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.

14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.

15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

19 And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.

20 And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood.

21 And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord commanded Moses;

22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.

24 And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.

25 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:

27 And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:

28 And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:

29 Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the Lord.

30 And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.

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

32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,

33 And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,

34 And threescore and one thousand asses,

35 And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.

36 And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:

37 And the Lord'S tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.

38 And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the Lord'S tribute was threescore and twelve.

39 And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the Lord'S tribute was threescore and one.

40 And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the Lord'S tribute was thirty and two persons.

41 And Moses gave the tribute, which was the Lord'S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses.

42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,

43 (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

44 And thirty and six thousand beeves,

45 And thirty thousand asses and five hundred,

46 And sixteen thousand persons;)

47 Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.

48 And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:

49 And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.

50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord.

51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.

52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the Lord, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.

53 (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.

戮米甸人

31 耶和華吩咐摩西說: 「你要在米甸人身上報以色列人的仇,後來要歸到你列祖[a]那裡。」 摩西吩咐百姓說:「要從你們中間叫人帶兵器出去攻擊米甸,好在米甸人身上為耶和華報仇。 以色列眾支派中,每支派要打發一千人去打仗。」 於是從以色列千萬人中,每支派交出一千人,共一萬二千人,帶著兵器預備打仗。 摩西就打發每支派的一千人去打仗,並打發祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈同去,非尼哈手裡拿著聖所的器皿和吹大聲的號筒。 他們就照耶和華所吩咐摩西的,與米甸人打仗,殺了所有的男丁。 在所殺的人中,殺了米甸的五王,就是以未利金蘇珥戶珥利巴,又用刀殺了比珥的兒子巴蘭 以色列人擄了米甸人的婦女、孩子,並將他們的牲畜、羊群和所有的財物都奪了來,當做擄物。 10 又用火焚燒他們所住的城邑和所有的營寨, 11 把一切所奪的、所擄的,連人帶牲畜都帶了去。 12 將所擄的人,所奪的牲畜、財物,都帶到摩押平原,在約旦河邊與耶利哥相對的營盤,交給摩西和祭司以利亞撒以色列的會眾。

13 摩西和祭司以利亞撒並會眾一切的首領,都出到營外迎接他們。 14 摩西向打仗回來的軍長,就是千夫長、百夫長發怒, 15 對他們說:「你們要存留這一切婦女的活命嗎? 16 這些婦女因巴蘭的計謀,叫以色列人在毗珥的事上得罪耶和華,以致耶和華的會眾遭遇瘟疫。 17 所以,你們要把一切的男孩和所有已嫁的女子都殺了。 18 但女孩子中,凡沒有出嫁的,你們都可以存留她的活命。 19 你們要在營外駐紮七日。凡殺了人的,和一切摸了被殺的,並你們所擄來的人口,第三日、第七日,都要潔淨自己, 20 也要因一切的衣服、皮物、山羊毛織的物和各樣的木器,潔淨自己。」

21 祭司以利亞撒對打仗回來的兵丁說:「耶和華所吩咐摩西律法中的條例乃是這樣: 22 金、銀、銅、鐵、錫、鉛, 23 凡能見火的,你們要叫它經火就為潔淨,然而還要用除汙穢的水潔淨它。凡不能見火的,你們要叫它過水。 24 第七日,你們要洗衣服,就為潔淨,然後可以進營。」

分所獲之物

25 耶和華曉諭摩西說: 26 「你和祭司以利亞撒並會眾的各族長,要計算所擄來的人口和牲畜的總數。 27 把所擄來的分做兩半,一半歸於出去打仗的精兵,一半歸於全會眾。 28 又要從出去打仗所得的人口、牛、驢、羊群中,每五百取一,作為貢物奉給耶和華。 29 從他們一半之中,要取出來交給祭司以利亞撒,作為耶和華的舉祭。 30 以色列人的一半之中,就是從人口、牛、驢、羊群、各樣牲畜中,每五十取一,交給看守耶和華帳幕的利未人。」 31 於是摩西和祭司以利亞撒照耶和華所吩咐摩西的行了。

五輸其一貢於耶和華

32 除了兵丁所奪的財物以外,所擄來的:羊六十七萬五千隻, 33 牛七萬二千隻, 34 驢六萬一千匹, 35 女人共三萬二千口,都是沒有出嫁的。 36 出去打仗之人的份,就是他們所得的那一半,共計:羊三十三萬七千五百隻, 37 從其中歸耶和華為貢物的,有六百七十五隻; 38 牛三萬六千隻,從其中歸耶和華為貢物的,有七十二隻; 39 驢三萬零五百匹,從其中歸耶和華為貢物的,有六十一匹; 40 人一萬六千口,從其中歸耶和華的,有三十二口。 41 摩西把貢物,就是歸於耶和華的舉祭,交給祭司以利亞撒,是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。

42 以色列人所得的那一半,就是摩西從打仗的人取來分給他們的 43 (會眾的那一半有羊三十三萬七千五百隻, 44 牛三萬六千隻, 45 驢三萬零五百匹, 46 人一萬六千口), 47 無論是人口是牲畜,摩西每五十取一,交給看守耶和華帳幕的利未人,是照耶和華所吩咐摩西的。

48 帶領千軍的各軍長,就是千夫長、百夫長,都近前來見摩西 49 對他說:「僕人權下的兵已經計算總數,並不短少一人。 50 如今我們將各人所得的金器,就是腳鏈子、鐲子、打印的戒指、耳環、手釧,都送來為耶和華的供物,好在耶和華面前為我們的生命贖罪。」 51 摩西和祭司以利亞撒就收了他們的金子,都是打成的器皿。 52 千夫長、百夫長所獻給耶和華為舉祭的金子,共有一萬六千七百五十舍客勒。 53 各兵丁都為自己奪了財物。 54 摩西和祭司以利亞撒收了千夫長、百夫長的金子,就帶進會幕,在耶和華面前作為以色列人的紀念。

Footnotes

  1. 民數記 31:2 原文作:本民。

Vengeance on the Midianites

31 The Lord said to Moses, “Take vengeance on the Midianites(A) for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.(B)

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 Lord’s vengeance(C) on them. Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” So twelve thousand men armed for battle,(D) a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. Moses sent them into battle,(E) a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas(F) son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary(G) and the trumpets(H) for signaling.

They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses,(I) and killed every man.(J) Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba(K)—the five kings of Midian.(L) They also killed Balaam son of Beor(M) with the sword.(N) The Israelites captured the Midianite women(O) and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder.(P) 10 They burned(Q) all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.(R) 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals,(S) 12 and brought the captives, spoils(T) and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly(U) at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.(V)

13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army(W)—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.

15 “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice(X) and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident,(Y) so that a plague(Z) struck the Lord’s people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,(AA) 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

19 “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed(AB) must stay outside the camp seven days.(AC) On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves(AD) and your captives. 20 Purify every garment(AE) as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.(AF)

21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle,(AG) “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: 22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron,(AH) tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire,(AI) and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing.(AJ) And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean.(AK) Then you may come into the camp.(AL)

Dividing the Spoils

25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads(AM) of the community are to count all the people(AN) and animals that were captured.(AO) 27 Divide(AP) the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. 28 From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the Lord(AQ) one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. 29 Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part. 30 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 Lord’s tabernacle.(AR) 31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.

32 The plunder remaining from the spoils(AS) that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys 35 and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

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

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

38 36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the Lord was 72;

39 30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the Lord was 61;

40 16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the Lord was 32.

41 Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part,(AU) as the Lord commanded Moses.(AV)

42 The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men— 43 the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys 46 and 16,000 people. 47 From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and animals, as the Lord commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.

48 Then the officers(AW) who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses 49 and said to him, “Your servants have counted(AX) the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing.(AY) 50 So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves(AZ) before the Lord.”

51 Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. 52 All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the Lord weighed 16,750 shekels.[a] 53 Each soldier had taken plunder(BA) for himself. 54 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(BB) as a memorial(BC) for the Israelites before the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 31:52 That is, about 420 pounds or about 190 kilograms