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Numbers 31
The Voice
Numbers 31
The Voice
31 Eternal One (to Moses): 1-2 It’s finally time for the Israelites to make the Midianites suffer for the trouble they caused back at Peor and then you will leave this world and join your ancestors.
The Israelites took Midianite women as wives and consequently started worshiping their gods. Some 24,000 Israelites died in that judgment. Moses is now told to pick up where the priest Phinehas left off and kill the Midianites.
Moses (to the Israelites): 3-5 Get yourselves ready for war. From among your men, select 1,000 from each of Israel’s tribes. Arm them, and send them out to fulfill God’s desire to make the Midianites pay for their treachery.
So it was that 12,000 Israelite men went off to war. 6 Moses sent the zealous priest Phinehas (Priest Eleazar’s son) with each tribe’s contribution toward the army of 1,000 men, too, carrying the holy vessels and trumpets to sound the alarm. 7 At the direction of God through Moses, the Israelites fought fiercely. By the time it was over, they had managed to kill every single Midianite male. 8 They killed all five of Midian’s kings (Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba), and they even executed Balaam (Beor’s son) too.
This is a surprising note about Balaam. He honored the Lord and would only speak blessing over Israel (22–24). Here and later (Joshua 13:22; 24:9–10), Balaam is cast as an enemy of God’s people (also 2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 2:14).
9-11 They captured Midian’s women and children and everything of value—livestock, luxury items, whatever seemed good—to bring back with them, and they burned what was left of the cities and camps. 12 The victorious Israelites headed back to present these prisoners, animals, and things to Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all of the Israelites who had gathered at their camp on the Moabite plains, just across the Jordan River, east of Jericho.
13 Moses, Priest Eleazar, and the leaders of the community went out to meet them, just outside the settlement. But instead of commending them for their bravery and success, 14 in his anger, Moses berated the men who just a little while earlier were commanding battalions of hundreds or thousands of soldiers.
Moses: 15 What were you thinking that you would allow these women to live? 16 They are the ones, on the advice of that instigator Balaam, who are responsible for seducing our men by leading Israelites to reject the Eternal at Peor. They brought down on us that punishing plague that killed so many of the people of the Eternal One. 17 Now you must slaughter every last boy in this Midianite group and kill every woman who has ever slept with a man. 18 As for the virgins, you can take them, as you desire. 19-20 According to the purity laws, you must stay outside the boundaries of the camp for seven days. Anyone who has killed or otherwise touched a corpse, remember to wash up on the third and seventh days as prescribed. Every piece of clothing—cloth, leather, or goat’s hide—and every wooden object on your person must be purified too. This applies to you and your prisoners.
Because of the details concerning priestly matters of ritual process and purity, Eleazar the priest explains how the Lord commanded they should proceed. They have been in contact with corpses, blood, and pagan objects, and it is essential that they cleanse themselves properly as members of this holy congregation.
21 Then Eleazar stepped forward and took it from there.
Priest Eleazar (to the soldiers): It is a law that God made clear to us through Moses. 22-23 Whatever you wear or have with you that is not flammable—all metals such as gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead—shall be cleansed by fire. To fully purify such objects, wash them in the water for ritual impurity too. But anything that cannot stand fire, wash with the water. 24 On the seventh day, strip and wash what you’re wearing. After that, you shall be considered pure and may return to the camp.
25 The Eternal One told Moses how to divide the spoils.
Eternal One: 26 Get Priest Eleazar and the heads of the extended families of the group to help you inventory everything the soldiers brought back with them from Midian, prisoners and possessions. 27 Then divide it in half. One part will go to the men who went to war, and the other to the people who stayed here. 28 Out of the warriors’ half, take a portion as a gift to Me. For every 500 items of any kind—persons or animals—set one aside for God 29 by giving it to Eleazar the priest (who will make the actual offering to Me). 30 Out of the general population’s half, take one out of every 50 of any particular item—persons or animals—and give it to the Levites who are in charge of maintaining God’s special tent.
31 Moses and Priest Eleazar did as the Eternal One commanded Moses, 32 and even after they had killed the boys and a lot of the women, the war booty was substantial. There were 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 oxen, 34 61,000 donkeys, 35 and 32,000 virgin women. 36 From the half that was for the warriors, there were 337,500 sheep 37 (675 for the Eternal), 38 36,000 large oxen (72 for the Eternal), 39 30,500 donkeys (61 for the Eternal), 40 and 16,000 people (32 for the Eternal). 41 Moses handed God’s portion over to the keeping of Eleazar the priest as the Eternal had commanded Moses. 42-46 The general community received the same amounts: 337,500 sheep, 36,000 large oxen, 30,500 donkeys, and 16,000 people. 47 Out of the general community’s half, Moses took one out of every 50 of any particular item—persons or animals—and gave it to the Levites, the ones who were in charge of maintaining God’s tent just as he had been told by the Eternal One. 48 Then the military officers of all ranks approached Moses with yet more stuff.
Officers (to Moses): 49 Each of us, who loyally answer your call to serve, has counted up the people in our battalions. We are happy to report that not a single person is missing. 50 Yet to cover any sins we may have committed before the Eternal, we wish to present to you all the articles of value we found in Midian—objects of gold, jewelry of all kinds (armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, and pendants).
51-52 Moses and Eleazar the priest received from the commanders and officers these pieces of gold fashioned into all shapes and sizes. Collectively, the officers’ offering to the Eternal equaled 420 pounds. 53 The soldiers had also raided things for themselves. 54 But Moses and Eleazar set up the gold objects from the officers inside the congregation tent to commemorate the Israelites’ actions before the Eternal One Himself.
Numeri 31
Het Boek
Numeri 31
Het Boek
Wraak op de Midjanieten
31 De Here zei tegen Mozes: 2 ‘Neem voor de Israëlieten wraak op de Midjanieten, omdat zij hen tot afgoderij hebben verleid. Daarna zult u sterven.’ 3 Mozes zei tegen het volk: ‘Van elke stam moeten duizend mannen zich bewapenen om de oorlog van de Here tegen Midjan te voeren.’ 4,5 Dit bevel werd uitgevoerd, uit de duizenden mannen die Israël telde, werden twaalfduizend mannen door Mozes de strijd ingestuurd. 6 Pinechas, de zoon van de priester Eleazar, voerde hen aan in de strijd, vergezeld door de ark en onder luid trompetgeschal. 7 In die strijd werden alle Midjanieten gedood! 8 Onder de gevallenen waren alle vijf de Midjanitische koningen: Ewi, Rekem, Sur, Chur en Reba. Ook Bileam, de zoon van Beor, werd gedood.
9-11 Het Israëlitische leger nam de vrouwen en kinderen gevangen, roofde het vee en de kudden en nam alle waardevolle dingen mee. Alle steden, versterkte plaatsen en dorpen werden daarna platgebrand. 12 De gevangenen en de andere krijgsbuit werden meegevoerd naar de velden van Moab langs de Jordaan tegenover Jericho, waar Mozes, de priester Eleazar en de rest van het volk waren achtergebleven.
13 Mozes, de priester Eleazar en alle leiders van het volk gingen het zegevierende leger tegemoet, 14 maar Mozes was woedend op de legeraanvoerders. 15 ‘Waarom hebben jullie alle vrouwen in leven gelaten?’ vroeg hij boos. 16 ‘Zij zijn juist degenen die de raad van Bileam hebben opgevolgd en de Israëlieten hebben aangezet tot afgoderij met Baäl. Zij zijn de oorzaak van de plaag die zoveel duizenden van ons heeft gedood. 17 Dood nu alle jongens en alle vrouwen die gemeenschap met een man hebben gehad. 18 Alleen de jonge meisjes mogen blijven leven. 19 Laat ieder die iemand heeft gedood of een dode heeft aangeraakt, zeven dagen buiten het kamp blijven. Reinig jezelf en de gevangenen dan op de derde en de zevende dag. 20 Vergeet niet alle kleding en alles wat gemaakt is van leer, geitenhuid en hout ook te reinigen.’
21 Toen zei de priester Eleazar tegen de mannen die de strijd hadden gevoerd: ‘Dit is de wet die de Here Mozes heeft gegeven: 22 “Alles wat bestand is tegen vuur, dus goud, zilver, koper, ijzer, tin of lood, 23 zal in het vuur worden gehouden om volgens de voorschriften van de wet te worden gereinigd. Daarna moet het worden gereinigd met reinigingswater. Maar alle voorwerpen die niet tegen vuur bestand zijn, zullen alleen met water worden gereinigd”. 24 Op de zevende dag moet u uw kleren wassen en worden gereinigd en dan mag u terugkeren naar het kamp.’
25 De Here zei tegen Mozes: 26 ‘U, de priester Eleazar en de stamleiders moeten een volledige lijst maken van de oorlogsbuit, inclusief de mensen en de dieren, 27 verdeel het daarna in tweeën. De ene helft is voor de mannen die de strijd hebben gevoerd, de andere voor het volk Israël. 28 Maar de Here krijgt als eerste een deel van de gevangenen, ossen, ezels en het kleinvee, dat het leger heeft buitgemaakt. Zijn deel is één exemplaar van elke vijfhonderd. 29 Geef dit deel aan de priester Eleazar, zodat hij het met een bewegend gebaar voor het altaar aan de Here kan offeren. 30 En van de helft die aan het volk wordt gegeven, zult u één exemplaar van iedere vijftig gevangenen, runderen, ezels en schapen nemen. Geef die aan de Levieten die voor de tabernakel zorgen, want het is het deel van de Here.’ 31-35 Mozes en de priester Eleazar deden wat de Here hun had opgedragen. De totale buit (uitgezonderd sieraden, kleding enz.) bestond uit 675.000 schapen, 72.000 runderen, 61.000 ezels en 32.000 jonge meisjes. 36-40 De helft van de buit, die aan het leger toekwam, bestond uit: 337.500 schapen (waarvan 675 aan de Here werden gegeven), 36.000 runderen (waarvan 72 aan de Here werden gegeven), 30.500 ezels (waarvan 61 aan de Here werden gegeven) en 16.000 jonge meisjes (van wie 32 aan de Levieten werden gegeven). 41 Het deel van de Here werd aan de priester Eleazar gegeven, zoals de Here Mozes had opgedragen. 42-46 De helft van de buit die aan het volk toekwam—Mozes had die gescheiden van de helft die het leger kreeg—bedroeg 337.500 schapen, 36.000 runderen, 30.500 ezels en 16.000 jonge meisjes. 47 In overeenstemming met de opdracht van de Here gaf Mozes twee procent hiervan aan de Levieten.
48,49 Toen kwamen de legeraanvoerders naar Mozes toe en zeiden: ‘Wij hebben alle mannen geteld die met ons ten strijde zijn getrokken en we hebben er niet één verloren! 50 Daarom hebben wij een speciaal dankoffer voor de Here meegebracht uit onze buit: gouden sieraden, armbanden, vingerringen, oorringen en halskettingen. Dit is om verzoening voor onze zielen te doen bij de Here.’ 51,52 Mozes en de priester Eleazar namen dit dankoffer aan uit de handen van de legeraanvoerders en berekenden de waarde ervan. Zij kwamen tot ruim 184 kilo goud. 53 Ook hadden de soldaten buit voor zichzelf gehouden. 54 Het offer werd in de tabernakel voor de Here neergezet en daar bewaard als een aandenken voor het volk Israël.
民数记 31
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
民数记 31
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
攻击与杀戮米甸人
31 耶和华对摩西说： 2 “你要在米甸人身上报以色列人的仇，然后要归到你本族那里去。” 3 摩西对人民说：“要从你们中间使一些人武装起来去作战，攻击米甸人，好在米甸人身上为耶和华报仇。 4 你们要从以色列众支派中每支派打发一千人去打仗。” 5 于是从以色列千万人中，每支派选出一千人，共有一万二千人，都武装起来去打仗。 6 摩西就打发每支派的一千人去打仗，并且派遣以利亚撒祭司的儿子非尼哈与他们一同去，非尼哈手里拿着圣所的器皿和吹大声的号筒。 7 他们就照着耶和华吩咐摩西的，去与米甸人作战，杀死了所有的男人。 8 在那些被杀的人以外，还杀了米甸的五个王，就是以未、利金、苏珥、户珥和利巴；又用刀杀了比珥的儿子巴兰。 9 以色列人掳了米甸人的妇女、孩子；又掳掠了他们所有的牲畜、羊群和财物； 10 并用火烧了他们所住地方的一切城市和营寨； 11 把一切夺来的和掳掠的，连人带牲畜都带走； 12 他们把俘掳的人和掳来的，以及夺来的东西，都带到摩押平原，约旦河边，和耶利哥相对的营地那里，交给摩西和以利亚撒祭司，以及以色列的会众。
13 摩西和以利亚撒祭司，以及会众所有的领袖，都出到营外迎接他们。 14 摩西对作战回来的军官，就是对千夫长和百夫长发怒。 15 摩西对他们说：“你们让这些妇女存活吗？ 16 看哪，这些妇女因巴兰的计谋，使以色列人在毘珥的事上，得罪耶和华，以致瘟疫临到耶和华的会众身上。 17 现在你们要把所有的男孩都杀了，也要杀死所有与男人发生过关系的妇人。 18 但女孩子中，没有与男人发生过关系的，你们都可以让她们活着。 19 你们要在营外驻扎七天，杀过人的和摸过死尸的，第三日和第七日都要洁净自己，你们和你们掳来的人都要这样行。 20 你们也要洁净一切衣服、皮具、山羊毛织的物和木器。”
21 以利亚撒祭司对打仗回来的兵丁说：“这是耶和华吩咐摩西的律例： 22 金、银、铜、铁、锡、铅， 23 能够经火的东西，你们都要使它经火，它就洁净了，但还要用除污水洁净它；不能经火的，你们要使它经过水。 24 第七日，你们要洗衣服，就为洁净；然后才可以进营。”
瓜分战利品
25 耶和华对摩西说： 26 “你和以利亚撒祭司，以及会众的各族长，要计算俘掳的人和掠得的牲畜的总数。 27 你要把掠夺得的分为两半，一半给出去打仗的人，一半给全体会众。 28 你又要从出去打仗的人所得的，无论是人、牛、驴，或羊群之中，抽出五百分之一作贡物奉给耶和华； 29 你们要从他们那一半中抽出，交给以利亚撒祭司，作耶和华的举祭。 30 从以色列人那一半中，无论是人、牛、驴、羊群，或是各样牲畜，都要抽出五十分之一，交给负责看守耶和华帐幕的利未人。” 31 于是，摩西和以利亚撒祭司照着耶和华吩咐摩西的行了。
32 掠得的东西，就是打仗的人所掳掠剩下来的，共有羊六十七万五千只， 33 牛七万二千头， 34 驴六万一千头， 35 没有与男人发生过关系的妇人三万二千人。 36 出去打仗的人的分，就是他们所得的那一半，羊共有三十三万七千五百只； 37 这些羊群中，归耶和华作贡物的，有六百七十五只。 38 牛三万六千头，归耶和华为贡物的，有七十二只。 39 驴三万零五百头，归耶和华为贡物的有六十一匹。 40 人口一万六千，归给耶和华作贡物的，有三十二人。 41 摩西照着耶和华吩咐他的，把贡物，就是耶和华的举祭，交给以利亚撒祭司。
42 以色列人所得的那一半，就是摩西从打仗的人取来分给他们的（ 43 属于会众的那一半，有羊三十三万七千五百只， 44 牛三万六千头， 45 驴三万零五百头， 46 人口一万六千）； 47 摩西照着耶和华吩咐他的，从属于以色列人的那一半，无论是人口或是牲畜，都抽出五十分之一，交给负责看守耶和华帐幕的利未人。
48 统领万军的军长、千夫长和百夫长，都来见摩西， 49 对摩西说：“你仆人手下作战的士兵，已经计算总数，没有缺少一人。 50 现在我们把耶和华的供物，都送来了，就是我们各人所得的金器、脚链子、镯子、打印戒指、耳环、手钏，好在耶和华面前，为我们自己赎罪。” 51 摩西和以利亚撒祭司就收了他们的金子，就是各样金子做成的器皿。 52 千夫长和百夫长献给耶和华为举祭的一切金子，共有两百多公斤。 53 士兵都各自夺取了财物。 54 摩西和以利亚撒祭司就从千夫长和百夫长手中收了金子，把它带进会幕里去，在耶和华面前作以色列人的记念。
Numbers 31
New International Version
Numbers 31
New International Version
Vengeance on the Midianites
31 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Take vengeance on the Midianites(A) for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.(B)”
3 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. 4 Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle,(D) a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6 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.
7 They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses,(I) and killed every man.(J) 8 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) 9 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
- Numbers 31:52 That is, about 420 pounds or about 190 kilograms
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