CHAPTER 31
“Take vengeance
on
the Midianites
for the Israelites.
After that,
you will be gathered
to
your people.”
So Moses
told
the people,
“Arm
some of your men
for war,
that they may go
against
the Midianites
and execute
the LORD’s
vengeance
on them.
And Moses
sent
the thousand
from each tribe
into battle,
along with
Phinehas
son
of Eleazar
the priest,
who took with him
the vessels
of the sanctuary
and the trumpets
for signaling.
Along
with those who were slain,
they killed
the kings
of Midian—
Evi,
Rekem,
Zur,
Hur,
and Reba—
the five
kings
of Midian.
They also killed
Balaam
son
of Beor
with the sword.
The Israelites
captured
the Midianite
women
and their children,
and they plundered
all
their herds,
flocks,
and goods.
Then they burned
all
the cities
where the Midianites had lived,
as well as all
their encampments,
They brought
the captives,
spoils,
and plunder
to Moses,
to Eleazar
the priest,
and to the congregation
of Israel
at
the camp
on
the plains
of Moab,
by
the Jordan
across from Jericho.
And Moses,
Eleazar
the priest,
and all
the leaders
of the congregation
went to meet them
outside
the camp.
But Moses
was angry
with
the officers
of the army—
the commanders
of thousands
and commanders
of hundreds—
who were returning
from
the battle.
“Look,
these women
caused the sons
of Israel,
through the counsel
of Balaam,
to turn
unfaithfully
against the LORD
at
Peor,
so that the plague
struck
the congregation
of the LORD.
All of you
who have killed
a person
or touched
the dead
are to remain
outside
the camp
for seven
days.
On the third
day
and the seventh
day
you are to purify
both yourselves
and your captives.
And purify
every
garment
and leather
good,
everything
made of goat’s hair,
and every
article
of wood.”
Then Eleazar
the priest
said
to
the soldiers
who had gone
into battle,
“This
is the statute
of the law
which
the LORD
has commanded
Moses:
everything
that
can withstand
the fire—
must be put
through the fire,
and it will be clean.
But
it must still be purified
with the water
of purification.
And everything
that
cannot
withstand
the fire
must pass
through the water.
On the seventh
day
you are to wash
your clothes,
and you will be clean.
After that
you may enter
the camp.”
“You
and Eleazar
the priest
and the family
heads
of the congregation
are to take a count
of what was captured,
both of man
and beast.
Then divide
the captives
between
the troops
who went out
to battle
and the rest of
the congregation.
Set aside
a tribute
for the LORD
from what belongs
to the soldiers
who went
into battle:
one
out of
every five
hundred,
whether persons,
cattle,
donkeys,
or sheep.
From
the Israelites’
half,
take
one
out of
every fifty,
whether persons,
cattle,
donkeys,
sheep,
or other
animals,
and give
them to the Levites
who keep
charge
of the tabernacle
of the LORD.”
Moses
gave
the tribute
to Eleazar
the priest
as an offering
for the LORD,
as
the LORD
had commanded
Moses.
From the Israelites’
half,
Moses
took
one
out of
every fifty
persons
and animals
and gave
them
to the Levites
who kept
charge
of the tabernacle
of the LORD,
as
the LORD
had commanded
him.
Then the officers
who
were over the units
of the army—
the commanders
of thousands
and of hundreds—
approached
Moses
and said,
“Your servants
have counted
the soldiers
under our command,
and not
one
of us
is missing.
So we have brought
to the LORD
an offering
of the gold
articles
each man
acquired—
armlets,
bracelets,
rings,
earrings,
and necklaces—
to make atonement
for
ourselves
before
the LORD.”
All
the gold
that the commanders
of thousands
and of hundreds
presented
as an offering
to the LORD
weighed 16,750
shekels.
And Moses
and Eleazar
the priest
received
the gold
from the commanders
of thousands
and of hundreds
and brought
it into
the Tent
of Meeting
as a memorial
for the Israelites
before
the LORD.