Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation.
Parallel translations
- WEB and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.
- KJV 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:
- NKJV and divide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.
- NASB and divide the spoils between the warriors who went to battle and all the congregation.
- NLT Then divide the plunder into two parts, and give half to the men who fought the battle and half to the rest of the people.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The plunder was to be split into two halves: one for the soldiers who fought, one for the whole congregation.
Overview
God ordained that those who went to battle and those who stayed both shared in the spoils. This principle of sharing the reward of victory appears again in David's time (1 Samuel 30). It reflects God's concern for equity and the unity of His people in His blessings.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Josh 22:8saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”
- Ps 68:12“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
- 1 Sam 30:24–25Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.”
- 1 Sam 30:4So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 31:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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