King James Version

What Does Numbers 31:32 Mean?

Numbers 31:32 in the King James Version says “And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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,”

Numbers 31:32 · KJV

Context

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. flocks: or, goats

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,

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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—The precise number 675,000 (tson, flocks) demonstrates meticulous inventory and enormous scale. After setting aside tribute, soldiers received approximately 337,500 sheep; congregation received equal amount.

The staggering quantity reveals Midianite wealth and God's provision for desert-wandering Israel about to enter Canaan. These flocks provided meat, wool, sacrificial animals, and trade goods. The number's precision (not 'about 700,000') reflects ancient Near Eastern accounting practices and historical reliability. Skeptics doubt these figures, but Midian controlled lucrative trade routes, explaining accumulated wealth.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Midian descended from Abraham through Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2), occupying Arabian territory with vast pastoral wealth. Their alliance with Moab to curse Israel (Numbers 22-25) and seduce Israel into idolatry (Numbers 25:1-18) brought divine judgment. The spoils represented restitution for spiritual warfare waged against God's people.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do these massive spoils demonstrate God's ability to provide abundantly beyond human expectation?
  2. What does Israel's imminent land conquest suggest about God's timing of provision?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַֽיְהִי֙1 of 16
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַ2 of 16

“And the booty”

H4455

transitively (in dual) the jaws (as taking food)

יֶ֣תֶר3 of 16

“being the rest”

H3499

properly, an overhanging, i.e., (by implication) a small rope (as hanging free)

הַבָּ֔ז4 of 16

“of the prey”

H957

plunder

אֲשֶׁ֥ר5 of 16
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בָּֽזְז֖וּ6 of 16

“had caught”

H962

to plunder

עַ֣ם7 of 16

“which the men of”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

הַצָּבָ֑א8 of 16

“war”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

צֹ֗אן9 of 16

“sheep”

H6629

a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)

שֵׁשׁ10 of 16

“was six”

H8337

six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth

מֵא֥וֹת11 of 16

“hundred”

H3967

a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

אֲלָפִֽים׃12 of 16

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים13 of 16

“and seventy”

H7657

seventy

אֲלָפִֽים׃14 of 16

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

וַֽחֲמֵ֥שֶׁת15 of 16

“and five”

H2568

five

אֲלָפִֽים׃16 of 16

“thousand”

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 31:32 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Test Your Knowledge

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