Study Desk

The LORD said to Moses,

"You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured.

Divide the spoils between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community.

From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the LORD one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep or goats.

Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the LORD's part.

From the Israelites' half, select one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the LORD's tabernacle."

So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.

The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep,

72,000 cattle,

61,000 donkeys

and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.

The half share of those who fought in the battle was: 337,500 sheep,

of which the tribute for the LORD was 675;

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

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

16,000 people, of which the tribute for the LORD was 32.

Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the LORD's part, as the LORD commanded Moses.

The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men-

the community's half-was 337,500 sheep,

36,000 cattle,

30,500 donkeys

and 16,000 people.

From the Israelites' half, Moses selected one out of every fifty persons and animals, as the LORD commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the LORD's tabernacle.