Study Desk

And Moses said to the people, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Mid'ian, to execute the LORD's vengeance on Mid'ian.

So there were provided, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, together with Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.

But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

And levy for the LORD a tribute from the men of war who went out to battle, one out of five hundred, of the persons and of the oxen and of the asses and of the flocks;

And Moses gave the tribute, which was the offering for the LORD, to Elea'zar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And we have brought the LORD's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and beads, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD."

(The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

And Moses and Elea'zar 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 people of Israel before the LORD.

Now the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle; and they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, and behold, the place was a place for cattle.

the land which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle; and your servants have cattle."

And they said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession; do not take us across the Jordan."

For when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the people of Israel from going into the land which the LORD had given them.

none except Caleb the son of Jephun'neh the Ken'izzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the LORD.'

For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness; and you will destroy all this people."

Then they came near to him, and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and cities for our little ones,

For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond; because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east."

So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will take up arms to go before the LORD for the war,

Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do what you have promised."

but your servants will pass over, every man who is armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord orders."