Numbers 31:50

_AND THE OFFICERS WHICH WERE OVER THOUSANDS OF THE HOST, THE CAPTAINS OF THOUSANDS, AND CAPTAINS OF HUNDREDS, CAME NEAR UNTO MOSES:_ Officers ... said ... there lacketh not one man of us. A victory so signal, and the glory of which was untarnished by the loss of a single Israelite soldier, was an astonishing miracle; and, so clearly betokening the direct interposition of heaven, might well awaken the liveliest feelings of grateful acknowledgment to God for the preservation of "our souls" х_ `AL_ (H5921) _ NAPSHITEEYNUW_ (H5315)] - our lives (Psalms 44:2). The oblation they brought for the Lord 'was partly an atonement,' or reparation for their error (Numbers 31:14), because it could not possess

48-54 The success of the Israelites had been very remarkable, so small a company overcoming such multitudes, but it was still more wonderful that not one was slain or missing. They presented the gold they found among the spoils, as an offering to the Lord. Thus they confessed, that instead of claiming a reward for their service, they needed forgiveness of much that had been amiss, and desired to be thankful for the preservation of their lives, which might justly have been taken away....

Verse Numbers 31:50. _WE HAVE - BROUGHT AN OBLATION FOR THE LORD_] So it appears there was a great deal of booty taken which did not come into the general account; and of this the soldiers, of their own will, made a very extensive offering to God, because he had preserved them from falling in battle. That not one man should have been slain is a most extraordinary circumstance, and powerfully marks the peculiar superintendence of God's especial providence. The Midianites must certainly have made some resistance; but that was ineffectual, because it was against the Lord. When any nation undertakes a _crusade_ against those whom they are pleased to call the _Lord's enemies_, let them bring from the contest this proof of their Divine mission, viz., that not one man of them is either _lost_ or _missing_; and then, and _not till_ _then_, shall we believe th...

The “chains” were “armlets” 2 Samuel 1:10. The “rings” were “finger-rings,” or “seal-rings;” and the “tablets” were worn suspended from the neck Exodus 35:22. TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR OUR SOULS BEFORE THE LORD - Compare Exodus 30:11. The atonement was not for any special offence committed (which would have called for a sacrifice of blood-shedding), but rather like the half-shekel given at the census in the Book of Exodus (loc. cite), was an acknowledgment of having received undeserved mercies. These, if unacknowledged, would have entailed guilt on the soul....

WE HAVE THEREFORE BROUGHT AN OBLATION TO THE LORD,.... A freewill offering, out of the spoil, over and above the tribute levied out of the half that came unto them; WHAT EVERY MAN HATH GOTTEN: or "found" f, in the houses, and upon the bodies of the slain, or of such that were taken captives: OF JEWELS OF GOLD either such as were set in gold; or rather, as the words may be rendered, VESSELS OF GOLD g, as dishes, cups, spoons, and the like: CHAINS; which were wore about the neck, or upon the arm, as Aben Ezra: AND BRACELETS; for the hand, as the same writer, see Genesis 24:22, RINGS; for the finger: EAR RINGS; for the ear, as we render it, the word signifies something round: AND TABLETS; which, according to the Targum of Jonathan, were

ATONEMENT (_ See Scofield) - (Exodus 29:33). _...

7. THE WAR AGAINST THE MIDIANITES CHAPTER 31 _ 1. The command to fight Midian (Numbers 31:1)_ 2. The war (Numbers 31:7) 3. The cleansing (Numbers 31:13) 4. The spoil taken (Numbers 31:25) 5. The oblation of the officers (Numbers 31:48) War is commanded next by the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, “Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites; afterward shalt thou be gathered to thy people.” This is, therefore, the last thing in the official life of Moses. This war against Midian had been com

THE DIVISION OF THE BOOTY. The principle of equal division between those who went forth to fight, and those who remained in the camp was observed by David (1 Samuel 30:22), who seems to have been the first to establish such a rule. The tax of ⅟? 500 of the combatants'share for the priests and of ⅟? 50 of the residue for the Levites is not elsewhere mentioned. NUMBERS 31:50. ANKLE CHAINS: the use of these made the steps of the wearers short and tripping (Isaiah 3:16 *, Isaiah 3:20). But some translate bracelets (_cf._ 2 Samuel 1:10),

OBLATION. This was voluntary. The levy in Numbers 31:25, &c, was commanded. See Leviticus 2:4. JEWELS. instruments or vessels. ATONEMENT. See note on Exodus 29:33. SOULS. Hebrew, plural of _nephesh._ App-13....

_The apportionment of the spoil_. Those who fought and those who remained behind were to receive equal shares. This was an ancient custom, which was traced to the action of David (1 Samuel 30:24 f.). But before the appropriation by individuals, a religious tax was to be paid. The fighters were to pay from their share 1/500th to the priests, and the others 1/50th to the Levites. Such a tax is not mentioned elsewhere in the O.T., but perhaps, like the foregoing regulation, it had an ancient custom behind it. Mohammed, whose religion was ultimately based on the O.T., enjoined a similar tax of 1/5th (_Koran_viii. 42, cited by Gray)....