Numbers 31:27
New International Version
Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
and divide the plunder into two parts between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.

Berean Standard Bible
Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation.

King James Bible
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:

New King James Version
and divide the plunder into two parts, between those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

New American Standard Bible
and divide the spoils between the warriors who went to battle and all the congregation.

NASB 1995
and divide the booty between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.

NASB 1977
and divide the booty between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.

Legacy Standard Bible
and divide the loot between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.

Amplified Bible
Divide the spoil into two [equal] parts between those who were involved in the war, that is, those who went out to battle and all [the rest of] the congregation.

Christian Standard Bible
Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to war and the entire community.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to war and the entire community.

American Standard Version
and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation.

English Revised Version
and divide the prey into two parts; between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Divide the loot between the soldiers who served in the war and the rest of the community.

Good News Translation
Divide what was taken into two equal parts, one part for the soldiers and the other part for the rest of the community.

International Standard Version
are to divide the booty between the warriors who went to war and the rest of the community.

Majority Standard Bible
Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation.

NET Bible
Divide the plunder into two parts, one for those who took part in the war--who went out to battle--and the other for all the community.

New Heart English Bible
and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.

Webster's Bible Translation
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:

World English Bible
and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you have halved the prey between those handling the battle, who go out to the war, and all the congregation;

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast halved the prey between those handling the battle who go out to the host and all the company;

Smith's Literal Translation
And divide the spoil between them taking hold of the battle, going forth to war, and between all the assembly:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt divide the spoil equally, between them that fought and went out to the war, and between the rest of the multitude.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall divide the prey equally, among those who went out to war and fought, and among the remainder of the multitude.

New American Bible
then divide the spoils between the warriors who went on the campaign and the whole community.

New Revised Standard Version
Divide the booty into two parts, between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And divide the booty into two parts; between the men of war who went out to battle and between all the congregation;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And divide the prey among the men, the makers of war who went out in the army and among all of the assembly:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And ye shall divide the spoils between the warriors that went out to battle, and the whole congregation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Division of the Spoils
26“You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the congregation are to take a count of what was captured, both of man and beast. 27Then divide the captives between the troops who went out to battle and the rest of the congregation. 28Set aside a tribute for the LORD from what belongs to the soldiers who went into battle: one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, or sheep.…

Cross References
Joshua 22:8
saying, “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.”

1 Samuel 30:24
Who 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.”

Deuteronomy 20:14
But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.

2 Chronicles 31:4-5
Moreover, he commanded the people living in Jerusalem to make a contribution for the priests and Levites so that they could devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. / As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously provided the firstfruits of the grain, new wine, oil, and honey, and of all the produce of the field, and they brought in an abundance—a tithe of everything.

1 Chronicles 26:27
They had dedicated some of the plunder from their battles to the repair of the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 3:23-24
“This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!” / But when the Moabites came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked them, and they fled before them. So the Israelites invaded their land and struck down the Moabites.

Genesis 14:23-24
that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ / I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”

2 Samuel 8:11-12
and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— / from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

1 Kings 7:51
So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed. Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 12:4-5
Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD. / Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”

Nehemiah 10:37-38
Moreover, we will bring to the priests at the storerooms of the house of our God the firstfruits of our dough, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees, and of our new wine and oil. A tenth of our produce belongs to the Levites, so that they shall receive tithes in all the towns where we labor. / A priest of Aaron’s line is to accompany the Levites when they collect the tenth, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of these tithes to the storerooms of the treasury in the house of our God.

Acts 2:44-45
All the believers were together and had everything in common. / Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.

Acts 4:32-35
The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. / With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all. / There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, ...

Romans 15:26-27
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. / They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? / In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.


Treasury of Scripture

And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war on them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:

two parts

Joshua 22:8
And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

1 Samuel 30:4,24,25
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep…

Psalm 68:12
Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

Jump to Previous
Assembly Battle Booty Community Company Conducted Congregation Divide Division Halved Halves Handling Host Part Parts Prey Rest Skilled Soldiers Spoils War Warriors Whole
Jump to Next
Assembly Battle Booty Community Company Conducted Congregation Divide Division Halved Halves Handling Host Part Parts Prey Rest Skilled Soldiers Spoils War Warriors Whole
Numbers 31
1. The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain
13. Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive
19. How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified
25. The proportion in which the prey is to be divided
48. The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord














Then divide
The Hebrew root for "divide" is "חָלַק" (chalak), which means to apportion or distribute. This word often implies a fair and equitable distribution, suggesting that God’s instructions were meant to ensure justice and order among His people. The act of dividing here is not merely a logistical task but a spiritual exercise in obedience and stewardship, reflecting God's desire for fairness and community harmony.

the captives
The term "captives" refers to those who were taken as prisoners during the battle. In the ancient Near Eastern context, captives were often seen as spoils of war. However, in the biblical narrative, the treatment and distribution of captives were subject to divine law, emphasizing the Israelites' distinct identity and moral obligations. This highlights the importance of compassion and responsibility even in times of conflict.

between the troops
The phrase "between the troops" indicates a division among those who actively participated in the battle. The Hebrew word for "troops" is "חַיִל" (chayil), which can also mean strength or valor. This reflects the recognition and reward for those who demonstrated courage and commitment in fulfilling God's commands. It underscores the biblical principle that those who labor and risk for the community's welfare are worthy of honor and recompense.

who went out to battle
This phrase specifies the group of soldiers who physically engaged in the conflict. It highlights the active role of these individuals in executing God's judgment and protection over Israel. The emphasis on "went out" suggests a deliberate and obedient action, reinforcing the theme of faithfulness and duty in following divine directives.

and the rest of the congregation
The "rest of the congregation" refers to the broader community of Israel who did not participate directly in the battle. This inclusion signifies the unity and shared identity of the Israelites, where the benefits of victory are extended to all, not just the warriors. It reflects the communal nature of God's people, where blessings and responsibilities are shared, fostering a sense of collective identity and purpose.

(27) And divide the prey into two parts . . . --It was reasonable that those who had encountered the perils and hardships of the war should receive a larger share of the spoil than those who had remained in the camp. It was equally reasonable that the latter should not be left without some substantial benefit from the victory miraculously achieved over the enemies of the Lord and of His people. A similar direction is found in Joshua 22:8 in regard to the division of spoil taken from enemies, but no general ordinance appears to have been made in regard to the division of the spoils of war until the time of David. (See 1Samuel 30:24-25.)

Verse 27. - Divide the prey into two parts. This division was founded roughly upon the equity of the case; on the one hand, all Israel had suffered from Midian; on the other, only the twelve thousand had risked their lives to smite Midian. For the application of a like principle to other cases see Joshua 22:8; 1 Samuel 30:24; 2 Macc. 8:28, 30.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then divide
וְחָצִ֙יתָ֙ (wə·ḥā·ṣî·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2673: To cut, split in two, to halve

the captives
הַמַּלְק֔וֹחַ (ham·mal·qō·w·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4455: The jaws, in, spoil

between
בֵּ֚ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

the troops
תֹּפְשֵׂ֣י (tō·p̄ə·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably

who went out
הַיֹּצְאִ֖ים (hay·yō·ṣə·’îm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to battle
לַצָּבָ֑א (laṣ·ṣā·ḇā)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

and the rest of
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the congregation.
הָעֵדָֽה׃ (hā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage


Links
Numbers 31:27 NIV
Numbers 31:27 NLT
Numbers 31:27 ESV
Numbers 31:27 NASB
Numbers 31:27 KJV

Numbers 31:27 BibleApps.com
Numbers 31:27 Biblia Paralela
Numbers 31:27 Chinese Bible
Numbers 31:27 French Bible
Numbers 31:27 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Numbers 31:27 And divide the prey into two parts: (Nu Num.)
Numbers 31:26
Top of Page
Top of Page