King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, [both] of men and of beasts.
Complete Jewish Bible:
They took all the booty, all the people and animals they had captured,
Berean Standard Bible:
and carried away all the plunder and spoils, both people and animals.
American Standard Version:
And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And they took{H3947} all the spoil{H7998}, and all the prey{H4455}, both of men{H120} and of beasts{H929}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 20:14
- But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, [even] all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
Joshua 8:2
- And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 31:11
1. Themes:
- **Divine Command and Warfare**: The verse reflects the theme of the Israelites carrying out divine commands, including warfare against other nations as part of their conquest of the Promised Land.
- **Obedience and Consequences**: The actions of the Israelites in taking spoil and prey are tied to their obedience to God's instructions, which include the distribution of the spoils and the handling of captives.
- **Holy War and the Ban**: A recurring theme in the conquest narratives is the concept of "herem" or the ban, where the destruction of enemies and their property is seen as an act of devotion or dedication to God.
2. Historical Context:
- **Time Period**: Numbers 31 occurs during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites, after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
- **Occasion**: The verse is part of the account of the Israelites' battle against the Midianites, which is portrayed as a response to the Midianites' role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality (as seen in the previous chapter, Numbers 31).
- **Cultural Practices**: It was common in the ancient Near East for victorious armies to take spoils of war, including livestock, goods, and sometimes people. The Israelites' actions here are consistent with the military practices of the time, albeit with specific instructions from God regarding how to handle the spoils and captives.
- **Purpose**: The battle and the taking of spoils are depicted as part of God's judgment on the Midianites and as a means to purge idolatry from among the Israelites.
In summary, Numbers 31:11 reflects the themes of divine command, obedience, and the practice of holy war in the historical context of the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, specifically their conflict with the Midianites as a consequence of the Midianites' role in leading Israel into sin.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H7998
There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלָל
Transliteration: shâlâl
Pronunciation: shaw-lawl'
Description: from שָׁלַל; booty; prey, spoil. - Strong's Number: H4455
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַלְקוֹחַ
Transliteration: malqôwach
Pronunciation: mal-ko'-akh
Description: from לָקַח; transitively (in dual) the jaws (as taking food); intransitively, spoil (and captives) (as taken); booty, jaws, prey. - Strong's Number: H120
There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדָם
Transliteration: ʼâdâm
Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. - Strong's Number: H929
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.