Numbers 31:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.

Complete Jewish Bible:

On the seventh day you are to wash your clothes, and you will be clean; after that you may enter the camp."

Berean Standard Bible:

On the seventh day you are to wash your clothes, and you will be clean. After that you may enter the camp.”

American Standard Version:

And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean; and afterward ye shall come into the camp.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And ye shall wash^{H3526} your clothes^{H899} on the seventh^{H7637} day^{H3117}, and ye shall be clean^{H2891}, and afterward^{H310} ye shall come^{H935} into the camp^{H4264}.

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Commentary for Numbers 31:24

**Numbers 31:24** is a part of the instructions given by Moses to the Israelite soldiers after their victory over the Midianites. The broader context is the command from God to take vengeance on the Midianites for leading the Israelites into sin and idolatry at Baal Peor (Numbers 25). The specific instructions in Numbers 31 concern the purification process for the soldiers and the spoils of war, which included people and animals.

**Themes:**
1. **Purity and Holiness:** The act of washing clothes and bodies is symbolic of purification. In the Israelite tradition, purity was necessary to approach God and re-enter the community after coming into contact with impurity, such as from war or a corpse.
2. **Ritual Laws:** The verse reflects the detailed ritual laws found throughout the Torah, which governed the lives of the Israelites, including how to deal with situations that could render them ritually impure.
3. **Separation from Sin:** The purification process also served to separate the Israelites from their recent sinful actions, emphasizing the need to maintain a holy community.
4. **God's Justice and Mercy:** The broader chapter shows both the justice of God in dealing with those who led His people astray and His mercy in providing a way for the Israelites to be cleansed and restored.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This event occurs towards the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, just before the Israelites are to enter the Promised Land.
- **Cultural Practices:** The purification rituals reflect ancient Near Eastern practices regarding cleanliness and holiness, which were integral to the religious and social life of the Israelites.
- **Covenant Relationship:** The instructions given to the Israelites are part of the covenant relationship between God and His people, where obedience to God's commands was expected in exchange for His protection and blessings.

In summary, Numbers 31:24 highlights the importance of purity in the Israelite community and the need to follow God's commands regarding ritual cleanliness, especially after engaging in warfare. It is a reflection of the broader themes of holiness, adherence to divine law, and the covenantal relationship between God and Israel.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3526
   There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּבַס
   Transliteration: kâbaç
   Pronunciation: kaw-bas'
   Description: a primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative; fuller, wash(-ing).
   
2. Strong's Number: H899
   There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֶּגֶד
   Transliteration: beged
   Pronunciation: behg'-ed
   Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7637
   There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁבִיעִי
   Transliteration: shᵉbîyʻîy
   Pronunciation: sheb-ee-ee'
   Description: or שְׁבִעִי; ordinal from שִׁבְעִים; seventh; seventh (time).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2891
   There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָהֵר
   Transliteration: ṭâhêr
   Pronunciation: taw-hare'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be bright; i.e. (by implication); to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; Levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy); be (make, make self, pronounce) clean, cleanse (self), purge, purify(-ier, self).
   
6. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
7. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4264
   There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַחֲנֶה
   Transliteration: machăneh
   Pronunciation: makh-an-eh'
   Description: from חָנָה; an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts); army, band, battle, camp, company, drove, host, tents.