Numbers 31:20

KJV

And purify all [your] raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' [hair], and all things made of wood.

KJV (with Strong's)

And purify {H2398} all your raiment {H899}, and all that is made {H3627} of skins {H5785}, and all work {H4639} of goats {H5795}' hair, and all things made {H3627} of wood {H6086}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Also purify every garment, whether of skin or goat's hair, and everything made of wood."

Berean Standard Bible

And purify every garment and leather good, everything made of goat’s hair, and every article of wood.”

American Standard Version

And as to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood, ye shall purify yourselves.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:20 provides precise instructions for the ceremonial purification of various spoils taken from the Midianites, including raiment, items made of skins, goats' hair, and wood. This command, given after the Israelites' decisive victory, underscores the Mosaic Law's profound emphasis on ritual purity, ensuring that the community remained undefiled by contact with death or the idolatrous practices of the conquered people. It highlights God's meticulous care for the holiness of His covenant people, requiring thorough cleansing of even inanimate objects that might carry ritual impurity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31:20 is situated within the aftermath of Israel's divinely commanded war against the Midianites, a punitive expedition initiated due to Midian's role in enticing Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor (see [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Peor")). Following a decisive victory, the Israelites took captives and spoils. However, the initial handling of these spoils and captives drew Moses's rebuke, as the soldiers had spared the Midianite women who were instrumental in the Peor apostasy (see [Numbers 31:15-18](/numbers/31-15 "Numbers 31:15-18 - Moses's Rebuke")). Immediately preceding this verse, [Numbers 31:19](/numbers/31-19 "Numbers 31:19 - Purification of Soldiers") addresses the purification of the soldiers themselves—those who had killed or touched the dead. Verse 20 extends these purification requirements to the inanimate objects taken as plunder, ensuring that all potential sources of ritual impurity, whether from contact with death or association with paganism, were thoroughly cleansed before being integrated into the Israelite camp. This meticulous attention to detail reinforces the pervasive nature of Israel's covenant obligations to holiness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, under the Mosaic Covenant, ritual purity was paramount for maintaining a holy relationship with God and participating in communal worship. Contact with death, certain bodily discharges, or specific diseases rendered an individual or object ceremonially unclean (see [Leviticus 11-15](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11-15 - Laws of Purity")). The Midianites, as a pagan people deeply entrenched in idolatry, were considered defiling not only through their practices but also through their very essence. The spoils of war, having been in contact with the dead and belonging to an idolatrous nation, were thus considered ritually impure. The specific materials mentioned—raiment (clothing), skins, goats' hair, and wood—were common household and personal items in the ancient Near East. Each material had different properties and therefore required different methods of purification, as detailed in the subsequent verses ([Numbers 31:21-24](/numbers/31-21 "Numbers 31:21-24 - Purification by Fire and Water")). This reflects a nuanced understanding of how impurity could cling to various substances, necessitating tailored cleansing protocols to restore them to a state of ritual acceptability for use within the holy community.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. The most prominent is **Ceremonial Purity and Holiness**, emphasizing God's demand for a set-apart people, not just in their moral conduct but also in their physical environment and possessions. The detailed instructions underscore the **Thoroughness of God's Requirements for Cleansing**, leaving no aspect of life untouched by the need for separation from defilement. This meticulousness reflects God's **Sovereign Attention to Detail**, demonstrating His comprehensive care for the well-being and spiritual integrity of His people, providing clear guidelines for navigating a world filled with potential contamination. Furthermore, the purification of spoils from an idolatrous nation highlights the theme of **Separation from Pagan Influence**, ensuring that Israel's encounter with the unholy did not lead to their own spiritual compromise, a recurring concern throughout Israel's history (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:1-6](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-6 - Separation from Nations")). The very act of purification served as a constant reminder of Israel's unique covenant relationship with a holy God, who dwells among them and demands their purity (see [Leviticus 19:2](/leviticus/19-2 "Leviticus 19:2 - Be Holy, For I Am Holy")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Purify (Hebrew, _ṭāhar'_):** This verb (טָהַר) is central to the concept of ritual purity in the Old Testament. It means "to be clean," "to be pure," or "to be ceremonially clean." It is distinct from mere physical hygiene, carrying profound theological and covenantal significance. To be *ṭāhar* was to be in a state acceptable for approaching God, participating in worship, and living within the holy community. Impurity (Hebrew, *ṭāmē’*) was not necessarily sinful in itself (e.g., childbirth, contact with a dead body), but it rendered one temporarily unfit for sacred activities and required specific rituals to restore purity. In the context of Numbers 31:20, the command to *ṭāhar* the spoils signifies their transformation from objects associated with death and paganism to items that could be safely integrated into the consecrated space of the Israelite camp, symbolizing the removal of spiritual contamination.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And purify all [your] raiment":** "Raiment" refers to clothing, which was in direct contact with the Midianites and potentially with their dead. Clothing could easily absorb and retain ritual impurity. The command to purify all of it emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the cleansing required, leaving no personal item untouched by the defilement of war and pagan association.
* **"and all that is made of skins":** This refers to items crafted from animal hides, such as leather goods, tents, or containers. Skins, being organic material, were susceptible to impurity, especially if they had been in contact with a dead body or were part of a pagan household. Their purification was essential to prevent the spread of ritual uncleanness within the Israelite camp.
* **"and all work of goats' [hair]":** Goats' hair was commonly used for weaving fabrics, particularly for tents, curtains, and coarse garments. Similar to other textiles, items made of goats' hair could carry impurity. This specific mention highlights the meticulous detail of the purification laws, ensuring that even seemingly minor materials were not overlooked in the pursuit of communal holiness.
* **"and all things made of wood":** Wood was a ubiquitous material for tools, utensils, furniture, and other household items. Unlike organic materials like skins or hair, wood could be purified by fire or water, depending on the nature of the impurity. The inclusion of wood underscores the principle that inanimate objects, not just people, could become ritually defiled and required specific cleansing to be made fit for use by God's holy people.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 31:20 primarily employs **Enumeration** and **Repetition**. The verse lists specific categories of materials—raiment, skins, goats' hair, and wood—to be purified. This detailed **Enumeration** serves to emphasize the comprehensive and meticulous nature of the purification command, ensuring that no type of material possession is overlooked. The repeated use of "all" ("all your raiment," "all that is made of skins," "all work of goats' hair," "all things made of wood") further reinforces this sense of **Thoroughness** and **Universality** in the cleansing process. This literary technique highlights God's demand for absolute purity, leaving no room for partial obedience or selective adherence to the law. The specificity of the materials also implies a practical, tangible application of abstract theological principles, grounding the concept of holiness in the everyday objects of life.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:20, with its detailed instructions for purifying inanimate objects, profoundly illustrates the pervasive nature of holiness required by God under the Old Covenant. It teaches that impurity, whether through contact with death or association with paganism, could cling not only to people but also to their possessions and environment. This meticulous attention to the cleansing of material things underscores the holistic demand for purity in Israel's life, reflecting God's own absolute holiness. The physical purification rituals were not merely hygienic but served as tangible reminders of the spiritual separation required from the defilement of the world, preparing the people to live in the presence of a holy God. This foreshadows the New Testament emphasis on spiritual transformation that impacts every area of a believer's life, not just their inward disposition.

* [Leviticus 11:32](/leviticus/11-32 "Purification of Vessels")
* [Haggai 2:13](/haggai/2-13 "Defilement by Contact")
* [2 Corinthians 7:1](/2_corinthians/7-1 "Perfecting Holiness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the ceremonial laws of Numbers 31:20 are no longer binding for New Covenant believers, the underlying principles of purity, separation, and thoroughness retain profound spiritual relevance. Just as the Israelites had to cleanse their physical possessions from defilement, we are called to spiritual purification from the influences of sin and the world. This means exercising discernment over what we allow into our lives, our homes, and our minds—our "raiment" and "possessions" in a spiritual sense. Are there attitudes, habits, entertainment, or relationships that, though not inherently sinful, defile our spirits or hinder our walk with God? The meticulousness of God's command reminds us that our pursuit of holiness should be comprehensive, extending to every corner of our existence. It calls for a conscious effort to remove anything that might compromise our spiritual purity and draw us away from our devotion to Christ, ensuring that our lives are set apart for His glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life (e.g., media consumption, relationships, habits) might you need to apply a "purification" process, discerning what defiles or distracts from spiritual growth?**
* **How does the thoroughness of God's command for physical purification in Numbers 31:20 challenge you to pursue spiritual holiness with greater intentionality and comprehensiveness?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to "purify" an aspect of your life that might be hindering your intimacy with God or your witness to others?**

### FAQ
**Why were these specific materials (raiment, skins, goats' hair, wood) singled out for purification?**

Answer: These materials were common in ancient Israelite life and represented different categories of items that could absorb or retain ritual impurity. Raiment (clothing) and items made of skins or goats' hair (textiles, leather goods) were organic and porous, making them susceptible to absorbing impurity through contact with the dead or defiled persons/objects. Wood, while less porous than textiles, was also a common material for household items and could become impure through direct contact with a source of defilement, particularly if it was used in a pagan context. The specific mention of these materials, alongside the broader categories of metals in [Numbers 31:22-23](/numbers/31-22 "Numbers 31:22-23 - Purification of Metals"), demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the Mosaic purity laws, which accounted for the different properties of materials and how impurity could cling to them. Each material required a specific method of purification, either by washing with water, passing through fire, or both, as detailed in the subsequent verses.

**Does Numbers 31:20 have any relevance for Christians today, given that ceremonial laws are no longer strictly observed?**

Answer: While Christians are no longer bound by the literal ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant (as Christ has fulfilled them, see [Colossians 2:16-17](/colossians/2-16 "Colossians 2:16-17 - Shadow and Reality")), the underlying spiritual principles of Numbers 31:20 remain highly relevant. The verse teaches us about God's demand for holiness and purity, not just in our hearts but also in our external lives and environment. It underscores the importance of **spiritual discernment**—recognizing and separating ourselves from anything that might defile our spirits, compromise our faith, or hinder our walk with God (see [2 Corinthians 6:17](/2_corinthians/6-17 "2 Corinthians 6:17 - Come Out From Among Them")). This includes being mindful of the influences we allow into our homes, through media, relationships, or possessions. The meticulousness of the ancient law serves as a powerful reminder that our pursuit of holiness should be comprehensive, impacting every aspect of our lives, as we are called to be holy in all our conduct (see [1 Peter 1:15-16](/1_peter/1-15 "1 Peter 1:15-16 - Be Holy")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous purification rituals for inanimate objects in Numbers 31:20, necessary due to contact with death and pagan defilement, powerfully foreshadow the ultimate and comprehensive cleansing provided by Jesus Christ. In the Old Covenant, the blood of animals and various washings could only ritually cleanse external defilement, preparing people and objects for temporary access to God's presence (see [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - Blood of Bulls and Goats")). These rituals were a shadow, pointing to a greater reality. Christ, through His perfect sacrifice on the cross, became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, providing a spiritual purification that is not merely external or temporary, but internal, eternal, and complete (see [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") and [Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Body")). His blood cleanses our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (see [Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing of Conscience")), purifying us from the defilement of sin and the world's influence. Just as the spoils of war needed to be made fit for the holy camp, so too are believers, once defiled by sin, made holy and acceptable in God's sight through union with Christ, becoming a dwelling place for the Spirit (see [Ephesians 2:21-22](/ephesians/2-21 "Ephesians 2:21-22 - A Holy Temple in the Lord")). He is our ultimate purification, making us truly clean, inside and out, for eternal fellowship with a holy God (see [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Numbers 19:14

This [is] the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that [is] in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

Numbers 19:16

And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Genesis 35:2

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

Numbers 19:22

And whatsoever the unclean [person] toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth [it] shall be unclean until even.

Exodus 19:10

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,