Numbers 31:43

KJV

(Now the half [that pertained unto] the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand [and] seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

KJV (with Strong's)

(Now the half {H4275} that pertained unto the congregation {H5712} was three {H7969} hundred {H3967} thousand {H505} and thirty {H7970} thousand {H505} and seven {H7651} thousand {H505} and five {H2568} hundred {H3967} sheep {H4480}{H6629},

Complete Jewish Bible

now the community's half consisted of 337,500 sheep,

Berean Standard Bible

this half belonged to the congregation: 337,500 sheep,

American Standard Version

(now the congregation’s half was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand, seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:43 meticulously records the immense quantity of sheep allocated to the congregation of Israel following their divinely commanded victory over the Midianites. This verse, a precise enumeration of 337,500 sheep, highlights God's abundant provision for His people, the meticulous order and accountability demanded in the Mosaic Law, and the tangible results of divine judgment executed through Israel. It underscores the vast material blessing bestowed upon the community, demonstrating God's faithfulness to sustain and enrich His chosen nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31:43 is situated within the detailed account of the war against Midian, which spans the entirety of [Numbers 31](/numbers/31 "Numbers 31 - The War Against Midian"). The chapter begins with God's command for vengeance against Midian for their role in the Baal-peor apostasy ([Numbers 31:1-3](/numbers/31-1 "Numbers 31:1-3 - God Commands Vengeance")). Following a decisive victory where Israel suffered no casualties ([Numbers 31:49](/numbers/31-49 "Numbers 31:49 - No Casualties for Israel")), Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal leaders oversaw the division of the vast plunder. [Numbers 31:25-47](/numbers/31-25 "Numbers 31:25-47 - Division of Spoils") describes the specific instructions for dividing the spoils into two equal halves: one for the warriors who went to battle and one for the rest of the congregation. From each half, a specific tribute was levied for the Lord (from the warriors' share) and for the Levites (from the congregation's share). This particular verse, [Numbers 31:43](/numbers/31-43 "Numbers 31:43 - The Congregation's Share of Sheep"), along with the preceding verses ([Numbers 31:36-42](/numbers/31-36 "Numbers 31:36-42 - The Congregation's Full Share")), provides the precise inventory of the congregation's half of the livestock, emphasizing the sheer scale of the acquired wealth.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The war against Midian was not merely a territorial conflict but a direct act of divine judgment. Midian, along with Moab, had enticed Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal-peor ([Numbers 25:1-9](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1-9 - The Sin at Baal-Peor")), leading to a devastating plague. Thus, the campaign described in [Numbers 31](/numbers/31 "Numbers 31 - The Midianite War") served as a punitive expedition, demonstrating God's righteous wrath against those who sought to corrupt His covenant people. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, the taking of spoils was a common practice, but in Israel, it was often regulated by divine command, ensuring that a portion was dedicated to the Lord and His sanctuary. The meticulous counting and division of the plunder, including vast numbers of sheep, oxen, donkeys, and human captives, reflect the economic realities of a nomadic society where livestock constituted significant wealth. This also highlights the importance of communal sharing and the structured distribution of resources under the leadership of Moses and Eleazar, reinforcing the societal order established by the Mosaic Law.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, within its broader context, contributes to several significant themes. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Provision and Abundance**. The staggering numbers of livestock underscore God's capacity and willingness to provide bountifully for His people, even through the means of warfare and judgment. This echoes themes of God's sustenance throughout the wilderness wanderings, as seen in the provision of manna and quail ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna and Quail")). Secondly, the meticulous enumeration highlights the theme of **Order and Accountability**. The precise accounting of every animal and item, down to the last sheep, demonstrates the importance of integrity, transparency, and careful stewardship within the Israelite community, reflecting God's own orderly character. This contrasts sharply with chaotic or self-serving distribution. Finally, the acquisition of such vast wealth is a direct consequence of God's **Justice and Judgment**. The spoils are not merely random plunder but the tangible outcome of God's righteous anger against Midian's wickedness, serving as a stark reminder that God punishes sin and vindicates His people. This aligns with broader biblical themes of divine retribution found throughout the Old Testament, such as in [Deuteronomy 7:1-2](/deuteronomy/7-1 "Deuteronomy 7:1-2 - Instructions for Conquering Nations").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Half (Hebrew, _machatsit'_):** This term signifies a precise division into two equal portions. In the context of Numbers 31, it underscores the equitable distribution of the spoils between the warriors who risked their lives in battle and the rest of the congregation who supported them and maintained the camp. This division was not arbitrary but mandated by God through Moses ([Numbers 31:27](/numbers/31-27 "Numbers 31:27 - Division of Spoils")). The concept of "half" here emphasizes fairness, communal responsibility, and the structured nature of Israelite society under divine law, ensuring that all members of the community benefited from God's provision and victory.
* **Congregation (Hebrew, _`edah'_):** This refers to the entire community of Israel, excluding the 12,000 warriors who went to battle. It highlights that the blessings and spoils of God's victory were not confined to the military elite but extended to the entire body of God's people. This collective benefit reinforces the covenantal nature of Israel, where the actions and blessings (or curses) of a portion of the community could impact the whole. The congregation's share was significant, demonstrating God's care for the welfare of all His people, including the non-combatants, women, and children.
* **Sheep (Hebrew, _tso'n'_):** Sheep were a primary form of wealth and sustenance in the ancient Near East, especially for nomadic or semi-nomadic peoples like Israel in the wilderness. They provided meat, milk, wool, and sacrificial animals. The sheer number—337,500—represents an enormous economic asset, capable of sustaining the vast Israelite population for an extended period. This abundance of sheep underscores the magnitude of God's provision and the complete despoiling of Midian, signifying their utter defeat and the transfer of their wealth to Israel as a sign of divine favor and judgment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"(Now the half [that pertained unto] the congregation":** This opening phrase clearly identifies the recipient of this specific portion of the spoils: the non-combatant segment of the Israelite community. It emphasizes the structured and equitable distribution mandated by God, where the entire nation, not just the warriors, benefited from the victory. This highlights God's comprehensive care for His people, ensuring that the blessings of the conquest were shared communally.
* **"was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand [and] seven thousand and five hundred sheep,":** This clause provides the precise numerical count of the sheep allocated to the congregation. The breakdown of the numbers (300,000 + 30,000 + 7,000 + 500) totals 337,500. This meticulous enumeration underscores the historical accuracy and detailed record-keeping characteristic of the Book of Numbers. It also serves to impress upon the reader the sheer scale of the plunder, signifying the completeness of God's victory over Midian and the immense material blessing bestowed upon Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 31:43 is **Enumeration**. The verse precisely lists the numerical quantity of sheep, emphasizing the meticulous accounting and the vastness of the spoils. This detailed counting is characteristic of the Book of Numbers, which often records censuses, offerings, and divisions of resources, lending an air of historicity and factual reporting to the narrative. The sheer scale of the numbers also creates a sense of **Emphasis** on the magnitude of God's provision and the completeness of the victory. While not strictly hyperbole, the quantity itself is so immense that it underscores the extraordinary nature of the divine blessing. The repetition of "thousand" in the Hebrew text (though condensed in the KJV translation) also serves to underscore the vastness, creating a rhythmic emphasis on the overwhelming abundance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:43, with its precise accounting of vast spoils, powerfully illustrates God's abundant provision for His people and the tangible results of His justice. This divine generosity, flowing from a righteous judgment, reveals a God who not only punishes evil but also richly blesses those in covenant with Him. The meticulous division underscores the biblical principle of stewardship and accountability, where blessings are received not for selfish accumulation but for communal benefit and the advancement of God's purposes. The wealth acquired through this divinely sanctioned war was intended to sustain the nation and support the tabernacle service, reinforcing the idea that all resources ultimately belong to God and are to be managed according to His will.

* [Deuteronomy 8:18](/deuteronomy/8-18 "Deuteronomy 8:18 - God Gives Power to Get Wealth")
* [Psalm 68:12](/psalms/68-12 "Psalm 68:12 - Kings of Armies Flee")
* [Proverbs 13:22](/proverbs/13-22 "Proverbs 13:22 - A Good Man Leaves an Inheritance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The meticulous accounting of the spoils in Numbers 31:43, particularly the vast number of sheep, invites us to reflect on the nature of God's provision and our response to it. This was not a chaotic taking of plunder, but an orderly distribution, highlighting God's value for structure, fairness, and accountability. For believers today, this passage serves as a powerful reminder that God is the ultimate provider, capable of supplying our needs beyond measure, even in unexpected ways. It challenges us to consider how we handle the resources—material, spiritual, and relational—that God entrusts to us. Are we meticulous in our stewardship, recognizing that all we have comes from Him? Do we share generously, reflecting the communal spirit evident in Israel's division of spoils? Furthermore, understanding the context of divine judgment reminds us that God's blessings often follow His righteous acts, and our prosperity is often tied to our obedience and His sovereign will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the sheer scale of the provision in Numbers 31:43 challenge your understanding of God's ability to provide for your needs?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to exercise greater order and accountability in managing the resources God has given you?**
* **How can the principle of communal sharing, as seen in the division of spoils, be applied in your church or community today?**
* **What does this passage teach you about the relationship between God's justice and His provision?**

### FAQ

**Why are the numbers of the spoils so precisely detailed in Numbers 31?**
Answer: The precise detailing of the spoils, as seen in [Numbers 31:43](/numbers/31-43 "Numbers 31:43 - The Congregation's Share of Sheep") and the surrounding verses, serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it underscores the **historicity and factual accuracy** of the biblical account, characteristic of the Book of Numbers, which frequently includes censuses and inventories. This meticulous record-keeping lends credibility to the narrative. Secondly, it emphasizes the **magnitude of God's provision and the completeness of the victory** over Midian. The sheer volume of livestock and other goods demonstrates God's abundant blessing upon Israel. Thirdly, it highlights the **importance of order, accountability, and fair distribution** within the Israelite community, as mandated by divine law. Every item was counted and divided according to specific instructions, ensuring transparency and preventing disputes. This precision reflects God's own orderly character and the structured nature of the covenant community.

**What was the purpose of dividing the spoils between the warriors and the congregation?**
Answer: The division of spoils into two halves—one for the warriors and one for the rest of the congregation—as detailed in [Numbers 31:27](/numbers/31-27 "Numbers 31:27 - Division of Spoils"), was a divinely ordained principle of communal sharing and recognition. The warriors were directly involved in the dangerous combat, and their share acknowledged their sacrifice and effort. However, the congregation, though not on the battlefield, played a vital role in supporting the nation, maintaining the camp, and praying for the success of the mission. This equitable distribution ensured that the entire community benefited from God's victory, fostering unity and demonstrating that the blessings of the covenant were for all of Israel, not just a select few. It also established a precedent for how future spoils of war would be handled, emphasizing that all of Israel was united in its endeavors and shared in its blessings.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Numbers 31:43 details a literal division of physical spoils from a war of judgment, it powerfully foreshadows the spiritual spoils of Christ's ultimate victory. Just as God's judgment fell upon Midian for their sin, so too did God's ultimate judgment fall upon sin itself through the sacrifice of the [Lamb of God, Jesus Christ](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His death on the cross was a decisive victory over sin, death, and the powers of darkness ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). The immense provision of sheep for the congregation in Numbers points to the boundless spiritual blessings and "spoils" that Christ has secured for His church, the new covenant community. Through His victory, believers receive an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading ([1 Peter 1:3-4](/1-peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope")). The meticulous accounting of the sheep, emphasizing God's abundant provision, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who provides "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")) and promises to supply "all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" ([Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Supplies All Needs")). The ordered distribution of the spoils also reflects the order and grace by which Christ distributes His gifts and blessings to His body, the church, for its building up and flourishing ([Ephesians 4:7-12](/ephesians/4-7 "Ephesians 4:7-12 - Gifts for the Church")). Thus, the material abundance of Numbers 31:43 serves as a tangible type of the immeasurable spiritual wealth and victory that is ours in Christ Jesus.

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.