Numbers 31:46

KJV

And sixteen thousand persons;)

KJV (with Strong's)

And sixteen {H8337}{H6240} thousand {H505} persons {H5315}{H120};)

Complete Jewish Bible

and 16,000 persons -

Berean Standard Bible

and 16,000 people.

American Standard Version

and sixteen thousand persons),

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:46 is a succinct yet significant verse, precisely detailing the number of human captives—specifically, sixteen thousand women and children—taken as spoils from the Midianites. This enumeration is part of the meticulous accounting of the vast plunder acquired during Israel's divinely commanded punitive war against Midian, highlighting the administrative precision and the scale of the victory before the division of the spoils among the warriors, the congregation, and dedicated portions for the Lord and the Levites.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31:46 is situated within a lengthy and detailed account of Israel's war against the Midianites, spanning the entirety of [Numbers 31](/numbers/31 "Numbers 31 - The War Against Midian"). The chapter begins with God's command to Moses to execute vengeance upon Midian for their role in leading Israel astray at Peor ([Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Peor")). Following a decisive victory where all Midianite males and five kings were slain, the Israelite army returned with immense plunder, including livestock, gold, and human captives. Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the tribal leaders then oversaw the strict purification rituals and the meticulous division of these spoils. Verses 32-47 provide a precise inventory of all the plunder, itemizing sheep, cattle, donkeys, and finally, "persons." Verse 46 specifically concludes the tally of human captives, setting the stage for their subsequent division according to God's prescribed ratios for the warriors, the congregation, and the portions dedicated to the Lord and the Levites.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The war against Midian was not merely a territorial conflict but a divinely ordained act of retribution for Midian's direct involvement in the Baal of Peor incident, where Midianite women lured Israelite men into idolatry and sexual immorality ([Numbers 25:1-9](/numbers/25-1 "Numbers 25:1-9 - The Sin at Peor")). This context underscores the severity of God's judgment against those who actively seek to corrupt His people. In the ancient Near East, war spoils, including human captives (especially women and children), were a common feature of military victories, often serving as slaves, concubines, or a means to replenish populations. However, Israel's practices were unique in that they were governed by specific divine laws, distinguishing them from the indiscriminate brutality of surrounding nations. The command to spare only the virgin women and children ([Numbers 31:17-18](/numbers/31-17 "Numbers 31:17-18 - Moses' Command Regarding Captives")) reflects a particular moral framework, albeit one that is challenging for modern sensibilities, yet rooted in the immediate context of divine judgment against a corrupting influence.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 31:46, within its broader chapter, contributes to several significant themes. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Retribution**, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to judge sin, particularly that which leads His covenant people astray. The war and its spoils are a direct consequence of Midian's actions at Peor. Secondly, the meticulous accounting of "sixteen thousand persons" underscores **Meticulous Administration and Order** within the Israelite camp. The detailed inventory and division of spoils reflect Moses' leadership and Israel's adherence to God's instructions, emphasizing that even in the aftermath of war, divine order and accountability were paramount. This level of detail is characteristic of the Pentateuch, particularly in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where precise instructions for the Tabernacle, sacrifices, and tribal organization are given (e.g., [Exodus 25:9](/exodus/25-9 "Exodus 25:9 - Pattern for the Tabernacle")). Finally, the immense plunder, including these captives, signifies **God's Provision and Blessing** for His people, even as they execute His judgment. It demonstrates God's ability to provide for Israel's needs through the defeat of their enemies, reinforcing His covenant faithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Persons (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** The Hebrew word נֶפֶשׁ (_nephesh_) is a multifaceted term, often translated as "soul," "life," "being," or "self." In this context, it refers specifically to living human beings, emphasizing their status as individual entities within the inventory of war spoils. The use of _nephesh_ here underscores that these are not merely objects but living individuals, albeit now captives. This term is used broadly in the Old Testament to denote the totality of a living creature, from humans to animals, but in the context of a census or count, it invariably refers to people, as seen in other population counts in Numbers.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And sixteen thousand persons;)"**: This short clause provides the precise numerical total of human captives taken from Midian. The number "sixteen thousand" is significant in its magnitude, reflecting the scale of the Israelite victory and the vastness of the plunder. The term "persons" (as discussed above) refers to the women and children who were spared from the initial slaughter, specifically those who were virgins, as per Moses' later command in [Numbers 31:18](/numbers/31-18 "Numbers 31:18 - Moses' Command Regarding Virgins"). This precise enumeration highlights the meticulous record-keeping and administrative order that characterized Israel's operations under divine instruction, ensuring that every item of spoil was accounted for before its division. The parenthetical mark in the KJV text is a stylistic choice reflecting its role as a concluding count within a list.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 31:46 is **Enumeration**, which is a specific form of **Detailing**. The verse provides a precise numerical count, emphasizing the meticulousness and thoroughness of the inventory of war spoils. This detailed listing, characteristic of the book of Numbers, serves to underscore the administrative precision commanded by God and executed by Moses. The sheer number, "sixteen thousand," also functions as **Hyperbole** or **Amplification** in a broader sense, conveying the overwhelming nature of the Israelite victory and the extent of the divine judgment against Midian. While not strictly hyperbole in the sense of exaggeration, the large, exact number serves to amplify the scale of the event for the reader.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:46, by detailing the human spoils of war, forces us to grapple with complex theological questions regarding divine judgment, the nature of ancient warfare, and God's interaction with humanity in specific historical contexts. It highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His willingness to use human agents to execute His justice, even when the means are severe and challenging to modern ethical frameworks. The meticulous accounting within the chapter, including this verse, further emphasizes God's orderliness and the importance of obedience to His specific commands, no matter how difficult. It reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways, and His justice, while sometimes appearing harsh, is always righteous in His perfect wisdom.

* [Deuteronomy 20:10-18](/deuteronomy/20-10 "Deuteronomy 20:10-18 - Laws of Warfare")
* [Joshua 6:20-21](/joshua/6-20 "Joshua 6:20-21 - The Fall of Jericho")
* [1 Samuel 15:2-3](/1_samuel/15-2 "1 Samuel 15:2-3 - God's Command Against Amalek")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific context of war spoils and human captives in Numbers 31:46 is far removed from contemporary life, the underlying principles of divine justice, meticulous obedience, and God's sovereign provision remain profoundly relevant. This verse, within its broader narrative, challenges us to consider the gravity of sin and its consequences, as well as the importance of accountability in all areas of life. It calls us to trust in God's perfect justice, even when His methods are beyond our full comprehension, and to recognize that His commands, though sometimes difficult, are always for the ultimate good and purity of His people. We are reminded that God is a God of order and detail, expecting faithfulness and precision in our stewardship of all that He entrusts to us, whether it be material resources, relationships, or spiritual responsibilities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the detailed accounting in Numbers 31, including verse 46, challenge or affirm your understanding of God's character?**
* **In what areas of your life might you need to apply greater meticulousness and accountability, reflecting God's attention to detail?**
* **How can we reconcile the harsh realities of ancient warfare in the Bible with God's nature as revealed in Christ?**

### FAQ

**Why did God command such a harsh war against the Midianites, including taking captives?**

Answer: The war against Midian, detailed in [Numbers 31](/numbers/31 "Numbers 31 - The War Against Midian"), was not an arbitrary act of aggression but a direct divine judgment for Midian's role in orchestrating the sin of Baal of Peor, as described in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Peor"). Midianite women enticed Israelite men into idolatry and sexual immorality, leading to a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. God commanded this war as an act of "vengeance" (Numbers 31:2), a righteous retribution for their deliberate corruption of His covenant people. The taking of captives, specifically virgin women and children, was a practice common in ancient warfare, but within Israel, it was governed by specific divine laws, distinguishing it from the indiscriminate brutality of surrounding nations. This act served as both judgment against Midian and a means of provision for Israel, while also removing a source of spiritual contamination.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Numbers 31:46 details the spoils of a physical war and the judgment enacted upon Midian, its ultimate fulfillment points to Christ's spiritual victory over sin and death. Just as the Israelites took "persons" as captives from their defeated enemy, Christ, through His death and resurrection, has triumphed over the spiritual enemies that held humanity captive. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers") declares that He "disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." He has taken captivity captive, leading a host of those freed from sin's dominion ([Ephesians 4:8](/ephesians/4-8 "Ephesians 4:8 - Christ Leads Captivity Captive")). The precise accounting of the "sixteen thousand persons" in Numbers foreshadows the meticulous and complete redemption wrought by Christ, where every soul redeemed is known and accounted for by God. Furthermore, the purification rituals associated with the spoils in Numbers 31 find their ultimate reality in the cleansing blood of Christ, which purifies us from all sin and makes us holy before God ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Jesus' Blood")). The war against Midian was a battle against spiritual corruption, and Christ's work on the cross is the definitive victory over the ultimate corrupting power of sin, securing a multitude of "persons" for His eternal kingdom ([Revelation 7:9](/revelation/7-9 "Revelation 7:9 - A Great Multitude")).

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.