Numbers 31: Victory over Midian and a Gift of Gold

God commands Israel to execute judgment on Midian for leading Israel into sin at Peor. Twelve thousand men go with Phinehas. Afterward, the soldiers are purified, the plunder is divided between soldiers and the congregation with a share given to Yahweh, and the officers bring gold as an offering because not one soldier was lost.

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Read Numbers 31

World English Bible · 54 verses

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Avenge the children of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Yahweh’s vengeance on Midian.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ You shall send one thousand out of every tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, to the war.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ They fought against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses. They killed every male.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ The children of Israel took the women of Midian captive with their little ones; and all their livestock, all their flocks, and all their goods, they took as plunder.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burned with fire.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² They brought the captives with the prey and the plunder, to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the children of Israel, to the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Moses and Eleazar the priest, with all the princes of the congregation, went out to meet them outside of the camp.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ “Encamp outside of the camp for seven days. Whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, you and your captives.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ You shall purify every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats’ hair, and all things made of wood.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, “This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² However the gold, and the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ everything that may withstand the fire, you shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity. All that doesn’t withstand the fire you shall make to go through the water.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ You shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean. Afterward you shall come into the camp.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ “Count the plunder that was taken, both of man and of animal, you, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the congregation;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ and divide the plunder into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who went out to battle: one soul of five hundred; of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh’s wave offering.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² Now the plunder, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ seventy-two thousand head of cattle,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ sixty-one thousand donkeys,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ and thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ and Yahweh’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ The cattle were thirty-six thousand, of which Yahweh’s tribute was seventy-two.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which Yahweh’s tribute was sixty-one.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ The persons were sixteen thousand, of whom Yahweh’s tribute was thirty-two persons.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ Moses gave the tribute, which was Yahweh’s wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Yahweh commanded Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² Of the children of Israel’s half, which Moses divided off from the men who foughtThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴³ (now the congregation’s half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁴ thirty-six thousand head of cattle,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁵ thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁶ and sixteen thousand persons),This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁷ even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle, as Yahweh commanded Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁸ The officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁹ They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁰ We have brought Yahweh’s offering, what every man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵² All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to Yahweh, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵³ The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁴ Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting for a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Numbers 31 · Preschool

A Thank-You Gift

Name Date

Color the gold gifts! The leaders said thank you to God.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.

Numbers 31:49 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God kept all the soldiers safe. They gave God a thank-you gift.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Numbers 31 · Grade 4

Judgment, Cleansing, and Thanks

Name Date

Read and Think

Numbers 31 is a hard chapter. God told Israel to judge Midian. Midian had led Israel to worship idols at Peor. They did this on Balaam's advice (31:16). God called this a judgment on Midian for leading Israel into sin (31:2-3, 16). The chapter has painful parts. Adults may want to explain them with care.

After the battle, the soldiers stayed outside the camp for seven days to be made clean. War brought contact with death, so cleansing was needed. The plunder was split fairly between the soldiers and the whole community. Both halves gave a part to Yahweh and the Levites.

Then the officers counted their men. Not one soldier was missing! They gave a free gift of gold, more than sixteen thousand shekels. Moses and Eleazar placed it in the Tent of Meeting as a memorial.

Show What You Know

Why did God command judgment on Midian?
Why did soldiers need cleansing?
How was the plunder divided?
What did the officers do when no soldier was missing?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

memorialgoldcleanGod

told Israel to judge Midian.
After the battle, the soldiers stayed outside the camp for seven days to be made .
They gave a free gift of , more than sixteen thousand shekels.
Moses and Eleazar placed it in the Tent of Meeting as a .

Think About It

Why is it important to thank God when He protects us?
What questions do you have about this hard chapter that you could ask a trusted adult?

Memory Verse

They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.

Numbers 31:49 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping me safe. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can we respond to hard parts of the Bible?
How does God's care for every soldier remind us of Jesus?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Numbers 31 · Grade 5

There Lacks Not One

Name Date

Read and Think

Numbers 31 records Moses' last military command. Yahweh said, Avenge the children of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people. The reason is given in verse 16: the Midianite women had, on the counsel of Balaam, caused Israel to trespass against Yahweh at Peor, bringing the plague. Twelve thousand men went, a thousand from every tribe, with Phinehas the priest carrying the holy vessels and the trumpets. Balaam was among those who died. The chapter describes severe judgment, including on captives. It is one of the hardest passages in Scripture. Teachers may wish to explain it with care and pastoral guidance, remembering that God alone is the righteous Judge.

Moses and Eleazar met the army outside the camp. Anyone who had killed or touched the dead remained outside seven days and was purified on the third and seventh days, as in Numbers 19. Metal objects passed through fire, and everything was washed with the water for impurity. The plunder was divided equally between the twelve thousand soldiers and the congregation. One out of five hundred from the soldiers' half went to Eleazar as Yahweh's tribute, and one out of fifty from the people's half went to the Levites.

The commanders reported, Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us. In gratitude they brought gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for their souls. The gold weighed 16,750 shekels. Moses and Eleazar took it into the Tent of Meeting for a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh. God's protection of every soldier echoes the Good Shepherd, who said His sheep will never perish (John 10:28).

Show What You Know

What reason does verse 16 give for the judgment?
What did Phinehas carry?
How were soldiers who touched the dead purified?
What did the commanders report?
How much did the gold weigh?

Crossword

Across

Days outside the camp.
The officers gave this to God.
The priest who went with them.

Down

Gold kept in the tent as a ____.
Not one soldier was lost; all were ____.
The plunder was split so all could ____.

Think About It

How should we approach hard passages in the Bible?
What has God protected you from that you could thank Him for?

Memory Verse

They said to Moses, “Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.

Numbers 31:49 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping me safe. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does sharing the plunder with those who stayed in camp teach?
How can you thank God when He keeps you safe?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Numbers 31: Victory over Midian and a Gift of Gold

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Worksheets

A Thank-You Gift

Prayer

Take It Home

Say Thank You

Trace the Words

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Mini Maze

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God Kept Them Safe

Trace the Words

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God Kept Them Safe

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Not One Was Lost

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Word Search

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A Memorial Before Yahweh

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God Kept Them Safe

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Judgment, Cleansing, and Thanks

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Word Bank Fill-In

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Prayer

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There Lacks Not One

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Crossword

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Prayer

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