And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:

NUMBERS 31:36KJV
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Numbers 31:36 (KJV)

What does Numbers 31:36 mean?

Numbers 31:36 reports the number of sheep that made up half of the spoils taken by the Israelite soldiers after their victory over the Midianites: 337,500 sheep. This half was specifically the portion assigned to those who went out to fight in the battle.

In the context, Moses is dividing the plunder from the Midianite campaign between the soldiers and the rest of the Israelite community, following God’s instructions. The verse gives a precise count of the sheep, showing the scale of the victory and the careful record-keeping involved in distributing the spoils.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 31:36

  • The word "half" (מַחֲצִת, machatsit) means a divided portion, emphasizing that the spoils were split into equal shares.
  • "Portion" (חֵלֶק, cheleq) refers to an allotted share, highlighting that this was the specific share for the warriors, not the whole community.
  • "War" (צָבָא, tsava) here points to those who actually went out to battle, making clear that this count is for the fighting men’s share, not all Israel.
  • "Sheep" (צֹאן, tson) is the general term for small livestock, including sheep and goats, so the number could include both.

Why Numbers 31:36 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the spoils were divided with precision and fairness, following God’s instructions exactly, which was important for maintaining order and trust among the people.
  • The detailed count shows the abundance of the plunder and underscores the scale of the Israelites’ victory over the Midianites.
  • By specifying that this half was for the soldiers, the verse sets up the following instructions about how the rest of the spoils would be distributed, connecting to the wider passage about justice and community responsibility.

Where else these words appear

“half” Hebrew H4275 · used in 2 verses

  • Numbers 31:43 (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

“portion” Hebrew H2506 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 14:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
  • 1 Samuel 30:24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.
  • Ecclesiastes 2:21 For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.

“number” Hebrew H4557 · used in 129 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.
  • Ezra 3:4 They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;