Numbers 31:11 - They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.
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What does "Numbers 31:11" mean?
Numbers 31 recounts the Israelites' war against the Midianites, ordered by God as retribution for the Midianites' role in leading Israel astray through idolatry and sexual immorality (Numbers 25). Verse 11, "They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal," describes the spoils of war taken by the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"They took all the captives": This refers to the capture of people, primarily women and children, as war prisoners. In ancient warfare, captives were often enslaved, sold, or used for forced labor.
"and all the plunder": Plunder refers to valuable possessions seized from the defeated enemy. This would include items like gold, silver, jewelry, clothing, household goods, and other valuable objects.
"both of man and of animal": This clarifies that the captives included both people and livestock (animals). The plunder included goods suitable for humans and the possession of valuable animals like cattle, sheep, donkeys, and camels.
In essence, this verse means that the Israelites seized everything of value from the Midianites, including people to be enslaved or used as servants and all their possessions, including both personal belongings and livestock.
It's important to note that this account, like many in the Old Testament, can be challenging from a modern ethical perspective due to the treatment of captives and the inherent violence of war. It's often studied within the historical and cultural context of the time, recognizing the differences in values and practices compared to contemporary societal norms.
Numbers 31:11 - They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal.
What does "Numbers 31:11" mean?
Numbers 31 recounts the Israelites' war against the Midianites, ordered by God as retribution for the Midianites' role in leading Israel astray through idolatry and sexual immorality (Numbers 25). Verse 11, "They took all the captives, and all the plunder, both of man and of animal," describes the spoils of war taken by the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"They took all the captives": This refers to the capture of people, primarily women and children, as war prisoners. In ancient warfare, captives were often enslaved, sold, or used for forced labor.
"and all the plunder": Plunder refers to valuable possessions seized from the defeated enemy. This would include items like gold, silver, jewelry, clothing, household goods, and other valuable objects.
"both of man and of animal": This clarifies that the captives included both people and livestock (animals). The plunder included goods suitable for humans and the possession of valuable animals like cattle, sheep, donkeys, and camels.
In essence, this verse means that the Israelites seized everything of value from the Midianites, including people to be enslaved or used as servants and all their possessions, including both personal belongings and livestock.
It's important to note that this account, like many in the Old Testament, can be challenging from a modern ethical perspective due to the treatment of captives and the inherent violence of war. It's often studied within the historical and cultural context of the time, recognizing the differences in values and practices compared to contemporary societal norms.