3-4. Moses addressed the people: “Recruit men for a campaign against Midian, to exact God’s vengeance on Midian, a thousand from each tribe of Israel to go to war.”
25-27. God said to Moses, “I want you and Eleazar the priest and the family leaders in the community to count the captives, people and animals. Split the plunder between the soldiers who fought the battle and the rest of the congregation.
28-30. “Then tax the booty that goes to the soldiers at the rate of one life out of five hundred, whether humans, cattle, donkeys, or sheep. It’s a God-tax taken from their half-share to be turned over to Eleazar the priest on behalf of God. Tax the congregation’s half-share at the rate of one life out of fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, or other animals. Give this to the Levites who are in charge of the care of God’s Dwelling.”
31. Moses and Eleazar followed through with what God had commanded Moses.
32-35. The rest of the plunder taken by the army:675,000 sheep72,000 cattle61,000 donkeys32,000 women who were virgins
36-40. The half-share for those who had fought in the war:337,500 sheep, with a tax of 675 for God36,000 cattle, with a tax of 72 for God30,500 donkeys, with a tax of 61 for God16,000 people, with a tax of 32 for God
41. Moses turned the tax over to Eleazar the priest as God’s part, following God’s instructions to Moses.
42-46. The other half-share for the Israelite community that Moses set apart from what was given to the men who fought the war was:337,500 sheep36,000 cattle30,500 donkeys16,000 people