Chapter 35: Midian and the Eastern Settlement

Study notes

The sons of Israel kill Midian’s five kings and Balaam, then bring their captives and plunder to Moses and Eleazar at the camp. Later, Moses orders that the tribes of Gad and Reuben will receive the land of Gilead if their armed men cross the Jordan with the other tribes until the land is subdued.

From Numbers 31:8 (KoS), Numbers 31:9 (KoS), Numbers 31:11–12 (KoS), Numbers 32:28–30 (KoS).

These notes and questions are original study helps written for this site, not scripture. The verses shown with each question are quoted from the Kingdoms of Scripture Bible.

Notice and discuss

Read each passage, then think about the question on your own or talk it over with others. No answers are collected.

1. What do the army officers bring to Moses, and where do Moses and Eleazar take it afterward?

   We have brought Yahweh’s near-offering, each man what he found of gold articles: an armlet, a bracelet, a ring, an earring, and a kumaz, to make atonement for our persons before Yahweh. Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, every worked article. All the gold of the contribution that they raised to Yahweh was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels, from the chiefs of the thousands and from the chiefs of the hundreds. The men of the army had plundered, each man for himself. Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the chiefs of the thousands and of the hundreds and brought it to the tent of meeting, a reminder for the sons of Israel before Yahweh.

   Numbers 31:50–54 (KoS)

   Note · Translation Etz’adah is an armlet. Tzamid is a bracelet. Tabba’at is a ring. Agil is an earring. Kumaz is a gold article whose shape this copy does not describe. No shape is invented for it.

   Note · Translation The shekels are the weight as written. They are not converted.

2. What two questions does Moses ask the tribes of Gad and Reuben about their brothers and the land?

   Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, Shall your brothers go to the war, and you stay here? Why would you turn back the heart of the sons of Israel from crossing into the land that Yahweh has given them?

   Numbers 32:6–7 (KoS)

   Note · Text The written consonants are תנואון, with a vav. The Masoretic reading is תניאון, “you turn back,” with a yod where the written form has a vav. The written form is printed. Verse 9 uses the same verb for what the fathers did.

3. Where do the tribes of Gad and Reuben say their families and animals will stay while their armed men cross?

   The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben said to Moses, Your servants will do as my lord commands. Our little ones, our wives, our livestock, and all our animals will be there, in the cities of Gilead. Your servants will cross, every man armed for the army, before Yahweh to the war, as my lord speaks.

   Numbers 32:25–27 (KoS)