The Meaning of Numbers 31:9 Explained

Numbers 31:9

KJV: And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.

YLT: And the sons of Israel take captive the women of Midian, and their infants; and all their cattle, and all their substance, and all their wealth they have plundered;

Darby: And the children of Israel took the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took for a spoil all their cattle and all their flocks and all their goods;

ASV: And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the children  of Israel  took [all] the women  of Midian  captives,  and their little ones,  and took the spoil  of all their cattle,  and all their flocks,  and all their goods. 

What does Numbers 31:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 31:1-20 - The Destruction Of The Midianites
In reading such a chapter as this we must remember that the Bible is the history of the slow advance of a nation toward the knowledge of God, and its preparation to become one of the greatest of spiritual forces. That process could only be a prolonged one. Only by slow degrees could the grossness of the period be eliminated. Our Lord distinctly said that certain things were allowed for a time because of the hardness of their hearts. See Matthew 19:8. Many times He made the clear distinction between what "they of old" had said and what He said. See Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33; Matthew 5:38; Matthew 5:43. The highest law for dealing with our enemies is found in his teachings.
The first steps of purification had to do with the women who might introduce heathen vices into Israelite homes, and the leisurely dealing with spoils and captives, so that passion might have time to cool. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 31

1  The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain
13  Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive
19  How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified
25  The proportion in which the prey is to be divided
48  The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord

What do the individual words in Numbers 31:9 mean?

And took captive the sons of Israel - the women of Midian and with their little ones and all their cattle and their flocks their goods took as spoil
וַיִּשְׁבּ֧וּ בְנֵי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־ נְשֵׁ֥י מִדְיָ֖ן וְאֶת־ טַפָּ֑ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־ בְּהֶמְתָּ֧ם וְאֶת־ מִקְנֵהֶ֛ם חֵילָ֖ם בָּזָֽזוּ

וַיִּשְׁבּ֧וּ  And  took  captive 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁבָה  
Sense: to take captive.
בְנֵי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
נְשֵׁ֥י  the  women 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
מִדְיָ֖ן  of  Midian 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְיָן  
Sense: son of Abraham by Keturah and progenitor of the tribe of Midianites or Arabians.
וְאֶת־  and  with 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
טַפָּ֑ם  their  little  ones 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: טַף 
Sense: children, little children, little ones.
בְּהֶמְתָּ֧ם  their  cattle 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
מִקְנֵהֶ֛ם  their  flocks 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
חֵילָ֖ם  their  goods 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
בָּזָֽזוּ  took  as  spoil 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּזַז  
Sense: to spoil, plunder, prey upon, seize.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 31:9?

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