Numbers 31:50-54
31:50 So we have brought as an offering for the Lord what each man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves 1 before the Lord.” 2
31:51 Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all of it in the form of ornaments.
31:52 All the gold of the offering they offered up to the Lord from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds weighed 16,750 shekels. 3
31:53 Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.
31:54 So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders 4 of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial 5 for the Israelites before the Lord.
1 tn Heb “our souls.”
2 sn The expression here may include the idea of finding protection from divine wrath, which is so common to Leviticus, but it may also be a thank offering for the fact that their lives had been spared.
3 sn Or about 420 imperial pounds.
4 tn The Hebrew text does not repeat the word “commanders” here, but it is implied.
5 tn The purpose of the offering was to remind the Lord to remember Israel. But it would also be an encouragement for Israel as they remembered the great victory.