Numbers 31:32
And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,
Numbers 31:32
This verse begins enumerating the remaining booty: six hundred seventy thousand sheep, etc. The precise tallies highlight the seriousness of the census-like accounting and the covenantal care over resources. It also demonstrates the scale of Israel’s expansion in this moment and the material wealth they controlled. The detailed numbers would later serve as a record for the community’s memory and a basis for distribution. The verse continues the pattern of an organized, covenantal approach to war spoils.
The precision of the counts underscores God’s ownership and meticulous care for the community’s resources. It teaches responsibility and stewardship—counting what one has, so nothing is wasted or misused. It also reflects God’s faithfulness to provide through disciplined administration.
For today, it’s a reminder to track resources carefully: inventory, budgets, and distributions should be documented to minimize waste and envy. In any organization, precise record-keeping guards against misappropriation and helps ensure fair sharing.
Cross-References: Leviticus 27:32; 1 Samuel 6:4-5; Ezra 2:64-65; Luke 14:28