And the LORD’s tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.
The verse belongs with Numbers 31 to 33 to the dividing of the spoil after Israel defeated the Midianites in battle and captured many people, cattle, sheep, and other animals. Numbers 31:7-47 records Israel's first taking of captives, when they marched into Midian, slew all the males, and seized the women, children, flocks, and herds. On their return Moses reprimanded them for preserving the grown women, after which they killed all but the virgins and children and reserved them for adoption into the families of the nation.
In that division one out of every five hundred of the persons, beeves, asses, and sheep was taken as tribute, with the Lord's tribute of the sheep amounting to six hundred and seventy-five. The word soul is applied indiscriminately to the captured human beings and to the lower animals. The virgins and children were not enslaved, and the regulations for such captives prohibit selling a captive woman for money or making merchandise of her if she is repudiated.
By thus prohibiting the enslavement of prisoners of war, the most productive mode of slave-making, God showed He did not intend Israel to become a slaveholding nation and positively prohibited it. The passage teaches that no secret sin can be hidden from God.
The verse belongs with Numbers 31 to 33 to the dividing of the spoil after Israel defeated the Midianites in battle and captured many people, cattle, sheep, and other animals. Numbers 31:7-47 records Israel's first taking of captives, when they marched into Midian, slew all the males, and seized the women, children, flocks, and herds. On their return Moses reprimanded them for preserving the grown women, after which they killed all but the virgins and children and reserved them for adoption into the families of the nation.
In that division one out of every five hundred of the persons, beeves, asses, and sheep was taken as tribute, with the Lord's tribute of the sheep amounting to six hundred and seventy-five. The word soul is applied indiscriminately to the captured human beings and to the lower animals. The virgins and children were not enslaved, and the regulations for such captives prohibit selling a captive woman for money or making merchandise of her if she is repudiated.
By thus prohibiting the enslavement of prisoners of war, the most productive mode of slave-making, God showed He did not intend Israel to become a slaveholding nation and positively prohibited it. The passage teaches that no secret sin can be hidden from God.