Numbers 31:11

and carried away all the plunder and spoils, both people and animals.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The Israelite army acts immediately after burning Midianite cities and encampments, seizing captured goods and people before transporting them to Moses, Eleazar, and the congregation on the plains of Moab.

The words — מַלְקוֹחַ (mal.Ko.ach) translates to booty, paired with שׁלָל (sha.Lal) for plunder, denoting the complete seizure of enemy assets and captives.

The thread — This seizure pattern repeats in Deuteronomy 20:14 regarding permitted city spoil and Joshua 8:2 regarding the authorized taking of Ai’s plunder.

Why it lands — The text records the systematic collection of wartime acquisitions, requiring readers to note the procedural handling of spoils before priestly and leadership review.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּקְחוּ֙va/i.yik.Chuand/ they took אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all הַשָּׁלָ֔לha./sha.Lalthe/ plunder וְאֵ֖תve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all הַמַּלְק֑וֹחַha./mal.Ko.achthe/ booty בָּאָדָ֖םba./'a.Damamong <the>/ humankind וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃u./va./be.he.Mahand/ among the/ livestock

King James Version

And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 20:14 But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
Joshua 8:2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”