The Lord Punishes the Midianites
1The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 2“Pay the Midianites back for what they did to the Israelites. After that, you will join the members of your family who have already died.”
3So Moses said to the people, “Prepare some of your men for battle. They must go to war against Midian. They will carry out the Lord’s plan to punish Midian. 4Send 1,000 men from each of the tribes of Israel into battle.” 5So Moses prepared 12,000 men for battle. There were 1,000 from each tribe. They came from the families of Israel. 6Moses sent them into battle. He sent 1,000 from each tribe. Phinehas the priest went along with them. Phinehas was the son of Eleazar. Phinehas took some things from the sacred tent with him. He also took the trumpets. The trumpet blasts would tell the people what to do and when to do it.
7They fought against Midian, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. They killed every man. 8Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba were among the men they killed. Those men were the five kings of Midian. The Israelites also killed Balaam with their swords. Balaam was the son of Beor. 9The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children. They took for themselves all the herds, flocks and goods. 10They burned down all the towns where the Midianites lived. They also burned all their camps. 11They carried off everything they had taken. That included the people and the animals. 12They brought back to Israel’s camp the prisoners and everything else they had taken. They took them to Moses and to Eleazar the priest. They brought them to the whole community. Israel was camped on the plains of Moab. They were by the Jordan River across from Jericho.
13Moses and Eleazar the priest went to meet them outside the camp. So did all the leaders of the community. 14Moses was angry with the officers of the army who had returned from the battle. Some of them were the commanders of thousands of men. Others were the commanders of hundreds.
15“Have you let all the women remain alive?” Moses asked them. 16“The women followed Balaam’s advice. They caused the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord. The people worshiped the god named Baal that was worshiped at Peor. So a plague struck them. 17Kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man. 18But save for yourselves every woman who has never slept with a man.
19“Anyone who has killed a person must stay outside the camp for seven days. And anyone who has touched a person who was killed must do the same thing. On the third and seventh days you must make yourselves pure. You must also make your prisoners pure. 20Make all your clothes pure and ‘clean.’ Everything made out of leather, goat hair or wood must be made pure and ‘clean.’ ”
21Then Eleazar the priest spoke to the soldiers who had gone into battle. He said, “Here is what the law the Lord gave Moses requires. 22All your gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin and lead 23must be put through fire. So must everything else that doesn’t burn up. Then those things will be ‘clean.’ But they must also be made pure with the special water. In fact, everything that won’t burn up must be put through that water. 24On the seventh day wash your clothes. And you will be ‘clean.’ Then you can come into the camp.”
The People Divide Up What They Had Taken
25The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 26“Here is what you and Eleazar the priest and the family leaders of the community must do. You must count all the people and animals you captured. 27Divide up some of what you took with the soldiers who fought in the battle. Divide up the rest with the others in the community. 28Set apart a gift for me. Take something from the soldiers who fought in the battle. Set apart one out of every 500 people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. 29Take my gift from the soldiers’ half. Give it to Eleazar the priest. It is my share. 30Also take something from the half that belongs to the Israelites. Choose one out of every 50 people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites. They are responsible for taking care of my holy tent.” 31So Moses and Eleazar the priest did just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
32What the soldiers took included 675,000 sheep. 33There were also 72,000 cattle 34and 61,000 donkeys. 35And there were 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.
36Here is the half that belonged to those who had fought in the battle.
There were 337,500 sheep. 37From among them, the Lord’s gift was 675.
38There were 36,000 cattle. From among them, the Lord’s gift was 72.
39There were 30,500 donkeys. From among them, the Lord’s gift was 61.
40There were 16,000 women. From among them, the Lord’s gift was 32.
41Moses gave the gift to Eleazar the priest. It was the Lord’s share. Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him.
42The other half belonged to the Israelites. Moses set it apart from what belonged to the fighting men. 43The community’s half was 337,500 sheep, 4436,000 cattle, 4530,500 donkeys 46and 16,000 women. 47Moses chose one out of every 50 people and animals. He gave them to the Levites. They were accountable for taking care of the Lord’s holy tent. Moses did just as the Lord had commanded him.
48Then the army officers went to Moses. Some of them were the commanders of thousands of men. Others were the commanders of hundreds. 49All of them said to Moses, “We have counted the soldiers under our command. Not a single one is missing. 50So we’ve brought an offering to the Lord. We’ve brought the gold each of us took in the battle. That includes armbands, bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces. We’ve brought them in front of the Lord to pay for our sin.”
51Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the beautiful gold things from the army officers. 52The gold received from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds weighed 420 pounds. Moses and Eleazar offered all of it as a gift to the Lord. 53Each soldier had taken things from the battle for himself. 54Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from all the commanders. They brought it into the tent of meeting. It reminded the Lord of the Israelites.
Midianfoɔ So Aweretɔ
1Afei, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, 2“Esiane sɛ Midianfoɔ daadaa mo de mo kɔɔ abosonsom mu no enti, tɔ wɔn so awere. Yei akyi no wɔbɛwu na wɔakɔ wɔn agyanom nkyɛn.”
3Mose ka kyerɛɛ nkurɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Monyi mmarima no mu bi na wɔnkɔ Awurade aweretɔ sa a ɔde tia Midianfoɔ no. 4Momfa Israel abusua biara mu nnipa apem nkɔ ɔsa no.” 5Wɔyɛɛ saa nyaa mmarima mpem dumienu siesie wɔn maa ɔko no. 6Afei Mose ma wɔkɔeɛ, nnipa apem baako a wɔfiri abusuakuo biara mu. Ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa babarima Pinehas na ɔdii wɔn anim kɔɔ ɔko no. Wɔrekɔ no, wɔde kronkronneɛ a ɛwɔ kronkronbea hɔ ne totorobɛnto a wɔbɛhyɛn akanyane akodɔm no kɔeɛ.
7Na sɛdeɛ Awurade hyɛeɛ no, wɔkumm Midian mmarima nyinaa wɔ ɔko no mu. 8Wɔn a wɔkumm wɔn no bi ne Midian ahemfo baanum a wɔn edin de Ewi, Rekem, Sur, Hur ne Reba. Beor babarima Balaam nso, wɔkumm no. 9Afei, Israel asraafoɔ no kyekyeree Midian mmaa ne mmɔfra nyinaa ne wɔn anantwie ne wɔn nnwan fom nneɛma pii kaa ho. 10Wɔtoo Midian nkuro ne nkuraa nyinaa mu ogya, hyee no pasaa. 11Wɔfaa asadeɛ ne afodeɛ a nnipa no ne mmoa ka ho. 12Wɔde nneduafoɔ no ne ɔko no mu nneɛma a wɔnyaeɛ no nyinaa brɛɛ Mose, ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa ne Israelfoɔ a na wɔabɔ wɔn atenaseɛ wɔ Moab bepɔ so baabi a na ɛbɛn Asubɔnten Yordan a wɔtwa firi Yeriko ba hɔ no.
13Mose ne ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa ne mpanimfoɔ a wɔtuatua nnipa no ano no kɔhyiaa nkonimdifoɔ no ɛkwan. 14Nanso, Mose bo fuu mpanimfoɔ a wɔtuatua akodɔm no ano no.
15Ɔbisaa wɔn sɛ, “Adɛn enti na moankunkum mmaa no? 16Yeinom ara ne nnipa no a wɔtie Balaam enti wɔmaa Israelfoɔ gyaa Awurade kɔsom abosom wɔ bepɔ Peor so a enti ɛmaa ɔhaw ne abɛbrɛsɛ bebree baa yɛn so bɛsɛee yɛn no. 17Monkunkum mmarimaa no nyinaa. Afei, monkunkum mmaa a wɔne mmarima adeda no nyinaa. 18Mommfa mo nsa nka mmaayewa nketewa no. Wɔn deɛ, momfa wɔn na mo ne wɔn nkɔtena.
19“Afei, momfiri atenaeɛ ha nkɔtena baabi nnanson, ɛfiri sɛ, mo nyinaa moakum nnipa anaa mode mo nsa aka efunu. Monnwira mo ho ne mo nneduafoɔ ne nnansa ne ne nnanson so. 20Monkae na monnwira mo ntadeɛ ne biribiara a wɔde aboa nwoma, abirekyie nwi anaa dua ayɛ.”
21Afei, ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa ka kyerɛɛ mmarima a wɔkɔɔ ɔko no sɛ, “Yei ne mmara a Awurade ahyɛ a waka akyerɛ Mose. 22Biribiara a ɛtumi gyinaa ogya ano te sɛ sikakɔkɔɔ, dwetɛ, kɔbere, dadeɛ, sanya anaa sumpii no, 23ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde ka ogya sɛdeɛ ɛho bɛte. Yei akyi, ɛsɛ sɛ wɔde ahodwira nsuo dwira ho ma ɛho te. Nanso, biribiara a ɛrentumi nnyina ogya ano no deɛ, wɔmfa nsuo nnwira ho. 24Nnanson so, ɛsɛ sɛ mosi mo ntadeɛ na modwira mo ho ansa na moasane aba atenaeɛ hɔ.”
Wɔkyekyɛ Afodeɛ
25Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, 26“Ɛsɛ sɛ wo ne ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa ne mmusua no mpanimfoɔ nyinaa twerɛ afodeɛ a nnipa ne mmoa ka ho a monyaa no ɔko no mu. 27Afei, monkyɛ afodeɛ no mu mmienu. Momfa ɛfa mma mmarima a wɔkɔɔ ɔko no na momfa ɛfa a aka no mma nnipa a aka no. 28Nanso, deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, ɛsɛ sɛ Awurade nya kyɛfa a ɛyɛ nneduafoɔ, anantwie, mfunumu, ne nnwan a ɛfiri akofoɔ no kyɛfa mu. Awurade kyɛfa no bɛyɛ ahanum biara mu baako. 29Fa saa kyɛfa yi ma ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa na ɔnhim no afɔrebukyia no anim mfa mma Awurade. 30Afei Israelfoɔ a wɔaka no kyɛfa no, monyi aduonum biara mu baako. Momfa yei mma Lewifoɔ a wɔhwɛ Awurade Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no so no.” 31Enti, Mose ne ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa yɛɛ deɛ Awurade hyɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnyɛ no.
32Afodeɛ a ɛkaeɛ a akofoɔ no faeɛ no dodoɔ yɛ nnwan mpem ahansia aduɔson enum (675,000); 33anantwie mpem aduɔson mmienu (72,000); 34mfunumu mpem aduosia baako (61,000); 35ne mmaayewa mpem aduasa mmienu (32,000).
36Nneɛma no fa a wɔde maa asraafoɔ no dodoɔ nie:
Nnwan mpem ahasa aduasa nson ne ahanum (337,500) 37a wɔde mu ahansia aduɔson enum (675) maa Awurade;
38Anantwie mpem aduasa nsia (36,000) a wɔde mu aduɔson mmienu (72) maa Awurade;
39mfunumu mpem aduasa ne ahanum (30,500) a emu aduosia baako (61) yɛ Awurade kyɛfa;
40mmaayewa mpem dunsia (16,000); wɔde wɔn mu aduasa mmienu (32) maa Awurade.
41Wɔde Awurade kyɛfa no nyinaa maa ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa sɛdeɛ Awurade kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ ɔnyɛ no ara pɛ.
42Afodeɛ no a Israelfoɔ no nyaa no na ɛdidi soɔ yi: 43nnwan mpem ahasa aduasa nson ne ahanum (337,500), 44anantwie mpem aduasa nsia (36,000), 45mfunumu Mpem aduasa ne ahanum (30,500) ne 46mmaayewa mpem dunsia (16,000). 47Nnipa no kyɛfa a wɔnyaeɛ no, Mose yiyii nneduafoɔ ne mmoa aduonum biara mu baako de maa Lewifoɔ a wɔhwɛ Awurade Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan so no. Wɔyɛɛ yei nyinaa sɛdeɛ Awurade hyɛɛ Mose no.
48Afei, asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ baa Mose nkyɛn bɛka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, 49“Owura yɛabu nnipa a yɛde wɔn kɔɔ ɔko no nyinaa ano akyerɛ wo na yɛn mu baako koraa anyera. 50Ɛno enti, yɛfiri deɛ yɛnyaa no ɔko no mu no bi mu rebɛda Awurade ase. Yɛn asedadeɛ no yɛ sika adwinneɛ, nkapo, nkawa, nsonkawa ne kɔnmuadeɛ. Yeinom bɛyɛ mpatadeɛ ama yɛn kra wɔ Awurade anim.”
51Mose ne ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa gyee saa akyɛdeɛ yi a ɛyɛ sikakɔkɔɔ ne adwinneɛ firii asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ no nkyɛn. 52Ne nyinaa mu sikakɔkɔɔ a asahene no de baeɛ sɛ akyɛdeɛ a wɔde rebrɛ Awurade no ano si nkariboɔ kilogram ɔha ne aduɔkron. 53Na asraafoɔ no afa ɔko no mu nneɛma a wɔnyaeɛ no bi. 54Enti Mose ne Eleasa gyee akyɛdeɛ no firii asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ no hɔ, na wɔde sikakɔkɔɔ no baa Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan no mu sɛ ɛnyɛ nkaeɛ adeɛ mma Awurade sɛ Israelfoɔ yɛ ne dea.
