48 The military officers - commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds - came to Moses 49 and said, "We have counted the soldiers under our command and not a man is missing. 50 We've brought offerings to God from the gold jewelry we got - armlets, bracelets, rings, earrings, ornaments - to make atonement for our lives before God." 51 Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all that fine-crafted jewelry. 52 In total, the gold from the commanders of thousands and hundreds that Moses and Eleazar offered as a gift to God weighed about six hundred pounds, 53 all donated by the soldiers who had taken the booty. 54 Moses and Eleazar took the gold from the commanders of thousands and hundreds and brought it to the Tent of Meeting, to serve as a reminder for the People of Israel before God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 31:48-54
Commentary on Numbers 31:48-54
(Read Numbers 31:48-54)
The success of the Israelites had been very remarkable, so small a company overcoming such multitudes, but it was still more wonderful that not one was slain or missing. They presented the gold they found among the spoils, as an offering to the Lord. Thus they confessed, that instead of claiming a reward for their service, they needed forgiveness of much that had been amiss, and desired to be thankful for the preservation of their lives, which might justly have been taken away.