From the people of Israel’s half refers to the half-share of war booty that was received by the Israelites who did not take part in the battle with the Midianites.

Which Moses separated from that of the men who had gone to war: The Israelite community at large received the same amount of booty as the soldiers did. The Hebrew verb rendered separated is the same one translated “divide … into two parts” in verse 27 (see the comments there). The Hebrew verb for gone to war (tsavaʾ) is the same one rendered “warred” in verse 7. It comes from the same root as the word for “war” in verses 3-5.

Now the congregation’s half was …: As discussed at 1.2, the Hebrew word for congregation (ʿedah) is better rendered “community” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). The congregation’s half refers to the same half-share of booty as the people of Israel’s half, so Good News Translation combines these two phrases, saying “The share of the community.” Good News Translation begins verses 42-46 with “The share of the community was the same as that for the soldiers,” with other languages may find helpful. This model reminds the reader that the share of the booty for the community was exactly the same as for the men who fought the Midianites (verse 27).

Three hundred and thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep, thirty-six thousand cattle, and thirty thousand five hundred asses, and sixteen thousand persons: The amount of domestic animals and virgins listed here is same as in verses 36-40 (see the comments there), since the soldiers and the rest of Israelites received the same amount of booty.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .