Bible Dictionary
Booty
Booty consisted of captives, animals, valuables, and other goods taken in war. Israelite law regulated its treatment and division, and David required those guarding the baggage to share equally with the fighting men.
Definition
Booty consists of captives, cattle, metal treasures, and other valuable goods taken in war. In biblical law, its capture, destruction, division, and dedication were regulated according to the situation and the people involved.
Biblical Usage
Within Canaan, the Israelites were commanded to destroy all that breathed and the Canaanite images. The law in Numbers regulated the division of booty, while David required the baggage guard to share equally with the fighting troops and dedicated portions of spoil to the temple.
Historical Background
Booty could include persons, animals, valuables, and the contents of a captured city. The supplied material distinguishes booty as what serves the captor personally, spoils as what marks triumph, and prey as what satisfies appetite.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Captives or cattle or objects of value taken in war. In Canaan all that breathed were to be destroyed (Deut. 20: 16). The “pictures and images” of the Canaanites were to be destroyed also (Num. 33:52). The law of booty as to its division is laid down in Num. 31:26-47. David afterwards introduced a regulation that the baggage-guard should share the booty equally with the soldiers engaged in battle. He also devoted of the spoils of war for the temple (1 Sam. 30:24-26; 2 Sam. 8:11; 1 Chr. 26:27).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
consisted of captives of both sexes, cattle, and whatever a captured city might contain, especially metallic treasures. Within the limits of Canaan no captives were to be made, (20:14,16) beyond these limits, in case of warlike resistance, all the women and children were to be made captives, and the men put to death. The law of booty is given in (Numbers 31:26-47) As regarded the army, David added a regulation that the baggage guard should share equally with the troops engaged. (1 Samuel 30:24; 25)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>boot'-i (baz and baz): "Booty" is the translation of baz or baz, usually rendered "prey" and "spoil" (Jer 49:32); of malqoach, "prey," "booty" (Nu 31:32, "the booty--the rest of the prey," the Revised Version (British and American) "the prey, over and above the booty," baz); of meshiccah, "spoil" (Hab 2:7; Ze 1:13; the Revised Version (British and American) "spoil"); of opheleia, "gain" (2 Macc 8:20). "Booty respects what is of personal service to the captor; spoils whatever serves to designate his triumph; prey includes whatever gratifies the appetite and is to be consumed" (Crabb, English Synonymes). Persons (for slaves, etc.) might be part of the booty. See also SPOIL.</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>