Numbers 31:28 kjv
And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
Numbers 31:28 nkjv
And levy a tribute for the LORD on the men of war who went out to battle: one of every five hundred of the persons, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep;
Numbers 31:28 niv
From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the LORD one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep.
Numbers 31:28 esv
And levy for the LORD a tribute from the men of war who went out to battle, one out of five hundred, of the people and of the oxen and of the donkeys and of the flocks.
Numbers 31:28 nlt
From the army's portion, first give the LORD his share of the plunder ? one of every 500 of the prisoners and of the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.
Numbers 31 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 27:30 | "A tithe of everything from the land... belongs to the Lord..." | God's claim over all produce |
| Num 18:26 | "...speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you..." | Divine provision for Levites & priests |
| Num 31:30 | "From the Israelites’ half...take one out of every fifty..." | Comparison of distinct levies |
| Deut 20:14 | "You may plunder for yourselves all the women, children, livestock and everything else in the city." | Laws concerning spoils from non-banned cities |
| Deut 21:10-14 | "When you go to war against your enemies..." | Regulations for female captives in war |
| Josh 6:18-19 | "...keep yourselves from the devoted things, so that you do not take any of them..." | Banned spoils and divine appropriation |
| 1 Sam 15:3, 9 | "...you must totally destroy all that belongs to them... But Saul and the army spared Agag..." | Consequences of failing to fully obey holy war commands |
| Ezra 4:13, 20 | "If this city is built and its walls finished, they will not pay tax, tribute or duty..." | Mekhes (tribute) in a civil taxation context |
| Neh 10:37 | "...we will bring the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit..." | Dedication of firstfruits and offerings |
| Ps 24:1 | "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it..." | God's ultimate ownership over creation |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops..." | Principle of giving God the first and best |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings." | Consequences of withholding God's due |
| Rom 11:36 | "For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." | God as the source and goal of all |
| Rom 12:1 | "...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." | New Testament call for personal dedication |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." | Principle of supporting those in spiritual service |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion..." | Principles of generous giving |
| Phil 4:18-19 | "...I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering..." | Freewill giving as an offering |
| Heb 7:1-6 | "For this Melchizedek... met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him..." | Tithes paid to priests |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | "...just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do..." | Call to holiness and sanctification in all areas |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 28 Meaning
Numbers 31:28 mandates a specific portion, described as a "tribute" or "heave offering," to be set apart for the Lord from the spoil of war. This instruction specifically applies to the share of the fighting men who engaged in the battle against Midian. The designated amount is a precise fraction – one in five hundred – taken from all types of recovered property: persons (referring to the virgins spared from slaughter), cattle, donkeys, and flocks. This consecrated share was ultimately designated for the High Priest Eleazar to present to the Lord (Num 31:29).
Numbers 31 28 Context
Numbers chapter 31 details the Lord’s command to Moses to wage war against the Midianites, who were instrumental in tempting Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor (Num 25). This war is portrayed as divine judgment. After the battle, which results in a complete victory for Israel, specific instructions are given regarding the distribution of the vast spoils. Numbers 31:28, found within this larger context of dividing the plunder, specifies the portion to be set aside as a sacred tribute directly "for the LORD" from the share of the victorious fighting men. This unique command underscores God's sovereignty over the outcome of the war and His right to a share of its fruits, reinforcing that all blessing and success originate from Him. It also highlights the holy and pure nature of the resources that sustain the priesthood.
Numbers 31 28 Word analysis
- And levy (U’nasatem - וְנָשָׂאתֶם): From the root nasa, meaning "to lift up," "take," "carry," or "collect." Here, an imperative form (or strong perfect), instructing a deliberate act of setting apart. It implies a commanded taking or exacting of a portion, distinct from a voluntary offering.
- a tribute (mekhes - מֶכֶס): A Hebrew term referring to a tax, custom duty, or toll. This is its only use in the Pentateuch, exclusively found in Numbers 31 and later in Ezra. Its rare usage in a sacrificial context suggests a very specific, mandated governmental-style levy rather than a general sacred offering (terumah, minchah, korban). It denotes something justly due to an authority.
- for the LORD (la-YHWH - לַיהוָה): Signifies direct dedication and ownership by God. Emphasizes that this tribute, though managed by the priests, is ultimately for divine purposes and belongs to Him.
- from the men of war (mi’anshei ha-tzava - מֵאַנְשֵׁי הַצָּבָא): Explicitly designates the source. These are the soldiers, the direct participants in the holy war, whose lives were risked. Their spoil is considered distinct from the rest of the congregation's share.
- who went out to battle (ha-yotzei la-tzava - הַיֹּצְאִים לַצָּבָא): Reinforces the identity of the contributors as those who actively fought. It specifies that this levy comes from the fruit of their military service performed according to God's command.
- one in five hundred (echad chamish me’ot - אֶחָד חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת): A remarkably small and precise proportion. This is ten times less than the proportion taken from the general congregation's share (1 in 50, Num 31:30), which was given to the Levites. The smaller ratio from the fighting men's portion might symbolize divine grace or special consideration for those who directly risked their lives in the Lord's battle, or it highlights the exceptionally holy nature of this specific offering to the High Priest for the Lord.
- of the persons (min ha-nefesh - מִן־הַנֶּפֶשׁ): "Nefesh" typically means "soul" or "person." Here, it specifically refers to the human spoil, the young female virgins whom Israel was commanded to spare (Num 31:18). This inclusion is highly unusual for a tribute, signifying God's dominion even over lives taken as war captives.
- of the cattle (min ha-bekar - מִן־הַבָּקָר): Large livestock, oxen, and cows.
- of the donkeys (min ha-chamorim - מִן־הַחֲמוֹרִים): Pack animals, a significant form of wealth.
- and of the flocks (u-min ha-tzo’n - וּמִן־הַצֹּאן): Small livestock, sheep and goats. These three categories comprise the standard forms of animal wealth and mobile assets acquired in warfare.
Numbers 31 28 Bonus section
The distinction between the "tribute for the LORD" (one in five hundred from the fighting men's half for the priest, Num 31:28-29) and the "tax for the Levites" (one in fifty from the congregation's half, Num 31:30) is significant. The soldiers' portion is consecrated for the high priestly service, directly linking the pure, dedicated offering from a holy war of judgment to the ultimate sacred function of the priesthood. This reinforces the theological principle that divine blessing and provision, even from seemingly earthly endeavors like war, must acknowledge God's ultimate claim and support the functions He ordains for His kingdom on earth. This arrangement also served to prevent corruption or greed by immediately sanctifying a portion of the vast wealth.
Numbers 31 28 Commentary
Numbers 31:28 stands as a profound statement on divine ownership and the proper sanctification of all aspects of Israelite life, even in the brutal context of holy war. This isn't just a spoils-of-war division; it's a sacred accounting dictated by the Creator. The "tribute" of one in five hundred from the fighting men's share, explicitly for "the LORD," establishes that the victory was fundamentally God's, and thus a portion of its proceeds belonged to Him directly, distinct from general tithes. This portion went to Eleazar the priest, representing the highest dedication to the service of God's sanctuary. It ensures the sustenance of those who ministered before the Lord, illustrating God's meticulous care for His appointed servants and His worship. It's a reminder that even in warfare, God's holiness and covenant requirements supersede human self-interest, dedicating even captives and plundered wealth to His holy purposes.