Numbers 31:29 kjv
Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD.
Numbers 31:29 nkjv
take it from their half, and give it to Eleazar the priest as a heave offering to the LORD.
Numbers 31:29 niv
Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the LORD's part.
Numbers 31:29 esv
Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as a contribution to the LORD.
Numbers 31:29 nlt
Give this share of the army's half to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD.
Numbers 31 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 18:8 | And the LORD spoke to Aaron, "Behold, I have given you charge... the heave offerings..." | Priests receive God's heave offerings. |
| Num 18:24 | For the tithe of the people... I have given to the Levites as an inheritance... | Levites supported by tithes. |
| Num 18:26-28 | From the tithes which you receive from the people, you shall present a heave offering to the LORD... | Levites' heave offering for priests. |
| Lev 7:14 | From it he shall offer one portion as a heave offering... it shall be the priest's... | Specific heave offering for priest. |
| Deut 18:3-5 | This shall be the priests' due from the people... | Priests' support from sacrifices. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | ...those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel. | New Testament principle of supporting ministry. |
| Heb 7:12 | For when there is a change in the priesthood, there must also be a change in the law. | Priesthood and Law interrelation. |
| Gen 14:20 | And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. | Early tithe/offering to Melchizedek. |
| Ex 13:2 | Consecrate to me all the firstborn. | Consecration of firstborn to God. |
| Ex 25:2 | "Speak to the people of Israel that they take for me a contribution (terumah)..." | Instruction for contributions to the tabernacle. |
| Ex 35:21 | ...brought the LORD's contribution (terumah) for the work of the tent of meeting... | People's contribution for Tabernacle. |
| Lev 27:30 | Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD. | Tithe as holy dedication to God. |
| Num 15:19-21 | When you eat of the food of the land, you shall present a heave offering (terumah) to the LORD. | Firstfruits heave offering. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled... | Wisdom on honoring God with wealth. |
| Ps 24:1 | The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein... | God's ultimate ownership of all. |
| Deut 20:14 | Only the women, the children, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves... | Rules for war spoil. |
| Josh 6:19 | But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD. | Jericho spoil consecrated to God. |
| 1 Sam 30:24 | ...those who stay with the baggage shall share alike with those who go down to battle. | Equal spoil sharing principle. |
| Zech 14:20-21 | ...even the bells on the horses shall be marked, "Holy to the LORD."... | Future pervasive consecration to God. |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... | Christian living as spiritual offering. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance... | Serving God in all aspects of life. |
| 1 Pet 4:10-11 | As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another... in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. | Glorifying God through stewardship. |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 29 Meaning
Numbers 31:29 directs that a specific portion of the spoil of battle, precisely one from every five hundred from the warriors' share, is to be presented to Eleazar the high priest. This designated portion is identified as a "heave offering" unto the LORD, emphasizing its holy dedication and recognition of God as the source of victory and provider of all good things. This instruction ensures that even from the spoils of war, a sacred contribution is rendered to God, administered through His ordained priest.
Numbers 31 29 Context
Numbers chapter 31 records the punitive war against the Midianites, commanded by the LORD due to their role in tempting Israel to sin, as detailed in Numbers chapter 25. After a decisive victory where all Midianite males and their kings were slain, Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs were to oversee the division of the abundant spoils, including livestock, people, and goods. The spoil was divided into two equal halves: one for the warriors who engaged in battle and another for the rest of the congregation of Israel (Num 31:27). From each of these halves, a specific consecrated portion was designated as an offering to the LORD. Verse 29 specifically deals with the smaller, yet holy, portion from the warriors' half (one of every 500 units from their portion) that was given to Eleazar, the high priest, on behalf of the LORD. This act symbolized recognition of God's sovereignty over the victory and provision.
Numbers 31 29 Word analysis
- You shall give them: This is a direct command from the LORD, delivered through Moses, to the Israelites. "Them" refers to the specific portion of the spoil that had been calculated previously: one from every five hundred (Num 31:28) from the spoil collected by the warriors.
- to Eleazar the priest: Eleazar (אֶלְעָזָר) was Aaron's son and the reigning High Priest after Aaron's death (Num 20:28). He served as the intermediary in matters pertaining to holy things, offerings, and divine instruction. The offering being given "to Eleazar" signifies that it is a dedicated offering for the sacred functions and support of the priesthood, directly aligned with God's service.
- as a heave offering: The Hebrew word is terumah (תְּרוּמָה). This term denotes a "contribution," "offering," or "set apart portion." It typically involves something "lifted up" or "set apart" from the rest and dedicated to a sacred purpose or to the LORD. Terumah were often portions designated for the priests and Levites as their provision from the people (e.g., Num 18:8-29). Its use here highlights that this portion is consecrated, removed from common use, and reserved for God’s representatives, acknowledging divine ownership of the victory and its proceeds.
- to the LORD: (la-YHWH / לַיהוָה) This phrase twice anchors the dedication back to God. It confirms that Eleazar is merely the recipient on behalf of the LORD. The victory was God's, and thus a portion of its fruit is His. It signifies worship, dependence, and the attribution of all success to the divine hand.
- from the spoil of the battle: The spoil (מַלְקוֹחַ - malqoach) refers to the plunder taken from the Midianites. This emphasizes that even war booty, normally seen as secular gain, is subject to God's claim. It further differentiates this terumah from other tithes or offerings that might come from agricultural produce or personal wealth. The offering is taken from a direct result of God's command and Israel's obedience in battle.
- for the LORD: (also la-YHWH / לַיהוָה) The repetition serves to powerfully reiterate the divine purpose and recipient. It underscores the holy nature of the gift and reinforces that the entire act, including the battle itself, was under God's authority and for His glory. This is not a tax for human benefit but a holy portion for the divine.
Numbers 31 29 Bonus section
The terumah from the Midianite spoils showcases a distinct application of this offering type. Unlike regular tithes from produce, this was from an unexpected, yet divinely directed, source of wealth. This highlights that all gains, regardless of their origin, are to be consecrated to the LORD. The small fraction (1/500th) from the warriors' half, compared to 1/50th from the congregation's half (Num 31:30), also implies that those directly engaged in a particular divinely sanctioned act (the war) are distinctively involved in the offering, but the greater bulk of support for the tabernacle/priesthood comes from the entire community. This specific terumah served a critical function in reinforcing the people's trust and obedience to God as their Commander and Provider, distinguishing them from surrounding pagan nations who might dedicate spoils to false gods or view them purely as products of human might.
Numbers 31 29 Commentary
Numbers 31:29 establishes a vital principle concerning divine ownership and priestly provision, even amidst the context of war spoils. It is more than a simple allocation of resources; it is an act of worship and profound theological statement. By commanding a consecrated portion (a "heave offering" - terumah) from the very items gained through military conquest to be given to Eleazar the priest for the LORD, God demonstrates His absolute sovereignty over all outcomes, including victory in battle. This dedicated portion serves as a tangible acknowledgment that success, wealth, and life itself are gifts from Him. Furthermore, it ensured the sustained provision for the priesthood, who dedicated their lives to serving God and facilitating the spiritual life of the nation, reinforcing that those who minister spiritually are to be supported by God's people. This pattern anticipates broader biblical principles of tithing, giving of firstfruits, and supporting those in ministry, teaching the Israelite community that all blessings originate from God and a part of those blessings are to be devoted back to Him as an expression of gratitude, dependence, and worship.