Numbers 31:31 kjv
And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 31:31 nkjv
So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 31:31 niv
So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 31:31 esv
And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 31:31 nlt
So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 31 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:22 | Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. | Noah's obedience to God's precise instructions for the ark. |
| Exod 39:32 | Thus all the work of the tabernacle… was finished; and the people of Israel had done all that the Lord had commanded Moses. | Israel's completion of the Tabernacle according to divine pattern. |
| Exod 40:16 | Moses did in accordance with all that the Lord commanded him; so he did. | Moses' obedience in erecting the Tabernacle. |
| Lev 8:36 | So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord commanded through Moses. | Aaron and his sons' obedience during their ordination. |
| Lev 10:10 | ...to make a distinction between the holy and the common... | Priestly role (like Eleazar) in distinguishing between sacred and profane. |
| Num 8:20 | Thus Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of Israel did... as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so the people of Israel did to them. | General obedience of Israelite leadership and congregation to God's commands. |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it... | Adherence to God's word without alteration. |
| Deut 6:3 | Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them... | Command to heed and perform God's statutes. |
| Josh 1:7 | Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. | Joshua exhorted to full obedience to Mosaic law. |
| Josh 11:15 | Just as the Lord had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. | Chain of command and faithful execution in conquest. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice... | Emphasizes the supreme importance of obedience over ritual. |
| Jer 7:23 | But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God...’ | God's primary expectation from Israel: obedience. |
| Luke 11:28 | Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! | New Testament emphasis on hearing and doing God's word. |
| John 14:15 | If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | Jesus links love for Him with obedience to His commands. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” | Obedience to divine authority superseding human authority. |
| Rom 1:5 | through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles... | Paul's ministry aiming for obedience that comes from faith. |
| Rom 6:16 | Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey...? | We become servants to whom we obey, underscoring obedience to God for righteousness. |
| Heb 5:9 | And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him... | Jesus' perfect obedience as the foundation for salvation. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Call for practical application of God's word, not mere hearing. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood... | Christians chosen for obedience and purification through Christ's blood. |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 31 Meaning
Numbers 31:31 records the faithful execution of God's specific command concerning the division and purification of the spoils taken from the Midianites. It underscores the immediate and complete obedience of Moses and Eleazar the priest to the divine instruction previously detailed, emphasizing that their actions were a direct fulfillment of the Lord's word conveyed through Moses.
Numbers 31 31 Context
Numbers chapter 31 describes a retaliatory holy war against the Midianites, commanded by the Lord due to their role in tempting Israel to idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor (Num 25). After a decisive victory, God instructs Moses and Eleazar the priest on the division of the extensive spoil (captured persons, animals, and articles). Verses 25-30 outline a unique and detailed distribution method: half the spoil for the fighting men, and half for the congregation. From the warriors' portion, a levy of one five-hundredth was to be given to Eleazar for the Lord's portion; from the congregation's half, one fiftieth was to be given to the Levites. This complex system ensures God's ownership and provision for the sanctuary. Verse 31 specifically confirms that Moses and Eleazar carried out these detailed instructions precisely, demonstrating complete obedience to the divine will in administering the spoils of war. This context emphasizes accountability in leadership, God's sovereignty over all resources, and the importance of ceremonial purity following war.
Numbers 31 31 Word analysis
- And (וַיַּעַשׂ): A simple conjunction that ties this verse directly to the preceding command. It indicates an immediate and logical sequence of action following the divine instruction, emphasizing prompt compliance.
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה): The appointed leader and mediator of God's covenant with Israel. His consistent obedience is a recurring theme, crucial for establishing divine authority and exemplary leadership for the people. Here, he acts not on personal initiative but as the direct recipient and implementer of God's word.
- and Eleazar (וְאֶלְעָזָר): Aaron's son and successor as high priest. His inclusion signifies the religious authority and sanctity involved in handling the spoils of a holy war. His role ensures proper adherence to the ritual and cultic requirements, especially concerning the Lord's portion and purification. His presence highlights the dual leadership of civil and religious authority.
- the priest (הַכֹּהֵן): Specifies Eleazar's official, divinely appointed role. As priest, he is responsible for the holy aspects, handling the Lord's dedicated portion, and overseeing purification rituals after battle, all integral to this operation. His involvement sanctifies the process.
- did (וַיַּעַשׂ): From the Hebrew root עָשָׂה (
asah), meaning "to do, make, perform, accomplish." This word denotes action, not just agreement. It implies exact execution of instructions, underscoring the completeness and fidelity of their obedience. - as (כַּאֲשֶׁר): A preposition meaning "according to what," "just as," "exactly as." This precise qualifier emphasizes the strict adherence to the previous divine commands. There was no deviation, no alteration, and no personal interpretation applied to God's instruction.
- the Lord (יהוה): The sacred name of God (Yahweh), indicating the covenant-keeping God of Israel, the ultimate source of authority. This underscores that the command originated from the divine and infallible sovereign, making obedience non-negotiable and absolute.
- commanded (צִוָּה): From the Hebrew root צָוָה (
tsavah), meaning "to command, order, give a charge." This term conveys a strong, authoritative directive. It implies an imperative, not a suggestion, demonstrating the binding nature of the instructions. - Moses (מֹשֶׁה): Reappears here as the direct recipient of God's command. This reinforces the chain of command: God to Moses, then Moses and Eleazar to the people. It solidifies Moses' unique position as God's chosen mediator for delivering divine will.
Words-Group by words-group analysis:
- "And Moses and Eleazar the priest did": This phrase highlights the collaboration and united front of the key leadership figures – the divinely chosen civil leader (Moses) and the divinely ordained religious leader (Eleazar). Their joint action underscores the comprehensive and proper implementation of the divine instruction, showing that both secular and sacred aspects were handled by appropriate authority. It demonstrates collective accountability in fulfilling God’s will.
- "did as the Lord commanded Moses": This is a direct affirmation of their faithful obedience. The specific "as" (
ka'asher) confirms that their actions were a precise, unadulterated reflection of the divine instruction. It signals complete submission to divine authority and is a formula used repeatedly throughout the Pentateuch to confirm perfect compliance, ensuring that what happened was entirely according to God's plan and not human discretion.
Numbers 31 31 Bonus section
The repetitive phrase "as the Lord commanded Moses" (or variants like "as the Lord commanded him") found throughout the Pentateuch serves as a theological marker. It emphasizes the direct origin of laws and actions from Yahweh, guaranteeing their divine authority and underscoring the perfect obedience expected and, at times, demonstrated by His chosen servants. This verse implicitly sets a standard for all future leadership, civil or spiritual, within Israel – to govern and act strictly by the Word of God, avoiding self-direction or popular will. It also distinguishes Israel's divinely ordered system of warfare and spoils from contemporary ancient Near Eastern practices, where kings often appropriated plunder arbitrarily; here, God’s explicit will governs all aspects, providing for His sanctuary and regulating the people.
Numbers 31 31 Commentary
Numbers 31:31, though concise, serves as a pivotal concluding statement to the detailed instructions regarding the Midianite spoils. It affirms the bedrock principle of faithful leadership within Israel: the unqualified obedience to the Lord's commands. Moses, as God's chief mediator, and Eleazar, as the spiritual head, perfectly execute the intricate instructions for dividing and dedicating the plunder. This act of "doing as the Lord commanded" encapsulates more than mere compliance; it represents trust in God's wisdom, recognition of His sovereignty over all material possessions, and adherence to the sacred protocols. In a practical sense, it laid the foundation for Israel's structured communal life, ensuring God's portion was secured and setting a precedent for handling future spoils of war in a holy manner. It stands as a testament to the divine expectation for leaders to be models of submission, not innovative interpreters, of God’s expressed will.