Numbers 31:39 kjv
And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD's tribute was threescore and one.
Numbers 31:39 nkjv
The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the LORD's tribute was sixty-one.
Numbers 31:39 niv
30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the LORD was 61;
Numbers 31:39 esv
The donkeys were 30,500, of which the LORD's tribute was 61.
Numbers 31:39 nlt
30,500 donkeys, of which 61 were the LORD's share;
Numbers 31 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 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." | God's claim on tithes as holy dedication. |
| Num 3:12-13 | "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn... For all the firstborn are mine..." | God's claim on firstborn and substitute. |
| Num 18:21 | "To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service..." | Levites' inheritance from offerings/tithes. |
| Num 31:26-30 | "Take the sum of the spoil that was taken... divide it into two parts... Give to Eleazar the priest a tribute for the LORD from the men of war..." | Immediate context of spoil division laws. |
| Num 31:40-41 | "And the persons were sixteen thousand... and the LORD's tribute was thirty-two persons... Moses gave the tribute... to Eleazar the priest..." | Parallel instruction for people as tribute. |
| Num 31:42-46 | "As for the half that belonged to the people of Israel... of this half Moses took one fiftieth..." | Congregation's share and tribute for Levites. |
| Exod 13:2 | "Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine." | God's foundational claim on firstfruits. |
| Exod 22:29-30 | "You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest... The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me..." | Offering firstfruits and firstborn. |
| Deut 12:6 | "There you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock." | Places of worship and bringing all offerings. |
| Josh 6:18-19 | "Keep yourselves from the devoted things... but all silver and gold and every vessel of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD..." | Spoils of war devoted/holy to the LORD. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled..." | Honoring God with resources leads to blessing. |
| Mal 3:8-10 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and contributions... Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..." | Robbing God by withholding tithes/offerings. |
| Matt 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law..." | Jesus' affirmation of tithes, critique of motive. |
| Heb 7:1-6 | "Melchizedek... was king of Salem... Abraham gave him a tenth of everything." | Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel." | Support for those who serve in ministry. |
| Rom 11:16 | "If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches." | Principle of dedication making the whole holy. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him..." | Believers as spiritual priests, consecrated. |
| 1 Chr 29:14 | "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you." | All possessions originate from God. |
| Hag 1:4-11 | God's warning regarding neglecting His house while living in paneled houses. | Importance of prioritising God's house/work. |
| Lev 1:1-2 | General instructions for offerings. | Underlying principles for God's claims. |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 39 Meaning
Numbers 31:39 specifies a portion of the asses, acquired as spoil from the Midianites, which was dedicated as a special tribute to the LORD. Out of the thirty thousand five hundred asses, sixty-one were set apart as God's designated share. This "tribute" was presented to Eleazar the priest as a heave offering, intended for use in the Tabernacle's service. It highlights God's absolute ownership over all things, even the spoils of war, and establishes the principle of dedicating a portion back to Him for holy purposes and the sustenance of His sanctuary and priesthood.
Numbers 31 39 Context
Numbers 31 records Israel's punitive expedition against the Midianites, commanded by the LORD through Moses. This was a divine judgment for Midian's role in enticing Israel into idolatry and immorality at Peor (Numbers 25). After the war, Moses, Eleazar, and the chiefs were to account for and divide the immense spoil. A significant portion of this chapter details the purification rituals for the returning warriors and their captured goods, followed by the meticulous instructions for dividing the plunder.
Numbers 31:26-47 outlines a specific, divinely mandated method for distributing the spoil: It was split into two equal halves – one for the warriors who went to battle and one for the congregation of Israel who remained in the camp. From each half, a distinct "tribute" (מֶכֶס, mekhes) was exacted for the LORD. From the warriors' share (v. 28), one five-hundredth (1/500th) of all livestock and persons was designated as the LORD's tribute and given to Eleazar the priest. From the congregation's share (v. 47), one-fiftieth (1/50th) of all livestock and persons was given to the Levites. Numbers 31:39, specifically mentioning asses, falls within the detailed itemization of the warriors' half and their very small tribute (0.1%) to the LORD through the priest Eleazar.
Numbers 31 39 Word analysis
- And of the asses:
- Asses (Heb. חֲמֹר, ḥămôr): Refers to male donkeys or asses. Donkeys were highly valued animals in ancient Israel for transport, agriculture, and occasionally as currency. Their inclusion as spoils and as a distinct category for dedication highlights their economic significance. The meticulous count shows the comprehensive nature of the spoil and the precise nature of God's commands.
- thirty thousand five hundred:
- This is the total count of asses from the warriors' half of the spoil. The large number underscores the immense wealth captured from Midian, signifying a divine provision following a victorious campaign.
- of which:
- This connective phrase directly links the total count to the portion set aside for the LORD. It signals that the following number is a subset, a consecrated part of the larger quantity.
- the LORD's:
- (Heb. יְהוָה, Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. Emphasizes that this tribute is specifically for Him, asserting His sovereignty and ownership over the spoils of war. It's not a general offering but a divinely commanded portion directly appropriated by God for His sacred purposes.
- tribute:
- (Heb. מֶכֶס, mekhes): This significant term denotes a "tribute," "tax," or "toll." In this context, it refers to a mandatory levy or contribution taken for a superior authority—specifically, God. Unlike a voluntary offering or tithe (which implies a tenth), mekhes here is a precise, fixed, very small percentage (one-five-hundredth) from the warriors' plunder. Its designation as mekhes indicates a claim of ownership or due from God as sovereign.
- was sixty-one:
- This is the exact calculated amount (30,500 / 500 = 61). The precision reflects the legalistic and meticulous nature of the Mosaic covenant, where divine commands often included exact numbers and proportions for offerings and distributions. This reinforces the principle of exact obedience in matters of divine instruction.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And of the asses, thirty thousand five hundred; of which the LORD's tribute was sixty-one.": This phrase establishes a direct ratio between the total spoils (asses) acquired by the warriors and the minuscule yet divinely commanded portion designated for the LORD. The small fraction (1/500th) from the warrior's share signifies God's absolute right to even a token amount, making it holy and set apart. This specific detail among the long list of spoils and numbers underscores God's meticulous care in defining sacred boundaries and expectations, highlighting that nothing acquired by His people is outside His dominion or claim. It also serves to differentiate this "tribute" for God, given to the priest (Eleazar), from the larger portion dedicated to the Levites from the congregation's share, showing a layered system of offerings and support for the sanctuary and its servants.
Numbers 31 39 Bonus section
The precise fractions (1/500th from the warriors' half for the LORD and Eleazar; 1/50th from the congregation's half for the Levites) found in Numbers 31, including verse 39, illustrate the careful balance between the divine claim and the human share. The warriors' small offering to God served as a purification and sanctification for their hands-on involvement in war, ensuring that the holy things remained distinct. Furthermore, the fact that this mekhes for the LORD was given to the priest Eleazar and destined for a heave offering (terumah) highlights its holy character. It was symbolically "lifted up" to the LORD, signifying His acceptance and setting it apart for His divine use, whether for sacrificial rites or priestly sustenance connected with the Tabernacle. This also contrasts with general offerings and emphases the unique and distinct role of the priests and Levites in mediating Israel's offerings to God.
Numbers 31 39 Commentary
Numbers 31:39, while seemingly a dry enumeration of war spoils, conveys profound theological truths about divine sovereignty, ownership, and consecration. The requirement of a "tribute" (mekhes) for the LORD from the victorious Israelite army asserts God's ultimate dominion over the spoils of war. Even though the soldiers risked their lives for the victory, the very source of their success and plunder was from God, establishing His right to a share. This precise one five-hundredth portion, small as it was, signified a first-fruits principle: the acknowledgment that God deserves a portion of all increase, sanctifying the whole. This was not a tax for human government, but a dedication to the living God, which would then be given to Eleazar for the Tabernacle service. It reinforces that all blessings and material gains come from Him and a portion must be returned in grateful obedience. This detailed system ensures that the Tabernacle, the center of worship and God's presence, was properly maintained, and its priests provided for, through the divinely ordained generosity of His people. It implicitly taught Israel stewardship and remembrance of God's provision in every aspect of their lives, even after conquest.