Numbers 31:4 kjv
Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.
Numbers 31:4 nkjv
A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war."
Numbers 31:4 niv
Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel."
Numbers 31:4 esv
You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war."
Numbers 31:4 nlt
From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle."
Numbers 31 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:3-4 | "from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them by their companies." | Census for military service. |
| Num 2:32 | "These are the listings of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ houses… all those listed of the camps by their hosts were 603,550." | Total number of fighting men. |
| Num 25:1-9 | "While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods…" | Background for vengeance against Midian. |
| Num 25:17-18 | "Harass the Midianites and strike them, for they harassed you with their wiles…" | God's command for vengeance. |
| Num 31:3 | "And Moses spoke to the people, saying, 'Arm some of yourselves for war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD’s vengeance on Midian.'" | Moses conveying the divine command. |
| Num 31:5 | "So there were provided out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for battle." | Execution of the specific troop numbers. |
| Deut 7:2 | "and when the LORD your God gives them over to you… you must devote them to complete destruction. You shall make no covenant with them…" | Command for complete destruction of enemies (Cherem). |
| Deut 20:16-17 | "But in the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes…" | Laws of holy war (Cherem) and utter destruction. |
| Josh 6:21 | "Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword." | Example of commanded war and total destruction. |
| Josh 22:12 | "And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them." | All Israel uniting for war (though against other Israelites). |
| Judg 7:7 | "And the LORD said to Gideon, 'With the three hundred men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand...'" | God specifies exact troop numbers for a battle. |
| 1 Sam 15:3 | "Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them…" | God's command for specific people group's destruction. |
| 1 Chr 27:1 | "Now this is the list of the leaders of the people of Israel... for the divisions that came in and went out month by month..." | Organization of troops in twelve divisions, reminiscent of tribal structure. |
| Neh 4:16 | "From that day on, half of my servants worked on the construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail…" | People united, organized for defensive work/battle. |
| Ps 68:12 | "Kings of armies flee, they flee away--the women at home divide the spoil." | God's triumph in battles and sharing of spoil. |
| Isa 10:20 | "In that day the remnant of Israel… will no longer lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth." | Theme of Israel's remnant and reliance on God. |
| Joel 2:11 | "The LORD utters His voice before His army; for His camp is very great; for He is mighty who executes His word…" | God as the commander of armies. |
| Rom 12:4-5 | "For as in one body we have many members… so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." | Unity in diversity (theological parallel). |
| 1 Cor 12:12 | "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." | Corporate unity despite varied components. |
| Heb 4:12-13 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit…" | God's word is active and powerful in judgment and execution. |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 4 Meaning
Numbers 31:4 outlines a divine directive from God to Moses concerning the composition of the Israelite army chosen to wage war against the Midianites. The instruction specifies that exactly one thousand men are to be levied from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, totaling twelve thousand armed men. This selective military contingent was to undertake the task of avenging the Lord against Midian for their role in leading Israel into sin at Peor. The emphasis lies on the representative nature of the fighting force, drawn equitably from every tribe, demonstrating national unity and shared responsibility in executing God's judgment.
Numbers 31 4 Context
Numbers chapter 31 describes Israel's military campaign against the Midianites, commanded by God. This "war of vengeance" is directly linked to the events of Numbers 25, where the Midianites (alongside Moabites) enticed Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor, leading to a severe plague and God's anger. Moses is explicitly instructed by God to avenge the people of Israel against Midian (Num 31:1-2). Verse 4 specifically outlines the composition of the military force for this punitive expedition: a precise number of soldiers drawn equally from each tribe, demonstrating a unified national effort in carrying out God's judgment and purification.
Numbers 31 4 Word analysis
- You shall send (וַתִּשְׁלְחוּ - va'tish'lechu): Root שׁלח (shalach), meaning "to send," "to dispatch." This is a strong, direct imperative from Moses (commanded by God) to the Israelite community, emphasizing the immediate and obligatory nature of the action. It implies purposeful dispatching for a specific task.
- a thousand (אֶלֶף - eleph): Literally means "a thousand." In ancient Israel,
elephcould also refer to a "clan" or a "military unit" larger than a family but smaller than a tribe (Mic 5:2; Judg 6:15). However, when specified "from each tribe" and summing to a grand total for battle (Num 31:5), the literal numerical meaning is intended here. Its use signifies a specific, precise quantity. - from each tribe (מַטֶּה לַמַּטֶּה - maṭṭeh la-maṭṭeh):
Maṭṭeh(מַטֶּה) literally means "staff," "rod," but contextually refers to a "tribe" or "branch of a people" (like a shepherd's staff guiding a flock). The repetition "tribe to tribe" (maṭṭeh la-maṭṭeh) emphasizes an even, fair, and comprehensive distribution of the military levy across all twelve tribal divisions. No tribe was to be excluded or carry a disproportionate burden in this sacred mission. - from all the tribes of Israel (כֹּל שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - kol shiv'tei Yisrael):
Kol(כֹּל) means "all" or "whole."Shevet(שֵׁבֶט), similar tomaṭṭeh, also means "rod" or "tribe." This phrase reiterates the inclusive nature of the command, ensuring that the war effort was a unified, national endeavor of the entire covenant community, reflecting collective responsibility before God. - to the war (לַצָּבָא - la'tzava'):
Tzava'(צָבָא) means "army," "host," or "warfare." It clearly defines the objective of sending these specific men. This was not a punitive raid by a select few, but a formal "war" – a commanded military operation for a divine purpose.
Numbers 31 4 Bonus section
The concept of a representative force chosen by specific numbers, rather than a general mass levy, appears in other biblical contexts as well (e.g., Gideon's 300 in Judg 7). This selection highlights that the battle's success rests ultimately with the Lord, not with human strength or multitude. The precise "thousand from each tribe" emphasizes the methodical and orderly nature of God's commands, distinct from chaotic or spontaneous warfare. This particular war, being a direct vengeance for a profound spiritual transgression, highlights the gravity of Israel's prior apostasy at Peor and the need for immediate, decisive, and corporately undertaken purification of the land from defiling influences.
Numbers 31 4 Commentary
Numbers 31:4 reveals several critical theological and practical aspects. Firstly, it underscores the nature of this particular conflict as a "holy war," specifically commanded by God as a judgment against Midian for their instigation of sin (Num 25:16-18). The detailed instruction on troop composition (a thousand from each tribe) demonstrates divine sovereignty even over military logistics, ensuring precision and impartiality in the mobilization. This limited but representative fighting force, totaling 12,000 men (Num 31:5), suggests that the battle was to be won by divine power more than by sheer numbers, reflecting Israel's reliance on God for victory. The inclusion of every tribe signifies Israel's national unity and shared responsibility in upholding God's holiness and executing His righteous judgment, showing a cohesive national response to God's command.