Numbers 31:40 kjv
And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD's tribute was thirty and two persons.
Numbers 31:40 nkjv
The persons were sixteen thousand, of which the LORD's tribute was thirty-two persons.
Numbers 31:40 niv
16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the LORD was 32.
Numbers 31:40 esv
The persons were 16,000, of which the LORD's tribute was 32 persons.
Numbers 31:40 nlt
and 16,000 virgin girls, of whom 32 were the LORD's share.
Numbers 31 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 14:20 | "Blessed be Abram by God Most High... And Abram gave him a tenth of everything." | Abram's voluntary tithe to God's priest. |
| Exo 13:2 | "Consecrate to me all the firstborn." | God's claim over firstborn as His own. |
| Exo 30:11-16 | "each one to give a ransom for his life to the LORD when you number them." | The half-shekel temple tax for redemption/atonement. |
| Lev 27:30 | "Every tithe of the land... is the LORD's." | God's claim on tithes as sacred. |
| Num 3:40 | "Appoint every firstborn male... and count their names." | Redemption of firstborn for service to God. |
| Num 18:21 | "To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for a possession." | Portion given for priestly service. |
| Num 31:26-30 | "Take the sum of the plunder... half to the warriors... and half to the congregation... Of the people... take one of every 500." | Contextual law of division and tribute ratios. |
| Num 31:47 | "from the half that belonged to the people... Moses took one out of every 50." | The corresponding tribute taken from the fighting men's share for the Levites. |
| Deut 20:10-14 | "when you draw near to a city to fight against it... if it surrenders..." | General laws regarding the taking of plunder in war. |
| Deut 26:10 | "you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God." | Presenting firstfruits to the Lord. |
| Josh 6:18-19 | "But you, keep yourselves from the devoted things... for it is holy to the LORD." | Warning against taking what is devoted to God. |
| 1 Sam 15:3, 9 | "utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them... but Saul and the people spared Agag." | Disobedience regarding consecrated spoil (Herem). |
| 2 Chr 31:12 | "And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things." | Faithfulness in bringing dedications to the Lord. |
| Neh 10:37 | "We will bring the first of our grain and our contributions... and the tithes of our ground to the Levites." | Commitment to providing offerings to the Lord and His ministers. |
| Ps 24:1 | "The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." | Ultimate divine ownership of all creation. |
| Prov 3:9 | "Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce." | Principles of honoring God through giving. |
| Isa 66:20 | "And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD." | Prophetic vision of nations bringing 'offerings' of people to God. |
| Mal 3:8 | "Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and contributions." | Rebukes Israel for withholding God's portion. |
| Rom 12:1 | "present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." | New Covenant principle of dedicating oneself entirely to God. |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | "For you were bought with a price; so glorify God in your body." | Believers as purchased by Christ, belonging to God. |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession." | The Church as God's special possession. |
| Heb 7:2-6 | "Abraham gave him a tenth of everything." | Further reference to Abraham's tithe, confirming a precedent. |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 40 Meaning
Numbers 31:40 records the final tally of the human captives from the war against Midian who were allotted to the congregation of Israel, specifically stating that out of 16,000 such persons, a tribute of 32 persons was set apart and given to the LORD. This tribute was a portion designated as holy to God, reflecting His supreme ownership over all spoils of war and the lives of the people. It demonstrates the meticulous and specific commands given by God regarding the distribution of war bounty and the dedication of a sacred share back to Him.
Numbers 31 40 Context
Numbers chapter 31 describes the Israelites' holy war against the Midianites, commanded by the LORD. This punitive action resulted from Midian's role in tempting Israel to idolatry and sexual immorality at Peor (Num 25). Following the complete victory and the elimination of the Midianite men, the detailed account of the division of the massive plunder begins in verse 25. The spoils, which included flocks, herds, donkeys, and human captives (women and children), were divided into two halves: one for the warriors who fought and one for the entire congregation. Crucially, a specific "tribute to the LORD" was exacted from both halves, distinctively for the priests and Levites. Verses 36-40 detail the specific counts and the tribute from the congregation's half, while earlier verses (Num 31:28-29) deal with the warriors' portion and (Num 31:30) describe the Levites' portion from that. Numbers 31:40 specifically refers to the human captives (females not associated with the Midianite enticement to sin) assigned to the congregation and the divinely mandated tribute from this group for the LORD Himself, delivered through Moses.
Numbers 31 40 Word analysis
- And the persons (וְהָאָדָם, v'hā'ādām):
- ādām (אָדָם): Refers broadly to humankind, individuals, or persons. Here, it specifically means human beings taken captive.
- Significance: Highlights that living souls, not just inanimate objects, were part of the spoils and subject to divine command. It distinguishes these human captives (females and children not involved in the idolatry or not eligible for judgment due to age/gender, and fit for absorption into Israelite society) from those dedicated to utter destruction.
- were 16,000, (שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר אֶלֶף, shishah asar elef):
- shishah asar elef: Sixteen thousand.
- Significance: A large, precise number, demonstrating the scale of the victory and the extent of the capture. It underscores the meticulous accounting characteristic of the Book of Numbers and the divine command for accurate record-keeping and resource distribution.
- of whom the LORD's tribute (מֶכֶס לַיהוָה, mekes la-YHWH):
- mekes (מֶכֶס): This Hebrew term specifically refers to a "tax," "tribute," or "levy." It implies a portion officially required or designated, especially for sacred purposes or royal prerogative. It's a precise financial or material requirement.
- la-YHWH (לַיהוָה): "to the LORD" or "for the LORD." YHWH is the personal, covenantal name of God.
- Significance: This phrase is crucial. It asserts God's ultimate authority and ownership over all things, including the spoils of war. The tribute is not merely a tax for the treasury but a portion "to the LORD," implying dedication and holiness. It functions as an acknowledgement of His sovereignty and His provision in granting victory. This portion was ultimately for the upkeep and service of the Tabernacle and its ministers (as seen from other portions dedicated to the Levites and Priests). The fact that human lives are part of this mekes for the LORD highlights their sacred value even in this context.
- was 32 persons. (שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁתַּיִם נֶפֶשׁ, sheloshim u'shtayim nefesh):
- sheloshim u'shtayim: Thirty-two.
- nefesh (נֶפֶשׁ): A person, soul, or living being. Same as in "And the persons."
- Significance: This exact number represents a very small but significant portion—specifically, 1 in 500 of the 16,000. This numerical precision emphasizes the exactness of God's commands and the obedience required in implementing them. The "32 persons" for the LORD highlights that even out of such plunder, a specific dedication to God was required from the congregation, analogous to the soldiers' share. It serves as a symbolic act of giving back to God from His provision.
Numbers 31 40 Bonus section
The precise ratio of 1 in 500 for the congregation's tribute (32 out of 16,000) for the LORD stands in contrast to the 1 in 50 ratio from the soldiers' plunder, which was given to the Levites (Num 31:30). The former (the 1/500 to the LORD via the high priest) likely represents a more direct 'holy' offering to God's ultimate service, while the latter (1/50 to the Levites) was for the maintenance of the religious personnel. This distinction indicates different levels of holiness or purpose for the offerings. The high precision in these calculations (1/500 and 1/50) demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the Mosaic law, covering all aspects of communal life, even war booty, to ensure that God's portion and the needs of His service were never overlooked. This emphasis on numerical precision reinforces the concept of order and accountability within the Israelite system under God's governance.
Numbers 31 40 Commentary
Numbers 31:40 provides a meticulous accounting detail, characteristic of the legal and administrative precision in the Book of Numbers. It underscores several key theological truths. First, it asserts God's absolute sovereignty, particularly over the spoils of war. Victory and bounty are gifts from God, and a specific portion, the "tribute to the LORD," must be acknowledged and set apart for Him. This mekes signifies more than just a tax; it is an act of sanctification and recognition of divine ownership (Ps 24:1). The detailed calculation (1 in 500 from the congregation's share) reinforces the principle of systematic and obedient giving, where even small, precise portions are highly valued by God when offered according to His command (Num 31:30, 47 explains the corresponding portions for the Levites and priests). The fact that persons are included in this tribute emphasizes the sacredness of human life and their potential for dedication to God. This command prevented the spoils from being seen merely as personal gain and directed a portion to the divine source, demonstrating gratitude and adherence to covenant law. Practically, it exemplifies a structured way of giving back to God from what He has provided, establishing a pattern of stewardship and acknowledgment of divine grace that transcends specific contexts of war spoils and can be broadly applied to the principle of firstfruits and tithing.