Numbers 31:42 kjv
And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,
Numbers 31:42 nkjv
And from the children of Israel's half, which Moses separated from the men who fought?
Numbers 31:42 niv
The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men?
Numbers 31:42 esv
From the people of Israel's half, which Moses separated from that of the men who had served in the army ?
Numbers 31:42 nlt
Half of the plunder belonged to the people of Israel, and Moses separated it from the half belonging to the fighting men.
Numbers 31 42 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Nu 31:27 | "Divide the prey into two parts, between them that took the field, who went out to battle, and all the congregation." | The foundational command for division. |
| Nu 31:29 | "take it out of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the Lord." | Levy from the warriors' half for the Lord. |
| Nu 31:30 | "And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks..." | Levy from the congregation's half for Levites. |
| Nu 31:35 | "And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him." | Part of the exact census of human spoils. |
| Nu 31:36-41 | (Details the numerical accounting for the warriors' half) | Immediate context of detailed spoil counting. |
| Nu 31:43-46 | (Details the numerical accounting for the congregation's half) | Immediate follow-up accounting. |
| Nu 31:47 | "Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty..." | Direct link to the levy for Levites. |
| Josh 8:2 | "...the spoil of the city, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves..." | Similar instance of Israelite spoil-taking. |
| Josh 22:8 | "...return with much riches... and divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren." | Reinforces sharing spoils with brethren. |
| Deut 20:14 | "But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle... shalt thou take unto thyself the spoil of thine enemies..." | Law regarding the spoil from other cities. |
| 1 Sam 30:24 | "but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike." | David's principle of equitable spoil division. |
| Ps 68:12 | "Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil." | God enabling all to benefit from victories. |
| Prov 3:9-10 | "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase..." | Principle of giving back to God from provision. |
| Lev 27:30 | "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S..." | Concept of God's ownership and due portions. |
| Deut 14:28-29 | "At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe... for the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow..." | Sharing resources within the community. |
| Ex 18:13-26 | (Moses sitting to judge the people and making known God's statutes and laws) | Moses' role in administering justice and division. |
| 2 Cor 8:13-15 | "But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want..." | New Testament principle of equity in resource sharing. |
| Acts 4:32-35 | "...neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." | Early Church's practice of common sharing. |
| 1 Chr 29:14 | "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own..." | All resources belong to God. |
| Heb 7:2 | "...to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all..." | Ancestral example of giving a portion. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "...he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints..." | Support for those ministering, paralleling Levite provision. |
Numbers 31 verses
Numbers 31 42 Meaning
Numbers 31:42 specifically refers to the meticulously itemized portion of the spoils of war taken from the Midianites, which was allocated to the general congregation of the children of Israel. This half was distinct from the half designated for the fighting men who engaged in the battle. The verse emphasizes that Moses, under divine command, carried out this precise division to ensure an equitable distribution of resources among the entire nation, not solely among the warriors.
Numbers 31 42 Context
Numbers chapter 31 describes the execution of the Lord's command to exact vengeance upon the Midianites for their role in leading Israel astray through Balaam and Peor (Nu 25, 31:1-3). Following a decisive victory where all Midianite males, their kings, and Balaam himself were slain, the Israelites took a vast amount of spoils: women, children, and cattle (Nu 31:9). Moses, following God's specific instructions, details the rigorous purification rites for both people and spoils (Nu 31:21-24) and, critically, lays out the precise method for distributing these immense spoils.
The overarching context is one of divine justice, purification, and meticulous administration. The total spoil is first divided exactly in half: one portion for the warriors who fought, and the other for the general congregation of Israel (Nu 31:27). From each of these halves, a specific levy (tax or offering) is taken for the Lord and for the Levites respectively, reinforcing God's sovereignty over all acquisition and the importance of supporting the priesthood. Verse 42 fits into the detailed numerical accounting, specifically identifying the spoils that made up "the children of Israel's half" that was not the warriors' share, emphasizing the widespread benefit of the divine victory to the entire community.
Numbers 31 42 Word analysis
- Even of: (Hebrew: וּמֵחֲצִי - u-mechatzi). The initial "u-" is a conjunction, typically "and" or "but," here acting concessively or emphatically as "even" or "specifically from." "Me-" is the preposition "from," and "chatzi" means "half" or "portion." This opening signals a transition to or specific focus on one part of the earlier stipulated division. It marks the commencement of the specific numerical breakdown of the congregation's half.
- the children of Israel's: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'ney Yisrael). Literally "sons of Israel." This phrase collectively refers to the entire Israelite community or congregation, excluding the 12,000 active fighting men who formed the combat force (Nu 31:4-5). This distinction highlights that God's providence extended beyond the military to include the non-combatants: women, children, the elderly, and critically, the Levites (who received the tithe from this half).
- half: (Hebrew: חֲצִי - chatzi). Repeats the concept of a precise 50/50 division of the entire plunder. This mathematical accuracy underlines the divine command for order, fairness, and systematic accounting, typical of God's instructions in the Torah.
- which Moses divided: (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר חָצָה מֹשֶׁה - asher chatza Moshe). "Asher" is a relative pronoun ("which" or "that"). "Chatza" (verb) means "to divide," "to cut in two," or "to separate." This phrase explicitly names Moses as the executor of the division, underscoring his pivotal role as mediator and faithful administrator of God's detailed instructions (as outlined in Nu 31:25-26). His obedience ensured the accurate fulfillment of divine will.
- from the men that warred: (Hebrew: מֵהַמִּלְחָמָה - me-hammilchamah). Literally "from the war/battle" or "from the warfare." This phrase clarifies the source and distinction of this specific half: it is the portion designated for the rest of Israel, separate from the portion allocated to the combatants who participated in the actual war. This reiterates the binary division mandated in Numbers 31:27.
Numbers 31 42 Bonus section
The highly detailed accounting of the spoils in Numbers 31, including verse 42, is a testament to the meticulousness required in the administration of God's commands in ancient Israel. This level of precise inventory down to individual items contrasts sharply with typical ancient warfare plunder practices which were often chaotic and entirely self-serving for the conquerors. This passage reveals that even in the context of war and plunder, God instills principles of order, justice, and theological purpose. The two halves also provide a theological balance: recognizing the sacrifice and effort of the warriors, while also providing for the welfare of the entire covenant community, thereby demonstrating that all are dependent on God's provision and all share in His blessings.
Numbers 31 42 Commentary
Numbers 31:42 serves as a pivotal administrative verse within the detailed account of the spoils of the Midianite war. It succinctly identifies the portion of the plunder set aside for the general assembly of Israel, meticulously itemizing its contents in the verses that follow (Nu 31:43-46). This verse confirms Moses' unwavering obedience to the precise commands of the Lord in managing vast amounts of war booty. The distinct halves for warriors and the congregation showcase God's design for equity and community-wide benefit. Even those not directly engaged in combat benefited from the victory, highlighting a principle of collective blessing and mutual reliance within the covenant community. The fact that a separate levy for the Lord and the Levites was taken from both halves reinforces the theological truth that all gain is from God and a portion is due back to Him to sustain His service and His chosen servants, underscoring a communal responsibility for the upkeep of sacred ministry. This careful distribution reflects God's ordered nature and His concern for all His people, ensuring sustenance for priests, Levites, and indeed, all Israel, from the wealth provided through His victory.