Numbers 31 49

Numbers 31:49 kjv

And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.

Numbers 31:49 nkjv

and they said to Moses, "Your servants have taken a count of the men of war who are under our command, and not a man of us is missing.

Numbers 31:49 niv

and said to him, "Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing.

Numbers 31:49 esv

and said to Moses, "Your servants have counted the men of war who are under our command, and there is not a man missing from us.

Numbers 31:49 nlt

and said, "We, your servants, have accounted for all the men who went out to battle under our command; not one of us is missing!

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 49 Meaning

Numbers 31:49 states that following the battle against Midian, the Israelite commanders reported to Moses that, remarkably, not a single soldier under their command was lost or missing. This unprecedented outcome in ancient warfare highlights God's direct divine protection and faithfulness to His people, signifying His active involvement and sovereign control over life and death during this specific holy war. It stands as a powerful testament to the miraculous power of the Almighty.

Numbers 31 49 Context

(h2)ContextNumbers chapter 31 details the divinely commanded holy war against the Midianites, who were instrumental in luring Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal Peor (Numbers 25). Moses, at the Lord's command, sent 1,000 men from each tribe into battle, led by Phinehas. The victory was total and devastating for Midian: all their males were killed, their cities burned, and vast amounts of spoil taken. Verses 43-47 detail the enormous spoils, including over half a million animals, taken by the Israelites. Numbers 31:49 immediately follows this account of plunder and precedes the commanders' voluntary offering of personal spoils as a wave offering to the Lord (Nu 31:50-54) as an atonement. The declaration of "not one missing" stands as a foundational miracle within the chapter, giving profound significance to the subsequent act of grateful atonement.

Numbers 31 49 Word analysis

(h2)Word analysis

• And they said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyomru): This imperfect consecutive verb indicates the immediate and direct communication from the military commanders to Moses after the battle and counting of the men. It signifies their solemn report.
• to Moses (אֶל-מֹשֶׁה - el-Moshe): Moses is the divinely appointed leader and the channel of communication between God and the people. The report is given to him as God's representative.
• Your servants (עֲבָדֶיךָ - avadeykha): A humble and respectful term used by the military leaders (captains of thousands and hundreds, Nu 31:48) when addressing Moses. It demonstrates their subservience to his authority and, by extension, to God's authority.
• have counted (נָשְׂאוּ אֶת-רֹאשׁ - nas'u et-rosh): Literally, "lifted the head of." This is a well-established Hebrew idiom for taking a census or a detailed count (cf. Ex 30:12, Nu 1:2). It implies a thorough and accurate accounting of the soldiers after the intense warfare.
• the men of war (אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה - anshey hamilchamah): Specifies the soldiers who were actively engaged in combat. These were the ones at the highest risk of injury or death.
• who were under our command (אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדֵנוּ - asher b'yadenu): This clarifies that the count pertains specifically to the forces led by these particular commanders, underscoring their direct oversight and accountability for their troops.
• and not one... is missing (וְלֹא-נִפְקַד... אִישׁ - v'lo-nifkad... ish): The key declaration. "Nifkad" (from root פָּקַד, pakad) means to "visit, inspect, muster, be absent, miss." Here, in the passive, it powerfully conveys that "not one was found missing" or "not a single one was unaccounted for." This emphasizes the astonishing complete preservation. "Ish" (man) further emphasizes the individual, stressing that literally zero casualties occurred.

(ul)Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Your servants have counted the men of war": This phrase immediately establishes the reporting parties' diligence and precision. It signifies that a thorough post-battle assessment was made, making the following declaration scientifically verifiable by their own records and not a mere assumption or estimate. It underscores responsible military practice.
• "who were under our command": This specification clarifies the scope of the report, ensuring that the statement applies directly to the specific contingents these commanders led. It indicates direct, personal knowledge and responsibility, lending credibility to their extraordinary claim.
• "and not one of us is missing": This powerful statement is the essence of the miracle. In the brutal reality of ancient warfare, even a victorious army incurred casualties. The complete absence of loss demonstrates unequivocally God's miraculous intervention and direct protection over the Israelite soldiers. This outcome serves as profound evidence of divine favor and that this specific battle was indeed "the Lord's war," fought under His direct supervision and shielding hand.

Numbers 31 49 Bonus section

(h2)Bonus sectionThis verse encapsulates a crucial theological principle: God’s protection is absolute and comprehensive when His purposes are being fulfilled. The miraculous absence of casualties underscores the holiness of the war against Midian, affirming that it was a divinely sanctioned act of judgment against wickedness that had infected Israel (as seen in Numbers 25). Furthermore, the fact that the Israelite commanders felt compelled to offer an atonement offering in the following verses (Nu 31:50-54), despite experiencing no physical losses, highlights a deep spiritual awareness. They understood that even in executing God's judgment, the act of war itself required spiritual cleansing and an acknowledgment that their very survival was an act of God's grace, requiring gratitude beyond mere earthly success. It also teaches that God can supernaturally accomplish His will without any human cost when it serves His divine plan and redemptive history.

Numbers 31 49 Commentary

(h2)CommentaryNumbers 31:49 presents an unparalleled military achievement that points directly to the supernatural intervention of God. In a battle that utterly destroyed an enemy nation, the Israelite army sustained zero casualties. This goes against every human expectation and the harsh reality of warfare throughout history. It is a resounding testimony to God's absolute sovereignty and His faithfulness to protect His covenant people. This divine safeguarding elevates the conflict from a mere skirmish to a holy war where God Himself was the shield and deliverer. The declaration from the commanders is not a boast of human military prowess but a humble and awe-struck acknowledgement of God's unparalleled power. This complete preservation sets the stage for their subsequent freewill offering of atonement, recognizing that all success, even survival, is a gift from the Lord, demanding gratitude and devotion.