Numbers 31:47 - even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Numbers 31:47" mean?
This verse from Numbers 31:47 is describing the distribution of the spoils taken from the Midianites after a military victory by the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"even of the children of Israel’s half": After the battle, the spoils (people and livestock) were divided equally between the Israelite soldiers and the rest of the Israelite community (those who didn't fight). This verse specifically addresses the community's half.
"Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal": From the community's half of the spoils, Moses took a levy (a tax or tribute) of one out of every fifty people and animals captured.
"and gave them to the Levites": These people and animals were then given to the Levites. The Levites were the priestly tribe in Israel, responsible for the service of the Tabernacle.
"who performed the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle": The Levites were given these spoils to support their service and maintenance of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that housed the Ark of the Covenant and served as the center of Israelite worship.
"as Yahweh commanded Moses": This emphasizes that this distribution was not Moses's own idea, but a direct command from God.
In essence, the verse means:
After a military victory, the Israelites divided the spoils. From the portion belonging to the community, Moses took a 2% levy of people and animals and gave them to the Levites to support their work in serving the Tabernacle, as God had instructed.
Significance:
Religious Duty: The verse highlights the importance of supporting the priestly class (the Levites) who were dedicated to serving God. By giving them a portion of the spoils, the Israelites were contributing to the upkeep of their religious practices.
Divine Command: It reinforces the idea that the distribution of wealth and resources was governed by divine law and not just human discretion.
Distribution of Wealth: It shows a structured system for distributing wealth after a victory, ensuring that resources were allocated to those who served the religious needs of the community.
Context is Important:
It's crucial to remember that this verse comes within the context of the whole chapter of Numbers 31, which describes the conquest of the Midianites and the laws regarding purification after battle. The spoils and their distribution were part of that larger narrative.
Numbers 31:47 - even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal, and gave them to the Levites, who performed the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
What does "Numbers 31:47" mean?
This verse from Numbers 31:47 is describing the distribution of the spoils taken from the Midianites after a military victory by the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"even of the children of Israel’s half": After the battle, the spoils (people and livestock) were divided equally between the Israelite soldiers and the rest of the Israelite community (those who didn't fight). This verse specifically addresses the community's half.
"Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of animal": From the community's half of the spoils, Moses took a levy (a tax or tribute) of one out of every fifty people and animals captured.
"and gave them to the Levites": These people and animals were then given to the Levites. The Levites were the priestly tribe in Israel, responsible for the service of the Tabernacle.
"who performed the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle": The Levites were given these spoils to support their service and maintenance of the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that housed the Ark of the Covenant and served as the center of Israelite worship.
"as Yahweh commanded Moses": This emphasizes that this distribution was not Moses's own idea, but a direct command from God.
In essence, the verse means:
After a military victory, the Israelites divided the spoils. From the portion belonging to the community, Moses took a 2% levy of people and animals and gave them to the Levites to support their work in serving the Tabernacle, as God had instructed.
Significance:
Religious Duty: The verse highlights the importance of supporting the priestly class (the Levites) who were dedicated to serving God. By giving them a portion of the spoils, the Israelites were contributing to the upkeep of their religious practices.
Divine Command: It reinforces the idea that the distribution of wealth and resources was governed by divine law and not just human discretion.
Distribution of Wealth: It shows a structured system for distributing wealth after a victory, ensuring that resources were allocated to those who served the religious needs of the community.
Context is Important:
It's crucial to remember that this verse comes within the context of the whole chapter of Numbers 31, which describes the conquest of the Midianites and the laws regarding purification after battle. The spoils and their distribution were part of that larger narrative.