Numbers 31:51 - Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels.

Generated Verse: Numbers 31:51

What does "Numbers 31:51" mean?


Numbers 31:51 says: "And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all kinds of fashioned jewelry." (ESV)

This verse is part of the aftermath of a battle the Israelites waged against the Midianites. The Israelites were instructed by God to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in leading the Israelites astray (through idol worship and sexual immorality). After the battle, the soldiers brought back a great deal of plunder, including gold jewelry.

Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:

"Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold...": Moses, the leader of the Israelites, and Eleazar, the high priest, were responsible for overseeing the distribution and proper handling of the spoils of war.
"...all kinds of fashioned jewelry.": This signifies that the gold was not in raw or simple forms. It consisted of worked items, like bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, and other crafted adornments. The Hebrew word translated as "fashioned jewelry" implies items that were artfully crafted and valuable.

In essence, this verse simply states that after the battle, Moses and Eleazar took inventory and possession of all the gold jewelry collected as plunder. This gold would later be dedicated to the Lord (Numbers 31:52), contributing to the treasury of the Tabernacle.

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