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Numbers 31:30

in Numbers 31

From the Israelites’ half, take one out of every fifty, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or other animals, and give them to the Levites who keep charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And of the children of Israel’s half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, even of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.

KJV

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, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.

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This verse in Numbers 31

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

take a count of what was captured

on Numbers 31:26-31

The plunder is halved between the troops and the congregation that stayed behind, a principle David makes a statute at 1 Samuel 30:24-25. The halves are then taxed differently: the soldiers give "one out of every five hundred" to Eleazar and the congregation gives "one out of every fifty" to the Levites. The levy on those who stayed is ten times the levy on those who went.

This site's exposition

take one out of every fifty

One in fifty is ten times the rate laid on the soldiers at verse 28. The larger levy goes to the Levites, who by Numbers 18:23-24 have no inheritance and live on what Israel offers. The priest takes the smaller share.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the L ORD , what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the L ORD .

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:89%@v50

And of the children of Israel's half, thou shall take one portion of fifty,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Take the sum of the prey that was taken--that is, of the captives and cattle, which, having been first lumped together according to ancient usage (Ex 15:9;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

The words behind it

25 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּמִמַּחֲצִ֨תand from [the] half of

    umimachatzitH4276 →16 times

  • בְּנֵֽי־[the] people of

    benei-H1121 →4930 times

  • יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לIsrael

    yisraelH3478 →2507 times

  • תִּקַּ֣ח׀you will take

    tikachH3947 →966 times

  • אֶחָ֣ד׀one

    ʾechadH259 →971 times

  • אָחֻ֣ז[person] drawn

    ʾachuzH270 →67 times

  • מִן־from

    min-H4480 →1188 times

  • הַחֲמִשִּׁ֗יםthe fifty

    hachamishimH2572 →163 times

  • מִן־from

    min-H4480 →1188 times

  • הָאָדָ֧ם<the> humankind

    haadamH120 →551 times

  • מִן־from

    min-H4480 →1188 times

  • הַבָּקָ֛רthe cattle

    habakarH1241 →183 times

  • מִן־from

    min-H4480 →1188 times

  • הַחֲמֹרִ֥יםthe donkeys

    hachamorimH2543 →96 times

  • וּמִן־and from

    umin-H4480 →1188 times

  • הַצֹּ֖אןthe sheep

    hatzonH6629 →274 times

  • מִכָּל־from all

    mikolH3605 →5413 times

  • הַבְּהֵמָ֑הthe livestock

    habehemahH929 →190 times

  • וְנָתַתָּ֤הand you will give

    venatatahH5414 →2011 times

  • אֹתָם֙<obj.> them

    ʾotamH853 →10935 times

  • לַלְוִיִּ֔םto the Levites

    lalviyimH3881 →291 times

  • שֹׁמְרֵ֕י[who] keep

    shomereiH8104 →468 times

  • מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת<of> [the] service of

    mishmeretH4931 →78 times

  • מִשְׁכַּ֥ן[the] tabernacle of

    mishkanH4908 →139 times

  • יְהוָֽה׃Yahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Numbers 3:25The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,3 worksNumbers 3:7–8They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle.3 worksNumbers 3:31Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.3 worksNumbers 1:53But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”3 worksNumbers 31:28Set aside a tribute for the LORD from what belongs to the soldiers who went into battle: one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, or sheep.3 worksNumbers 31:47From the Israelites’ half, Moses took one out of every fifty persons and animals and gave them to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded him.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Chronicles 9:27–29They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning.2 works1 Corinthians 9:13–14Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?2 works1 Corinthians 4:2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.2 worksNumbers 18:23–28The Levites are to perform the work of the Tent of Meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. This is a permanent statute for the generations to come. The Levites will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites.2 works1 Chronicles 26:20–27Now their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things.2 worksNumbers 3:36–39The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,2 worksActs 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.2 worksHebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.2 worksNumbers 18:1–5So the LORD said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house must bear the iniquity involving the sanctuary. And you and your sons alone must bear the iniquity involving your priesthood.2 worksColossians 4:17Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”2 works1 Chronicles 23:32So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.2 worksNumbers 8:26After that, they may assist their brothers in fulfilling their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves are not to do the work. This is how you are to assign responsibilities to the Levites.”2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Numbers 3:25

    The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

    it leads to

    • Exodus 25:9

      You must make the tabernacle and design all its furnishings according to the pattern I show you.

    • Exodus 26:36–37

      For the entrance to the tent, you are to make a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen.

    • Numbers 7:7

      He gave the Gershonites two carts and four oxen, as their service required,

    • Ezra 8:28–30

      Then I told them, “You are holy to the LORD, and these articles are holy. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.

    • Exodus 36:37–38

      For the entrance to the tent, he made a curtain embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen,

  • Through

    Numbers 3:31

    Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.

    it leads to

    • Exodus 31:1–18

      Then the LORD said to Moses,

    • Exodus 40:2–16

      “On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.

    • Exodus 30:1–10

      “You are also to make an altar of acacia wood for the burning of incense.

About Numbers

The Brazen Serpent, Anthony van Dyck, 1618 to 1620. Public domain.
The Brazen Serpent, Anthony van Dyck, 1618 to 1620. Public domain.
Numbers: the study guide →Read Numbers 31 →

This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); MannaFest exposition, Berean Standard Bible, Numbers 31:28-30 read with Numbers 18:23-24 and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Numbers 31 →