Numbers 31:47 · Bible study
Numbers 31:47 Commentary: Provision for the Levites from War Spoil
Hebrew · 4 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Moses gave one of every fifty captives and livestock from Israel's half to the Levites. This reveals God's provision for those who serve His tabernacle.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moses gave one of every fifty captives and livestock from Israel's half to the Levites, as commanded, a provision for tabernacle servants.
- Key words: “drawn” (H0270, “a.chaz”: taken, grasped), “fifty” (H2572, “cha.mish.shim”), “charge” (H4931, “mish.me.ret”: service, obligation).
- Main debate: Whether this one-fiftieth tax was a one-time war regulation or an established custom. Cambridge calls it “not mentioned elsewhere in the OT” but notes ancient custom.
- Theological theme: God provides for those who serve His sanctuary, using the community’s resources, especially from those who did not fight.
- Best use: Teaching the principle of supporting spiritual workers from the church’s common offerings, with sensitivity to the OT context of war spoils.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
From 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.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
Even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
even of the children of Israel’s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, that kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Moses taketh from the sons of Israel's half the one possession from the fifty, of man and of beast, and giveth them to the Levites keeping the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah, as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
...of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, of man and of cattle, and gave them to the Levites who kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah had commanded Moses.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Moses took the fiftieth head, and gave it to the Levites that watched in the tabernacle of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
De la mitad, pues, para los hijos de Israel tomó Moisés uno de cada cincuenta, así de las personas como de los animales, y diólos á los Levitas, que tenían la guarda del tabernáculo de Jehová; como Jehová lo había mandado á Moisés.
Da metade, pois, para os filhos de Israel tomou Moisés um de cada cinquenta, tanto das pessoas como dos animais, e deu-os aos levitas, que tinham a guarda do tabernáculo do SENHOR; como o SENHOR o havia mandado a Moisés.
Sur cette moitié qui revenait aux enfants d’ Israël, Moïse prit un sur cinquante, tant des personnes que des animaux; et il le donna aux Lévites, qui ont la garde du tabernacle de l’ Éternel, selon ce que l’ Éternel lui avait ordonné.
Und Mose nahm von dieser Hälfte der Kinder Israel je ein Stück von fünfzigen, sowohl des Viehs als der Menschen, und gab' s den Leviten, die des Dienstes warteten an der Wohnung des HERRN, wie der HERR dem Mose geboten hatte.
Van die helft der kinderen Israels nam Mozes een gevangene uit vijftig, van mensen en van beesten; en hij gaf ze aan de Levieten, die de wacht van den tabernakel des HEEREN waarnamen, gelijk als de HEERE Mozes geboden had.
che spettava ai figliuoli d’Israele, Mosè prese uno su cinquanta, tanto degli uomini quanto degli animali, e li dette ai Leviti che hanno l’incarico del tabernacolo dell’Eterno, come l’Eterno aveva ordinato a Mosè.
Wziął Mojżesz z tej połowy należącej synom Izraelskim, jednę część z pięciudziesiąt, z ludzi, i z bydła, i dał to Lewitom trzymającym straż przybytku Pańskiego, jako był rozkazał Pan Mojżeszowi.
Из половины сынов Израилевых взял Моисей одну пятидесятую часть из людей и из скота и отдал это левитам, исполняющим службу при скинии Господней, как повелел Господь Моисею.
無論是 人口是 牲畜， 摩西 每 五十 取 一，交 給看 守 耶和華 帳幕 的利未人，是照 耶和華 所吩咐 摩西的。
Even from the children of Israel's half, Moses took one out of every fifty, men and beasts, and gave them to the Levites who had the care of the House of the Lord; as the Lord gave orders to Moses.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 31:47
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse records the execution of the command given in Numbers 31:30. The congregation’s half of the war spoils, captives and livestock, was taxed at one-fiftieth, and Moses gave that portion to the Levites. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that “the fighters were to pay from their share 1/500th to the priests, and the others 1/50th to the Levites,” adding that this tax is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament but likely had an ancient custom behind it. Matthew Henry emphasizes that the Levites received this because they “kept the charge of the tabernacle” and had no land inheritance. The Geneva Bible simply restates the action as obedience to God’s command. Underlying all these readings is the shared conviction that God provided for His sanctuary servants through the spoils of the community’s warfare, establishing a pattern of support for those dedicated to His service.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Moses gave one of every fifty captives and livestock from Israel's half to the Levites, exactly as Yahweh commanded, to support their service in the tabernacle.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The one-fiftieth tax as a precedent | All commentators recognize this tax was commanded by God and carried out by Moses for the Levites' support. | Cambridge suggests it was a one-time event, while some see it as reflecting a broader ancient custom (cf. 1 Samuel 30:24-25). |
| Inclusion of human captives in the provision | The text clearly states both persons and livestock were given; this was part of the ancient Near Eastern practice of taking spoils. | Christian traditions vary on how to read this ethically: some see it as a non-repeated judgment, others stress the principle of supporting ministry while condemning the practice of enslaving captives. |
| The ratio difference (1/500 for priests, 1/50 for Levites) | The ratio for the congregation (1/50) is ten times that for the warriors (1/500). Commentators agree this is a deliberate distinction. | Some interpret this as a heavier burden on those who stayed behind; others see it as a greater privilege for the congregation to support the Levites. |
| Tithing versus this war tax | This tax is separate from the regular tithe given to Levites (Numbers 18:21-24). | There is no debate in the supplied sources; the two provisions are complementary rather than contradictory. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Midianite war (Numbers 31) followed the Baal-Peor incident, where Moabite and Midianite women led Israel into idolatry (Numbers 25). The campaign was an act of divine judgment. After the victory, the spoils, including 32,000 virgin captives and vast numbers of cattle, were brought to Moses and Eleazar.
God commanded a strict division: half for the warriors who fought, half for the rest of the congregation (verse 27). From the warriors’ half, one in every 500 went to the priests (Eleazar) as a “heave offering for Yahweh” (verse 29). From the congregation’s half, one in every 50 went to the Levites (verse 30). The Levites had no tribal land; their inheritance was Yahweh Himself and the tithes and offerings of Israel (Numbers 18:21, 24). This one-fiftieth tax reinforced that provision, using a rate ten times higher than that from the warriors. The difference may reflect the principle that those who did not risk their lives in battle contributed more generously to the sanctuary staff.
The Cambridge Bible notes that David later established a similar custom for sharing spoils (1 Samuel 30:24, 25). The practice is not presented as a permanent law but as an instance of faithful obedience within a specific theocratic context. Modern readers must handle the inclusion of human captives with care: this reflects ancient Near Eastern warfare norms, not a prescriptive model for Christian ethics. The enduring principle lies in the community’s responsibility to support those whose work is spiritual service.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries and translations note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is consistent across the Masoretic tradition, and the versions (Septuagint, Vulgate, Samaritan Pentateuch) align closely with the reading reproduced here. The main interpretive question is not textual but theological and practical.
Reception History
Christian readers have consistently seen Numbers 31:47 as an example of God’s provision for those who serve in His sanctuary. Protestant commentators such as Matthew Henry (1710) and the Geneva Bible (1599) emphasized the obedience of Moses and the principle that the community supports religious workers. The Cambridge Bible (1880) and Lange’s Commentary (1857) focused on the historical and legal aspects. In Catholic tradition, the passage is linked to the tithe and the support of clergy, though the specific war context is acknowledged as unique. Many modern readers, troubled by the inclusion of human captives, have drawn a firm line between the descriptive ancient practice and the prescriptive Christian ethic of love and justice. Across eras, the core application has remained: the people of God are to provide for those who devote themselves to spiritual duties.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God commands provision for His servants, The Lord directed Moses to set apart a portion of the community’s spoils for the Levites. Obedience to that command is the backbone of this passage.
- The congregation’s share supports sanctuary ministry, The tax fell on the half belonging to the people at large, not the warriors. This suggests that supporting spiritual work is the responsibility of the whole community.
- Faithful distribution reflects divine order, Moses acted precisely as Yahweh commanded. The orderly allocation of resources mirrors the order God desires in His people’s worship and daily life.
Five-point outline
- The war: a judgment against Midian after Baal-Peor (Numbers 25, 31:1, 3).
- The spoils: plentiful and carefully counted (vv. 32, 46).
- The command: from the congregation’s half, one in fifty to the Levites (v. 30).
- The execution: Moses took the designated portion and gave it (v. 47).
- The purpose: to sustain the Levites who guarded and served the tabernacle (cf. Numbers 18:21, 24).
Illustration hooks
- A church receives a large bequest from a member’s estate. The congregation must decide how much to set aside for staff salaries, building upkeep, and missions, an echo of Israel’s allocation of spoils.
- A local congregation takes a special offering for a missionary family. The offering comes from the entire church body, not just those who “went out to fight” (i.e., the most active workers). This mirrors the one-fiftieth from the congregation’s share.
- Think of the church budget: regular tithes and offerings are the “spoils” of the community’s labor, set aside to support those who minister in word and sacrament.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How much should our church give to support pastors and ministry staff? This verse shows a fixed proportion (one in fifty) as a precedent, but the New Testament leaves principles rather than percentages.
- Why do Levites (or church workers) need special provision? They have no other “inheritance” (land, secular income) because they are dedicated to spiritual service.
- What about the human captives? How do we handle this ethically? This passage reflects an ancient context; the principle is support for sanctuary work, not the endorsement of slavery. The same God commands mercy and justice for all people.
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows Moses carrying out God’s instruction to take one in every fifty from the congregation’s half of the war spoils and give them to the Levites. The Levites kept charge of the tabernacle and had no land inheritance, so this provision sustained them. As you discuss, consider how the community’s resources supported spiritual service and what that might mean for your congregation.
Discussion questions
- What did Moses take from the Israelites’ half, and who received it? (Read verse 30 first if needed.)
- Why do you think the tax was only from the congregation’s half and not from the warriors’ half? (Consider Numbers 31:27, 30.)
- How does this verse connect to the Levites’ role and inheritance as described in Numbers 18:21, 24?
- The rate for the congregation was one in fifty (2%), while the warriors gave one in five hundred (0.2%). What might this difference teach about the responsibility of those who stay home?
- What principles for supporting church workers today can be drawn from this passage? How do they compare with New Testament teaching (e.g., 1 Corinthians 9:13, 14, 1 Timothy 5:17, 18)?
- In what concrete ways can your small group or congregation ensure that those who serve in ministry are adequately provided for?
- How does the inclusion of human captives challenge us to read this passage faithfully while rejecting the ethical norms of ancient warfare?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 18:21 | “To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the Tent of Meeting. |
| Numbers 18:24 | For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a wave offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’” |
| Numbers 31:30 | Of the children of Israel’s half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the cattle, of the donkeys, and of the flocks, of all the livestock, and give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of Yahweh’s tabernacle.” |
| Deuteronomy 12:17 | You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your free will offerings, nor the wave offering of your hand; |
| Deuteronomy 12:19 | Be careful that you don’t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land. |
| Psalms 134:1 | A Song of Ascents. Look! Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh, who stand by night in Yahweh’s house! |
| Isaiah 56:10 | His watchmen are blind. They are all without knowledge. They are all mute dogs. They can’t bark— dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. |
| Isaiah 56:11 | Yes, the dogs are greedy. They can never have enough. They are shepherds who can’t understand. They have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights the distinctive two-tier religious tax on war spoils: fighters paid 1/500th to the priests, while those who stayed behind paid 1/50th to the Levites. This tax appears nowhere else in the Old Testament, though it may rest on an ancient custom. The golden ornaments taken from the Midianites were typical of nomadic traders.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note observes that Moses faithfully carried out the Lord's command to take one out of every fifty captured persons and animals from the Israelites' half. These were given to the Levites because they had charge of the Lord's Tabernacle, showing that their sacred service justified this special portion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that the spoils are divided equally between the soldiers and the whole community, teaching that the blessings of victory belong to all. The different tribute rates from each half show God’s claim on every person, with the priests and Levites each receiving a share that supports their service at the tabernacle.