New International VersionThen the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses
New Living TranslationThen all the generals and captains came to Moses
English Standard VersionThen the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses
Berean Standard BibleThen the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—approached Moses
King James BibleAnd the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:
New King James VersionThen the officers who were over thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;
New American Standard BibleThen the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses,
NASB 1995Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, approached Moses,
NASB 1977Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, approached Moses;
Legacy Standard BibleThen the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses,
Amplified BibleThen the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, approached Moses,
Christian Standard BibleThe officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, approached Moses
Holman Christian Standard BibleThe officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, approached Moses
American Standard VersionAnd the officers that were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses;
Contemporary English VersionThe army commanders went to Moses
English Revised VersionAnd the officers which were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen the officers from the military divisions, the commanders of the companies and battalions of men, came to Moses.
Good News TranslationThen the officers who had commanded the army went to Moses
International Standard VersionThen the officers in charge of thousands of soldiers, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds approached Moses
NET BibleThen the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders over thousands and the commanders over hundreds, approached Moses
New Heart English BibleThe officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses;
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd the officers who were over thousands of the hosts, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds—approached Moses
World English BibleThe officers who were over the thousands of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near to Moses. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the inspectors whom the thousands of the host have (heads of the thousands and heads of the hundreds), draw near to Moses,
Young's Literal Translation And the inspectors whom the thousands of the host hath, (heads of the thousands and heads of the hundreds), draw near unto Moses,
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd there will come near to Moses the officers which are over the thousands of the war, captains of thousands and captains of hundreds: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when the commanders of the army, and the tribunes and centurions were come to Moses, they said:
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd when the leaders of the army, and the tribunes, and the centurions had approached Moses, they said:
New American BibleThen those who were officers over the contingents of the army, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, came up to Moses
New Revised Standard VersionThen the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the officers who were over thousands of the host, the commanders of thousands and the captains of hundreds came near to Moses;
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd the men who were put in charge over a thousand of the army approached to Moshe, Leaders of a thousand and Leaders of a hundred: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the officers that were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses;
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd all those who were appointed to be officers of thousands of the host, captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, approached Moses, and said to Moses,
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Voluntary Offering48Then the officerswhowere over the unitsof the army—the commandersof thousandsand of hundreds—approachedMoses49and said, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one of us is missing.…
Cross References Joshua 22:1-6Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh / and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. / All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God. ...
1 Samuel 30:26-31When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” / He sent gifts to those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; / to those in Aroer, Siphmoth, and Eshtemoa; ...
2 Chronicles 31:12-19And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second. / Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief official of the house of God. / Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings given to God, distributing the contributions to the LORD and the consecrated gifts. ...
Nehemiah 10:32-39We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: / for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God. / We have cast lots among the priests, Levites, and people for the donation of wood by our families at the appointed times each year. They are to bring it to the house of our God to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law. ...
Psalm 68:12“Kings and their armies flee in haste; she who waits at home divides the plunder.
Isaiah 33:23Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off plunder.
Ezekiel 44:28-30In regard to their inheritance, I am their inheritance. You are to give them no possession in Israel, for I am their possession. / They shall eat the grain offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Everything in Israel devoted to the LORD will belong to them. / The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.
Malachi 3:8-10Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. / You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. / Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
Matthew 5:23-24So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 6:19-21Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 23:23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Mark 12:41-44As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. / Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. / Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. ...
Luke 6:38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 21:1-4Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, / and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. / “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ...
Acts 4:32-37The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. / With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all. / There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, ...
Treasury of Scripture And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near to Moses: Jump to Previous ApproachedArmyCaptainsCommandersHeadsHostHostsHundredsInspectorsMosesOfficersThousandsUnitsJump to Next ApproachedArmyCaptainsCommandersHeadsHostHostsHundredsInspectorsMosesOfficersThousandsUnitsNumbers 31 1.The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain13.Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive19.How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified25.The proportion in which the prey is to be divided48.The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the LordThen the officers who were over the units of the armyThis phrase refers to the military leaders responsible for organizing and leading the Israelite forces. In the context of ancient Israel, the army was structured with a clear hierarchy, reflecting the need for order and discipline in military campaigns. The officers were likely chosen for their leadership skills and experience in battle. This structure is reminiscent of the organization seen in Exodus 18:21, where Moses appoints leaders over groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, suggesting a consistent approach to leadership and governance. the commanders of thousands and of hundreds
The mention of "commanders of thousands and of hundreds" indicates a well-organized military system. This hierarchical structure allowed for efficient command and control during military operations. The division into thousands and hundreds suggests a scalable and flexible approach to warfare, which was necessary for the various campaigns the Israelites undertook. This system is also seen in other parts of the Old Testament, such as in1 Samuel 8:12, where similar military divisions are mentioned, highlighting the continuity of military organization in Israel's history. approached Moses
The act of approaching Moses signifies the respect and authority Moses held as the leader of the Israelites. Moses was not only a spiritual leader but also a political and military figure, guiding the people through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. This approach indicates a formal communication, likely involving a report or request, reflecting the chain of command and the importance of Moses' role in decision-making. This interaction underscores Moses' central role in the narrative of the Israelites, as seen throughout the Pentateuch, where he serves as the mediator between God and the people, similar to the role of Christ as the mediator in the New Testament (1 Timothy 2:5). Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this context, Moses is the one to whom the military leaders report. 2. Officers of the ArmyThese are the leaders responsible for the divisions of the Israelite army, specifically the commanders of thousands and hundreds. They play a crucial role in the military campaign against the Midianites. 3. Commanders of Thousands and HundredsThese are the military leaders who have direct command over large and smaller units within the army. Their role is significant in organizing and executing military strategies. 4. The Israelite ArmyThe collective group of Israelite soldiers who participated in the campaign against the Midianites as commanded by God. 5. MidianitesA people group who were adversaries of Israel. The campaign against them was a direct command from God as a form of judgment for their role in leading Israel into sin. Teaching Points Leadership and AccountabilityThe passage highlights the importance of structured leadership and accountability. The commanders report to Moses, showing a chain of command and responsibility. Obedience to God's CommandsThe military campaign against the Midianites was a direct command from God. This teaches the importance of obedience to God's directives, even in challenging situations. Stewardship of ResourcesThe commanders' approach to Moses can be seen as a form of stewardship, ensuring that the resources and outcomes of the campaign are reported and managed properly. Community and CooperationThe structure of the army with commanders of thousands and hundreds emphasizes the need for cooperation and unity within the community to achieve common goals. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 31
Why does God allow genocides to happen, including those commanded in the Bible (Numbers 31:17-18)?
Numbers 31 compared to earlier laws in Exodus and Leviticus: Why does this narrative's approach to warfare seem inconsistent with other divine commandments?
Numbers 21:8-9 - Why would God command Moses to create a bronze serpent, seemingly at odds with prohibitions against idol-making in Exodus 20?
Numbers 31:7-18: How can the command to kill non-virgin women and boys be reconciled with claims of a compassionate God?
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Then the officersהַפְּקֻדִ֕ים(hap·pə·qu·ḏîm)Article | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural
Strong's 6485:To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, depositwhoאֲשֶׁ֖ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatwere over the unitsלְאַלְפֵ֣י(lə·’al·p̄ê)Preposition-l | Number - masculine plural construct
Strong's 505:A thousandof the army—הַצָּבָ֑א(haṣ·ṣā·ḇā)Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 6635:A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaignthe commandersשָׂרֵ֥י(śā·rê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269:Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, princeof thousandsהָאֲלָפִ֖ים(hā·’ă·lā·p̄îm)Article | Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505:A thousandand of hundreds—הַמֵּאֽוֹת׃(ham·mê·’ō·wṯ)Article | Number - feminine plural
Strong's 3967:A hundredapproachedוַֽיִּקְרְבוּ֙(way·yiq·rə·ḇū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126:To come near, approachMosesמֹשֶׁ֔ה(mō·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver
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OT Law: Numbers 31:48 The officers who were over the thousands (Nu Num.) |
