Numbers 31:51

31:50 We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, 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 LORD. gotten: Heb. found

And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.

KJV

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Moses and Eleazar the priest took their gold, even all worked jewels.

And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.

And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all worked jewels.

31:52 And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels. offering: Heb. heave offering

What does Numbers 31:51 mean?

Numbers 31:51 is a verse in the book of Numbers, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh), אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr), כֹּהֵן (kôhên). It connects to 4 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

MosesמֹשֶׁהMôsheh/mo-sheh'/H4872Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver

and

EleazarאֶלְעָזָרʼElʻâzâr/el-aw-zawr'/H499Elazar, the name of seven Israelites

the

priestכֹּהֵןkôhên/ko-hane'/H3548literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

tookלָקַחlâqach/law-kakh'/H3947to take (in the widest variety of applications)

the

goldזָהָבzâhâb/zaw-hawb'/H2091gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky

them,

even

all

wroughtמַעֲשֶׂהmaʻăseh/mah-as-eh'/H4639an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property

jewels.כְּלִיkᵉlîy/kel-ee'/H3627something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

Commentary on Numbers 31:51

HENRY_FULL · Numbers 31:51–54

all-caps">Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 53 Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. 55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few. If any ask why such a particular account is kept of the tribes, and families, and numbers, of the people of Israel, here is an answer for them; as they were multiplied, so they were portioned, not by common providence, but by promise; and, for the support of the honour of divine revelation, God will have the fulfilling of the promise taken notice of both in their increase and in their inheritance. When Moses had numbered the people God did not say, By these shall the land be conquered; but, taking that for granted, he tells him, Unto these shall the land be divided. "These that are now registered as the sons of Israel shall be admitted (as it were by copy of court-roll) heirs of the land of Canaan." Now, in the distributing, or quartering, of these tribes, 1. The general rule of equity is here prescribed to Moses, that to many he should give more, and to few he should give less ( v. 54 ); yet, alas! he was so far from giving any to others that he must not have any himself, but this direction given to him was intended for Joshua his successor. 2. The application of this general rule was to be determined by lot ( v. 55 ); notwithstanding it seems thus to be left to the prudence of their prince, yet the matter must be finally reserved to the providence of their God, in which they must all acquiesce, how much soever it contradicted their policies or inclination: According to the lot shall the possession be divided. As the God of nations, so the God of Israel in particular, reserves it to himself to appoint the bounds of our habitation. And thus Christ, our Joshua, when he was urged to appoint one of his disciples to his right hand, another to his left in his kingdom, acknowledged the sovereignty of his Father in the disposal: It is not mine to give. Joshua must not dispose of inheritances in Canaan according to his own mind. But it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared of my Father. 57 And these

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Numbers 32:3

Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

Numbers 32:5

Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.

Numbers 33:54

And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. give the more: Heb. multiply his inheritance give the less: Heb. diminish his inheritance

Joshua 17:14

And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?

Topics

Desert, Journey of Israel Through The Jewels Rings Spoils

People & places in this verse

People

Moses Eleazar

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Numbers 31:51.

Exodus 11:2

Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

Exodus 12:35

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

Exodus 25:39

Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.

Exodus 28:11

With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

Exodus 28:14

And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.

Exodus 28:15

And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.

Exodus 28:22

And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.

Exodus 28:6

And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.

Frequently asked questions

What does Numbers 31:51 say?

Numbers 31:51 (King James Version) reads: "And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels."

Is Numbers 31:51 in the Old or New Testament?

Numbers 31:51 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Numbers.

Reflect

As you read Numbers 31:51, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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