Numbers 31:37

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the military commanders and Israel as they divide the Midianite spoils. The verse records the exact livestock count extracted from the warriors' half-share.

The words — הַמֶּכֶס (ha-mekes) means "the tax" or "tribute," and הַצֹּאן (ha-tson) means "the sheep." These terms specify the levy taken directly from the captured flock for Yahweh.

The thread — This accounting of a sacred portion from war spoils parallels the tithe and contributions detailed in Leviticus 27:30–33 and Numbers 18:21–32. The pattern of setting apart a fixed percentage for Yahweh recurs in the priestly legislation.

Why it lands — The text demands precise accounting of what belongs to Yahweh before distribution. A reader must recognize that sacred claims are calculated and separated before human use.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.