Bible Strands
Numbers 31:54
And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the Tent of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses and Eleazar receive the gold plunder from the military commanders immediately following the campaign against Midian. They transport the metal into the Tent of Meeting to serve as a memorial before the LORD.
The words — וַ/יִּקַּ֨ח (va/i.yi.Kach) translates literally as "and he took," denoting the formal reception of the spoils. הַ/זָּהָ֔ב (ha./za.Hav) means "the gold," identifying the specific material collected from the commanders of thousands and hundreds.
The thread — The dedication of collected wealth as a memorial before God echoes the atonement money directive in Exodus 30:16 and the memorial crown recorded in Zechariah 6:14. This creates a consistent scriptural pattern where tangible resources function as permanent reminders of divine command and presence.
Why it lands — The passage requires the formal transfer of military spoils from human commanders to sacred custody. It demands that believers treat acquired wealth as an accountable record before God rather than as unrestricted private property.
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.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.
Cross-references
- Exodus 30:16 Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”
- Zechariah 6:14 The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah.
- Numbers 16:40 just as the LORD commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to offer incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers.
- Joshua 4:7 you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”
- Psalms 18:49 Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.
- Psalms 103:1 Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name.
- Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
- Psalms 145:7 They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.
- Luke 22:19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
- Acts 10:4 Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.