Numbers 31:30

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 31:30 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And of the children of Israel`s half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, [even] of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And of the children of Israel`s half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, [even] of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.
Numbers 31:30 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 31

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
30And of the children of Israel`s half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, [even] of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And of the children of Israel’s half, thou shall take one portion of fifty, etc.] Which was abundantly more than what was taken out of the part of the soldiers; and the reason of it is plain and easy to be discerned; the soldiers had taken much pains, and gone through much fatigue, as well as had hazarded their lives, and therefore less was to be taken from them; and besides the tribute levied out of their half was to be given to the priests, who were not so numerous as the Levites, among whom the part out of the half of the congregation was to be distributed: of the persons; of the women, as the Targums of Jonathan, one of fifty out of them was to be given to the Levites to be their…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“One of fifty - Whereas the former part was one of five hundred; the reason of the difference is, partly, because this was taken out of the peoples portion, whose hazards being less than the others, their gains also in all reason were to be less: partly because this was to be distributed into more hands, the Levites being now numerous, whereas the priests were but few. Numbers 31:50”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“one portion: Num 31:42-47 flocks: or, goats and give: Num 31:28, Num 18:24-28; Co1 9:13, Co1 9:14 keep the: Num 3:7, Num 3:8, Num 3:25, Num 3:31, Num 3:36-39, Num 18:1-5, Num 18:23; Ch1 9:27-29, Ch1 23:32, Ch1 26:20-27; Act 20:28; Co1 4:2; Col 4:17; Heb 13:17 Numbers 31:32”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification