So there were recruited from the divisions of Israel one thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
Parallel translations
- WEB So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
- KJV So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
- BSB So a thousand men were recruited from each tribe of Israel—twelve thousand armed for war.
- NASB So there were selected from the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.
- NLT So they chose 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel, a total of 12,000 men armed for battle.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Twelve thousand men, a thousand per tribe, were mustered and armed for the war against Midian.
Overview
The exact total confirms Israel's obedience to God's command. A modest force of twelve thousand would face Midian, setting the stage for a victory clearly owed to the Lord rather than military might. Throughout Scripture, God secures triumph through means that magnify His power and faithfulness.
Cross-references & the web
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 31:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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