Keraia
Numbers 31

Numbers 31:52

The Voluntary Offering · Numbers 31:48–54
Read Numbers 31

Translations

Modern
All the gold that the commanders of thousands and of hundreds presented as an offering to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And all the gold of the contribution that they lifted up to YHWH was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels, from captains of the thousands and captains of the hundreds.
Latin
…pondo sedecim millia septingentos quinquaginta siclos, a tribunis et centurionibus.

Original

Hebrew
English
All the gold that the commanders of thousands and of hundreds presented as an offering to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels.

Notes

Numbers 31:50–54

The commanders happily offered gold objects to show gratitude for a great victory with no loss of life (see Exodus 30:12). Ancient art and literature show that the Midianites and other desert peoples, both men and women, wore gold jewelry. They used it as decoration, and as a form of wealth they could take with them (for example, Judges 8:24–26).

Moses and Eleazar brought this large collection to the Tent of Meeting as a memorial of this special event (compare Numbers 16:39–40; Zechariah 6:14).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses

Measurements

  • 16,750 shekels: About 420.8 lb (190.9 kg)

Glossary

Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of

Topics

Jewels: Dedicated to the Tabernacle Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Midianites Destroyed and Balaam Slain Liberality: Israelites at the Erection of the Tabernacle Spoils: Divided Between the Combatants and Non-Combatants of the Israelites, Including Priests and Levites Thankfulness: To God of the People of Israel