Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” New Living Translation From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle.” English Standard Version You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.” Berean Standard Bible Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.” Berean Literal Bible A thousand from a tribe, a thousand from a tribe, to all the tribes of Israel, you⁺ shall send to the war.” King James Bible Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. New King James Version A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” New American Standard Bible You shall send a thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel to the war.” NASB 1995 “A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” NASB 1977 “A thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” Legacy Standard Bible One thousand from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” Amplified Bible A thousand [fighting men] from each tribe of all the tribes of Israel you shall send to the war.” Berean Annotated Bible Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel (he wrestles with God). Christian Standard Bible Send one thousand men to war from each Israelite tribe.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Send 1,000 men to war from each Israelite tribe.” American Standard Version Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. Contemporary English Version Each tribe will send 1,000 men to fight." English Revised Version Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. GOD'S WORD® Translation Send 1,000 men from each of the tribes of Israel." Good News Translation From each tribe of Israel send a thousand men to war." International Standard Version Send 1,000 men to war from every tribe throughout all of Israel." NET Bible You must send to the battle a thousand men from every tribe throughout all the tribes of Israel." New Heart English Bible Of every tribe one thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, you shall send to the war." Webster's Bible Translation Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSend into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.” World English Bible You shall send one thousand out of every tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, to the war.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionone thousand for a tribe—you send one thousand for a tribe, of all the tribes of Israel, to the war.” Berean Literal Bible A thousand from a tribe, a thousand from a tribe, to all the tribes of Israel, you⁺ shall send to the war.” Young's Literal Translation a thousand for a tribe -- a thousand for a tribe, to all the tribes of Israel -- ye do send to the host.' Smith's Literal Translation A thousand to a tribe, a thousand to a tribe, for all the tribes of Israel, ye shall send to war. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleLet a thousand men be chosen out of every tribe of Israel to be sent to the war. Catholic Public Domain Version Let one thousand men be chosen from each tribe of Israel, who shall be sent to war.” New American Bible From each of the tribes of Israel you will send a thousand men to the campaign.” New Revised Standard Version You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleOf every tribe, a thousand from each tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, you shall send into the army. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Send one thousand from a tribe of all of the tribes of the children of Israel into the army. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Send a thousand of each tribe from all the tribes of the children of Israel to set themselves in array. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Vengeance on Midian…3So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them. 4Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.” 5So a thousand men were recruited from each tribe of Israel—twelve thousand armed for war.… Cross References Send into battle 2 Samuel 10:7-9 On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. / The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. / When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. 1 Chronicles 19:8-10 On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. / The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come stayed by themselves in the open country. / When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. Deuteronomy 20:1-4 When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you. / When you are about to go into battle, the priest is to come forward and address the army, / saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. … a thousand men Judges 20:10 We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.” Numbers 1:16 These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel. Deuteronomy 1:15 So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them as leaders over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens, and as officers for your tribes. from each tribe of Israel.” Numbers 1:2-4 “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. / You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army. / And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you. Numbers 1:20-46 From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, / those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500. / From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, … Numbers 26:2-4 “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.” / So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction, / “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt: Deuteronomy 20:10-18 When you approach a city to fight against it, you are to make an offer of peace. / If they accept your offer of peace and open their gates, all the people there will become forced laborers to serve you. / But if they refuse to make peace with you and wage war against you, lay siege to that city. … Joshua 6:17-21 Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” … Judges 21:10-12 So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children. / This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.” / So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” 1 Chronicles 5:18-22 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors—valiant men who carried the shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for battle. / They waged war against the Hagrites, as well as Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. / And because they cried out to God in battle, they were helped against their enemies, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands. Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers. … 2 Chronicles 20:15-17 And he said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God. / Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel. / You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’” Exodus 17:8-16 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. / So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. … Treasury of Scripture Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall you send to the war. Of every tribe a thousand. Leviticus 26:8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. 1 Samuel 14:6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. Jump to Previous Battle Host Israel Thousand Throughout Tribe Tribes WarJump to Next Battle Host Israel Thousand Throughout Tribe Tribes WarNumbers 31 1. The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain13. Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive 19. How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified 25. The proportion in which the prey is to be divided 48. The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord Send into battle This phrase indicates a divine command for military action. In the context of Numbers 31, God instructs Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in leading Israel into idolatry and immorality (Numbers 25). The concept of holy war is present here, where the battle is seen as an act of divine justice. This reflects the theocratic nature of Israel, where God directly governs and commands His people. The battle against the Midianites is not just a physical conflict but a spiritual one, emphasizing the need for purity and obedience to God. a thousand men from each tribe of Israel Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, who is following God's command to take vengeance on the Midianites for leading Israel into sin. 2. Israelite Tribes The twelve tribes of Israel, each contributing a thousand men to the battle against the Midianites. 3. Midianites A nomadic people who had led the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, prompting God's command for retribution. 4. Battle The military engagement commanded by God as a form of divine justice against the Midianites. Teaching Points Obedience to Divine CommandThe Israelites' response to God's command demonstrates the importance of obedience, even in difficult circumstances. Consequences of Sin The battle against the Midianites serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of sin and idolatry. Unity Among Believers The call for each tribe to contribute equally to the battle highlights the need for unity and collective responsibility among God's people. Divine Justice God's command for vengeance underscores His role as a just judge who addresses sin and protects His people. Spiritual Warfare This passage can be seen as a metaphor for the spiritual battles Christians face, emphasizing the need for readiness and reliance on God's guidance. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 31:4?2. How does Numbers 31:4 demonstrate God's command for Israel's military organization? 3. What can we learn about obedience from Israel's response in Numbers 31:4? 4. How does Numbers 31:4 connect to God's promises to protect His people? 5. How can we apply the principle of unity from Numbers 31:4 in church? 6. What does Numbers 31:4 teach about God's sovereignty in directing His people? 7. Why did God command a thousand from each tribe in Numbers 31:4? 8. How does Numbers 31:4 align with the concept of a loving God? 9. What historical evidence supports the events described in Numbers 31:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 31? 11. (1 Chronicles 12:23-37) Do the large numbers listed for each tribe align with archaeological or historical data from that period? 12. In 1 Chronicles 4:41, why is there no clear historical record of the destruction of these inhabitants, raising doubts about the event's authenticity? 13. How reliable is the claim of 30,000 Israelite deaths (1 Samuel 4:10) given historical population estimates of that era? 14. Why do the numbers in biblical genealogies and census figures appear symbolic rather than historical? What Does Numbers 31:4 Mean Send into battle• The word “Send” points to a direct, divinely-authorized command. Moses is acting on the LORD’s explicit instruction given in Numbers 31:2, “Avenge the Israelites on the Midianites.” Obedience is not optional (cf. Exodus 17:9-11; Deuteronomy 20:1-4). • “Into battle” underlines that this is holy war, not aggression for personal gain. The campaign avenges Midian’s seduction of Israel at Peor (Numbers 25:16-18). God’s honor and Israel’s purity are at stake (cf. 1 Samuel 17:45-47). • The LORD Himself guarantees victory. “For the LORD your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deuteronomy 20:4). Israel’s soldiers trust God’s promise more than their own strength (Psalm 20:7). a thousand men • The figure is literal: 1,000 soldiers from each tribe, totaling 12,000 (Numbers 31:5). • Proportionately, this is a small detachment from an army that originally numbered over 600,000 fighting men (Numbers 26:51). God again shows that deliverance does not depend on superior numbers (cf. Judges 7:2-7; 1 Samuel 14:6). • A fixed quota underscores equity and accountability. Every tribe gives the same costly contribution (Romans 12:1). • The round number also enables orderly logistics and clear record-keeping, themes seen later when David organizes his army by thousands (1 Chronicles 27:1). from each tribe of Israel • No tribe is exempt; all share both the guilt of Peor and the responsibility for cleansing the nation (cf. Joshua 22:18-20; Judges 20:1-11). • Unity: twelve tribes fight as one covenant people, foreshadowing the ideal of corporate solidarity in later calls to national repentance (2 Chronicles 30:1-12). • Representation: each tribe’s participation testifies that the LORD rules the whole nation, not a favored subset (Deuteronomy 33:4-5). • Protection: the equal draft prevents resentment. Partial obedience would have undermined morale and dishonored God (cf. Numbers 32:6-23). summary Numbers 31:4 records God’s orderly, equitable, and decisive call to arms: “Send into battle a thousand men from each tribe of Israel.” The verse highlights divine command, measured commitment, and united obedience. Twelve thousand duly appointed soldiers march, confident that the LORD fights for them, assuring both judgment on Midian and preservation of Israel’s holiness. Hebrew Sendתִּשְׁלְח֖וּ (tiš·lə·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out into battle לַצָּבָֽא׃ (laṣ·ṣā·ḇā) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign a thousand men אֶ֚לֶף (’e·lep̄) Number - masculine singular Strong's 505: A thousand from each לְכֹל֙ (lə·ḵōl) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every tribe מַטּ֣וֹת (maṭ·ṭō·wṯ) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4294: A staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe of Israel.” יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Links Numbers 31:4 NIVNumbers 31:4 NLT Numbers 31:4 ESV Numbers 31:4 NASB Numbers 31:4 KJV Numbers 31:4 BibleApps.com Numbers 31:4 Biblia Paralela Numbers 31:4 Chinese Bible Numbers 31:4 French Bible Numbers 31:4 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 31:4 Of every tribe one thousand throughout all (Nu Num.) |



