1 Chronicles 5:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 5:21 mean?

1 Chronicles 5:21 describes how the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh captured a huge amount of livestock and people from their enemies during a battle. The verse lists the numbers of camels, sheep, donkeys, and people they took as spoils of war.

This verse is part of a historical account where these Israelite tribes fought against a group called the Hagrites. The writer is recording the outcome of the battle, emphasizing the scale of their victory by listing the large numbers of animals and captives taken. This helps show the power and success of these tribes at that time.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 5:21

• The word for "cattle" is מִקְנֶה (miqneh), which often refers to livestock in general, not just cows. Here, it means all kinds of domesticated animals, showing the broad wealth taken.
• The word for "men" includes both אָדָם (adam), meaning "human" or "man," and נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh), meaning "soul" or "person." This suggests the captives were counted as individual lives, not just as property.
• The numbers use אֶלֶף (eleph) for "thousand" and מֵאָה (me'ah) for "hundred," highlighting the impressive scale of the victory.

Why 1 Chronicles 5:21 matters

• This verse clears up that the victory was not just military but also economic, as the Israelites gained a huge amount of livestock and people, which would have increased their wealth and influence.
• The detailed inventory of spoils emphasizes the completeness of the victory and the historical importance of the event for these tribes.
• By listing both animals and people, the verse connects to the wider biblical theme of how victories in battle affected the social and economic life of ancient Israel.