And the LORD'S tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.

NUMBERS 31:37KJV
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Numbers 31:37 (KJV)

What does Numbers 31:37 mean?

Numbers 31:37 records the portion of sheep set apart for the LORD from the animals taken after Israel’s battle with Midian. The KJV gives the number as “six hundred and threescore and fifteen,” which means 675 sheep.

The verse is part of a count of the goods and people divided after the battle. The sheep came from the share assigned to the soldiers who went out to fight. The LORD’s portion was given to Eleazar the priest, as the earlier instructions directed.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 31:37

  • “tribute” — מֶכֶס (mekhes): The word refers to a levy, a portion taken from a larger amount. Here it identifies a specified share set apart from the soldiers’ portion.

Why Numbers 31:37 matters

  • The number is based on a stated division, not an unexplained choice. Numbers 31:28 calls for one out of every 500 from the soldiers’ share, and verse 36 gives that share as 337,500 sheep.

  • The sheep were part of a larger accounting. The surrounding verses record separate portions from the cattle, donkeys, and people taken in the battle.

Where else these words appear

“tribute” Hebrew H4371 · used in 6 verses

  • Numbers 31:28 And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
  • Numbers 31:38 And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was threescore and twelve.
  • Numbers 31:40 And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.

“fifteen” Hebrew H7657 · used in 90 verses

  • Genesis 4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
  • Numbers 7:73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
  • 2 Chronicles 2:2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.