(Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,

NUMBERS 31:43KJV
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Numbers 31:43 (KJV)

What does Numbers 31:43 mean?

Numbers 31:43 states that the half of the sheep assigned to the Israelite congregation, after dividing the spoils of war, totaled 337,500 sheep. This verse records the exact number of sheep given to the community as their share from the captured livestock.

The context is Moses and Eleazar the priest overseeing the division of spoils after Israel’s victory over Midian. The people are being given their portion, separate from what was given to the soldiers. The verse highlights the careful, organized distribution of resources among all the Israelites.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 31:43

  • "half" (מַחֲצִת, machatsit): This word means a precise division into two equal parts, emphasizing fairness in how the spoils were split between the soldiers and the rest of the congregation.
  • "congregation" (עֵדָה, edah): This term refers to the whole assembly of Israel, not just the fighting men, showing that the entire community benefited from the victory.
  • "sheep" (צֹאן, tson): The word covers sheep and sometimes goats, indicating the livestock included in the count, which was a major form of wealth in ancient Israel.

Why Numbers 31:43 matters

  • Numbers 31:43 shows the importance of fairness and transparency in distributing resources among the people, reflecting an organized community life.
  • The verse connects to the larger narrative of Numbers 31, where the spoils of war are divided not just among the warriors but also with the wider community, highlighting collective responsibility and provision.
  • By recording the specific numbers, the verse demonstrates the value placed on accountability and careful record-keeping in Israel’s society.

Where else these words appear

“half” Hebrew H4275 · used in 2 verses

  • Numbers 31:36 And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:

“sheep” Hebrew H4480 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
  • Leviticus 9:10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • 1 Kings 6:16 And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.

“congregation” Hebrew H5712 · used in 140 verses

  • Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
  • Numbers 31:13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.