1 Chronicles 5:21

KJV

And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they took away {H7617} their cattle {H4735}; of their camels {H1581} fifty {H2572} thousand {H505}, and of sheep {H6629} two hundred {H3967} and fifty {H2572} thousand {H505}, and of asses {H2543} two thousand {H505}, and of men {H120}{H5315} an hundred {H3967} thousand {H505}.

Complete Jewish Bible

From their livestock they carried off 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 2,000 donkeys; they also took captive 100,000 persons.

Berean Standard Bible

They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 captives,

American Standard Version

And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 5:21 vividly records the immense spoils acquired by the Transjordanian tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh following their decisive victory over the Hagarites and their allies. This detailed enumeration of fifty thousand camels, two hundred and fifty thousand sheep, two thousand asses, and one hundred thousand human captives underscores the overwhelming scale of their triumph, presented by the Chronicler as a direct result of divine intervention and their trust in God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the extensive genealogical records and historical accounts that characterize the book of 1 Chronicles. Following a detailed lineage of the Transjordanian tribes in [1 Chronicles 5:1-10](/1_chronicles/5-10 "1 Chronicles 5:1-10 - Genealogies of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh"), the narrative shifts to describe their military engagement with the Hagarites and their allies. The Chronicler's primary purpose is not merely to record history but to interpret it theologically, emphasizing God's faithfulness to His covenant people and the consequences of their obedience or disobedience. Crucially, [1 Chronicles 5:20](/1_chronicles/5-20 "1 Chronicles 5:20 - God Answers Prayer in Battle") immediately precedes this verse, explicitly stating that "they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him." Thus, 1 Chronicles 5:21 serves as tangible evidence and a quantitative testament to the extraordinary divine assistance granted to these tribes.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Hagarites (or Hagrites) were a nomadic people, likely descendants of Hagar, who inhabited the desert regions east of Gilead, adjacent to the territories settled by Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. This conflict, which occurred during the reign of King Saul (as indicated in [1 Chronicles 5:10](/1_chronicles/5-10 "1 Chronicles 5:10 - The Tribes East of Jordan")), was likely a struggle for control over grazing lands and resources in the Transjordanian steppe. In the ancient Near East, the acquisition of vast spoils, including livestock and human captives, was a standard and significant outcome of military victory. Such plunder was not only a source of immense wealth and sustenance but also a powerful symbol of dominance, divine favor, and the vanquished foe's utter subjugation. The sheer numbers recorded in this verse would have communicated an unparalleled triumph to the original audience.
* **Key Themes:** The account in 1 Chronicles 5, culminating in the description of spoils in verse 21, powerfully illustrates several key themes. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Empowerment and Victory**, where the overwhelming success of the Israelite tribes is attributed not to their own strength but to God's direct intervention, as highlighted in [1 Chronicles 5:20](/1_chronicles/5-20 "1 Chronicles 5:20 - God's Help in Battle"). This underscores that true victory comes from the Lord. Secondly, the passage emphasizes the **Consequences of Seeking God**, demonstrating that when God's people genuinely cry out to Him and place their trust in Him, He answers. The abundance of the spoils serves as a tangible manifestation of God's blessing and faithfulness to those who seek Him. Lastly, the narrative subtly reinforces the theme of **Covenant Faithfulness and Material Blessing**, where the prosperity and expansion of the tribes are presented as a reward for their obedience and reliance on God, echoing the promises of blessing found throughout the Mosaic Law, such as those described in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cattle (Hebrew, _miqneh_):** This general term refers to all kinds of livestock, encompassing sheep, goats, cattle, camels, and asses. In ancient Israelite society, _miqneh_ represented the primary form of wealth and sustenance. The inclusion of this overarching term at the beginning of the verse emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the plunder, signifying not just a collection of animals but the entire economic base of the Hagarites. The vast quantities listed immediately after this general term underscore the complete appropriation of the enemy's resources.
* **Men (Hebrew, _nephesh_):** While often translated as "soul" or "life," _nephesh_ here refers to individual persons, specifically human captives. In the context of ancient warfare, capturing people was common, with captives often becoming slaves, servants, or part of the conquering nation's workforce. The number "an hundred thousand" is extraordinarily large, indicating a massive subjugation of the enemy population, further testifying to the magnitude of the Israelite victory and the complete dismantling of the Hagarite societal structure.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they took away their cattle;":** This opening phrase establishes the primary action and the immediate outcome of the battle: the Israelite tribes seized the livestock of their defeated enemies. The term "cattle" (מִקְנֶה, _miqneh_) serves as a collective noun, introducing the detailed enumeration that follows and signifying the acquisition of significant wealth and resources.
* **"of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand,":** This clause provides a precise and staggering quantification of the animal spoils. The numbers—50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 asses—are exceptionally high, even for a large-scale ancient battle. These figures emphasize the immense economic gain for the Israelite tribes and the utter impoverishment of the Hagarites, showcasing the overwhelming nature of the victory. Camels were particularly valuable for transport and desert survival, sheep for food and wool, and asses for transport and labor.
* **"and of men an hundred thousand.":** This final clause details the human spoils, specifying the capture of 100,000 individuals. This aspect of the plunder signifies not only a vast increase in the Israelite labor force or population but also the complete subjugation and decimation of the Hagarite fighting force and civilian population. The inclusion of human captives as "spoils" was a grim reality of ancient warfare, underscoring the absolute triumph of the victors and the total defeat of the vanquished.

#### Literary Devices
The Chronicler employs several powerful literary devices in 1 Chronicles 5:21 to convey the magnitude of the Israelite victory. The most prominent is **Enumeration**, where the precise listing of each type of animal and human captive, along with their staggering numbers, creates a vivid and overwhelming impression of the spoils. This detailed accounting serves to impress upon the reader the scale of the triumph. Closely related is the use of **Hyperbole** or **Exaggeration**, as the numbers (especially 250,000 sheep and 100,000 men) are so exceptionally large that they may function rhetorically to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the victory rather than providing a literal census. This rhetorical device underscores the divine favor and power at work. Furthermore, the verse functions as a powerful **Testimony** or **Evidence** for the preceding claim in [1 Chronicles 5:20](/1_chronicles/5-20 "1 Chronicles 5:20 - God's Answer to Prayer"), where God's intervention is explicitly stated. The sheer abundance of the spoils serves as undeniable proof of God's direct hand in granting this unprecedented success.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 5:21 serves as a profound theological statement, illustrating God's active involvement in the affairs of His people and His faithfulness to those who trust Him. The extraordinary quantity of spoils is not merely a historical record of plunder but a tangible demonstration of divine blessing and a direct answer to the tribes' prayer and trust in [1 Chronicles 5:20](/1_chronicles/5-20 "1 Chronicles 5:20 - God Answers Prayer"). It highlights the principle that when God's people seek Him wholeheartedly, He is able to grant overwhelming victory and provide abundantly, even against formidable adversaries. This passage reinforces the Chronicler's overarching message that Israel's well-being and success are directly tied to their relationship with and obedience to Yahweh, serving as a powerful encouragement for future generations to rely on God in all circumstances.

* [Deuteronomy 28:11-12](/deuteronomy/28-11 "Deuteronomy 28:11-12 - Blessings of Abundance") - "And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow."
* [Psalm 44:4-7](/psalm/44-4 "Psalm 44:4-7 - God Our King and Deliverer") - "Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us."
* [Proverbs 21:31](/proverbs/21-31 "Proverbs 21:31 - Victory Belongs to the Lord") - "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the context of ancient warfare and the acquisition of human captives differs vastly from modern ethical sensibilities, the spiritual principles embedded in 1 Chronicles 5:21 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This passage calls us to recognize God's sovereignty over all outcomes and to acknowledge that true victory, whether in personal struggles, spiritual battles, or life's challenges, ultimately comes from Him. Just as the Transjordan tribes cried out to God and trusted in Him, we are reminded of the enduring power of prayer and the necessity of placing our full reliance on God. This verse challenges us to cultivate a posture of dependence, giving God the glory for every success and provision, understanding that our achievements are often a testament to His grace and intervention. It encourages us to approach life's "battles" with faith, knowing that when we seek Him, He is faithful to respond, providing not only deliverance but often an abundance that far exceeds our expectations, designed to demonstrate His power and goodness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently facing a "battle" or significant challenge where you need to cry out to God and trust Him for victory?**
* **How does the sheer scale of the spoils in this verse challenge your understanding of God's capacity to provide and bless abundantly?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more consistently acknowledge God's hand in your successes and blessings, rather than attributing them solely to your own efforts?**
* **How does the emphasis on "trust" in [1 Chronicles 5:20](/1_chronicles/5-20 "1 Chronicles 5:20 - The Importance of Trust") inform your approach to prayer and dependence on God in difficult times?**

### FAQ
**Why are such large numbers of spoils, including human captives, recorded in the Bible, and what does it mean for us today?**

Answer: The recording of such vast numbers in 1 Chronicles 5:21, including 100,000 human captives, reflects the realities of ancient Near Eastern warfare and the Chronicler's theological purpose. In that era, the total defeat of an enemy often involved the capture of their entire economic base (livestock) and a significant portion of their population, who would then become slaves or servants of the victorious nation. These numbers, while possibly hyperbolic to emphasize the magnitude of the victory, serve as a powerful testament to God's extraordinary blessing and intervention on behalf of the Israelite tribes, as explicitly stated in [1 Chronicles 5:20](/1_chronicles/5-20 "1 Chronicles 5:20 - God's Answer to Prayer"). For the Chronicler's original audience, this demonstrated God's faithfulness to His covenant and His power to grant overwhelming success when His people trusted Him. For us today, while we do not engage in physical warfare in the same manner or condone the practice of human enslavement, the spiritual principle remains: God is sovereign over all outcomes. The passage encourages us to trust God for victory in our spiritual battles, recognizing that His provision and deliverance can be supernaturally abundant, far exceeding what human strength or strategy could achieve. It shifts our focus from the literal spoils to the spiritual "spoils" of God's grace, mercy, and the victory Christ has won for us.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The overwhelming victory and immense spoils recorded in 1 Chronicles 5:21, achieved through divine intervention in response to the tribes' trust, powerfully foreshadow the ultimate and decisive victory secured by Jesus Christ. Just as the Hagarites represented a formidable enemy to the Transjordan tribes, humanity faced an insurmountable foe in sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Christ, through His life, death, and resurrection, engaged in the ultimate spiritual battle, not with swords and spears, but with perfect obedience and sacrificial love. His triumph on the cross was absolute, disarming the principalities and powers and making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it, as described in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers"). The "spoils" of Christ's victory are not material possessions or human captives, but the spiritual blessings of redemption, forgiveness, eternal life, and the liberation of all who believe. He "led captivity captive" and "gave gifts unto men" (as echoed in [Ephesians 4:8](/ephesians/4-8 "Ephesians 4:8 - Christ's Ascension and Gifts")), signifying His triumph over death and His distribution of grace and spiritual endowments to His church. Thus, 1 Chronicles 5:21, with its emphasis on God's power to grant overwhelming victory and abundant provision to His trusting people, points forward to the infinitely greater victory of the Lamb of God, who by His sacrifice secures for us an eternal inheritance and an abundance of spiritual blessings that far surpass any earthly plunder, fulfilling the promise of a new creation where He makes all things new ([Revelation 21:5](/revelation/21-5 "Revelation 21:5 - God Makes All Things New")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 18:13

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Numbers 31:35

And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.