King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,
Complete Jewish Bible:
72,000 cattle,
Berean Standard Bible:
72,000 cattle,
American Standard Version:
and threescore and twelve thousand oxen,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And threescore and twelve{H7657}{H8147} thousand{H505} beeves{H1241},
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Numbers 31:33
Numbers 31:33 is a verse that falls within the narrative of the Israelites' war against the Midianites as commanded by God through Moses. The broader context of this chapter is God's retribution against Midian for their role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality as part of a divine test, which is recounted in Numbers 25. The verse specifically mentions "threescore and twelve thousand beeves," which refers to the number of cattle acquired by the Israelite army as spoils of war. The number "threescore and twelve thousand" translates to 72,000 head of cattle.
In the historical context of the time, livestock was a measure of wealth and sustenance. The acquisition of such a large number of cattle would have been a significant economic gain for the Israelites. The verse reflects the practices of ancient warfare, where the victor would take the spoils, including livestock, from the defeated. This plunder was often shared among the soldiers and the broader community as provision and reward for their service in battle.
The themes present in this verse include divine command, holy war, and the distribution of spoils. It also touches on the economic aspects of warfare in the ancient Near East. The verse must be understood in the context of the broader ancient Israelite worldview, where God is actively involved in the affairs of His people, including their military campaigns. The distribution of the spoils, as later verses in the chapter detail, was to be done according to specific instructions given by God through Moses, ensuring that the proceeds were used not only for personal gain but also for the maintenance of the tabernacle and its service, reflecting the religious and communal responsibilities of the Israelites.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7657
There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁבְעִים
Transliteration: shibʻîym
Pronunciation: shib-eem'
Description: multiple of שֶׁבַע; seventy; seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). - Strong's Number: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H505
There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶלֶף
Transliteration: ʼeleph
Pronunciation: eh'-lef
Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand. - Strong's Number: H1241
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקָר
Transliteration: bâqâr
Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox.