Numbers 31:21

KJV

And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This [is] the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;

KJV (with Strong's)

And Eleazar {H499} the priest {H3548} said {H559} unto the men {H582} of war {H6635} which went {H935} to the battle {H4421}, This is the ordinance {H2708} of the law {H8451} which the LORD {H3068} commanded {H6680} Moses {H4872};

Complete Jewish Bible

El'azar the cohen said to the soldiers who had gone to the front, "This is the regulation from the Torah which ADONAI has ordered Moshe.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded Moses:

American Standard Version

And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war that went to the battle, This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:21 records Eleazar the priest's authoritative declaration to the returning Israelite soldiers after their victory over Midian. This pivotal verse serves as a divine mandate, establishing that the purification laws about to be detailed are not human regulations but direct commands from the LORD given through Moses, thereby underscoring the absolute necessity of ritual purity for the covenant community, even in the aftermath of warfare and the handling of potentially defiling spoils.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31:21 immediately follows the account of Israel's decisive victory over the Midianites, commanded by the LORD to avenge Israel (Numbers 31:1-18). The preceding verses detail the complete destruction of Midianite males and the capture of women, children, and vast plunder. Numbers 31:19-20 already hints at the need for purification for those involved in killing or touching the dead. Verse 21 introduces Eleazar, the high priest, stepping forward to provide the divine instructions for cleansing both the soldiers and the captured items, setting the stage for the detailed procedures found in Numbers 31:22-24. This transition from military action to meticulous ritual purification highlights the pervasive reach of God's law into every aspect of Israelite life.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness encampment, after a major military campaign. In the ancient Near East, victorious armies commonly returned with spoils, but Israel operated under a unique covenant. Contact with the dead (Numbers 19:11-13) or with items from pagan nations was considered ritually defiling, rendering individuals unclean and unfit for participation in the community's worship or for approaching the Tabernacle. Given that the Midianites had previously enticed Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality (Numbers 25), the defeat and subsequent purification were not merely ceremonial but deeply significant for restoring Israel's covenant fidelity and maintaining the sanctity of their camp, where the holy God resided. Eleazar's role as high priest was crucial in mediating and enforcing these divine standards.
* **Key Themes:**
* **Divine Authority and Law:** Eleazar's declaration, "This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses," powerfully asserts that these are not human regulations but directly commanded by God. This theme of divine authority pervades the entire Pentateuch, establishing God as the ultimate legislator for Israel's moral, civil, and ceremonial life. It emphasizes that every aspect of Israel's existence, including post-battle procedures, is subject to God's revealed will.
* **Ritual Purity and Holiness:** Central to the Mosaic Covenant, the concept of ritual purity ensures Israel's distinctiveness and fitness for God's presence. The battle, involving death and contact with non-Israelites, necessitated a rigorous cleansing process to maintain the camp's holiness. This reflects the broader call for Israel to be a holy nation, set apart for God, as articulated in passages like [Leviticus 11:44](/leviticus/11-44 "Leviticus 11:44 - Be Holy, for I Am Holy") and [Leviticus 20:26](/leviticus/20-26 "Leviticus 20:26 - Separation unto God").
* **Priestly Mediation:** Eleazar, as the acting high priest, serves as the authoritative interpreter and communicator of God's law. His role is vital in ensuring that divine instructions are properly conveyed and followed, acting as a crucial mediator between God and the people. This highlights the indispensable function of the priesthood in maintaining the covenant relationship, a role extensively detailed throughout the [book of Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Priestly Laws").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ordinance (Hebrew, _ḥuqqah'_):** This term refers to a fixed statute, decree, or prescribed custom, often implying a non-negotiable divine requirement. It carries the sense of something "engraved" or "fixed," denoting an established, unchangeable law rather than a suggestion. Its use here emphasizes the absolute divine origin and binding nature of the purification rites that follow, indicating they are not open to negotiation or alteration.
* **Law (Hebrew, _torah'_):** More than just "law," _torah_ signifies "instruction," "teaching," or "guidance." It encompasses the entire body of divine revelation given through Moses, intended to guide Israel in all aspects of life—moral, civil, and ceremonial. In this context, it underscores that the purification rites are not arbitrary rules but an integral part of God's comprehensive instruction for holy living and maintaining the covenant relationship.
* **Commanded (Hebrew, _ṣāwāh'_):** This verb indicates a direct, authoritative order from a superior. When used of God, as it is here, it highlights His absolute sovereignty and the non-negotiable nature of His directives. It emphasizes that these instructions originate directly from the LORD, not from human wisdom or tradition, thereby investing Eleazar's pronouncement with ultimate divine authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle":** Eleazar, as the high priest and Aaron's divinely appointed successor, assumes his authoritative role. His address to the "men of war" specifically targets those who have engaged in the potentially defiling acts of warfare and handled spoils, making his subsequent instructions directly relevant to their immediate circumstances and spiritual state. His position lends divine weight to his words, signifying that these are official pronouncements.
* **"This [is] the ordinance of the law":** This declarative statement immediately establishes the divine origin and binding nature of the forthcoming instructions. The demonstrative "This" refers to the specific purification procedures that Eleazar is about to detail (Numbers 31:22-24). The combined use of "ordinance" (_ḥuqqah_) and "law" (_torah_) emphasizes that these are fixed, unchangeable, and divinely revealed instructions, not mere suggestions or temporary regulations, underscoring their absolute necessity for the community's purity.
* **"which the LORD commanded Moses":** This final clause firmly roots the authority of Eleazar's words in God Himself, channeled through Moses. It serves as the ultimate validation, reminding the Israelites that the laws they are about to receive are not Eleazar's invention but direct commands from Yahweh, given to Moses at Sinai. This chain of divine command—from the LORD to Moses, then communicated by Eleazar to the people—invests the instructions with the full weight of divine authority and covenant obligation, demanding immediate and unquestioning obedience.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Authoritative Declaration** through Eleazar's direct and unambiguous address, immediately establishing the weight and divine origin of the subsequent laws. There is a subtle **Anticipation** as the verse functions as a preface, building expectation for the detailed instructions that follow regarding the cleansing of both people and plunder. The verse also showcases **Delegated Authority**, illustrating the clear chain of command from God to Moses, then to Eleazar, and finally to the people, reinforcing the divine mandate for the purification process. Furthermore, the emphasis on "ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses" serves as a **Theological Grounding**, rooting the practical ritual in the eternal and unchanging will of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:21 powerfully articulates the principle that divine law governs every aspect of Israelite life, even in the aftermath of warfare and the handling of spoils. It underscores God's meticulous concern for the holiness of His people and their camp, demonstrating that ritual purity was not merely ceremonial but deeply theological, reflecting the character of a holy God who dwells among His people. This passage highlights the ongoing need for separation from defilement and adherence to God's revealed will, ensuring that Israel remained a distinct and consecrated nation, fit for divine presence and blessing.

* [Leviticus 10:10](/leviticus/10-10 "Leviticus 10:10 - Distinguishing Between Holy and Unholy")
* [Deuteronomy 23:14](/deuteronomy/23-14 "Deuteronomy 23:14 - God's Presence in the Camp")
* [Haggai 2:13-14](/haggai/2-13 "Haggai 2:13-14 - Defilement and Its Consequences")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritualistic purifications of the Old Covenant are no longer binding for New Covenant believers, the underlying principles of Numbers 31:21 resonate deeply with the Christian life. This verse reminds us that God is inherently holy and desires His people to pursue holiness in all areas, even when navigating the complexities and potential defilements of the world. It calls us to examine how we handle the "spoils" of our lives—our possessions, relationships, experiences, and even our thoughts—and whether they are brought under the purifying gaze of God's Word. Just as the Israelite soldiers needed to be cleansed to remain in fellowship with a holy God, we are called to live lives continually consecrated to Christ, acknowledging that true purity comes not from external rituals but from an internal transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit. This passage challenges us to consider what "defilement" might look like in our contemporary context—perhaps through media, relationships, or ungodly attitudes—and how we might apply God's enduring call to holiness in our daily walk, seeking spiritual cleansing and separation unto the Lord.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I need to apply God's "ordinance of the law" to ensure spiritual purity and consecration?**
* **How does my understanding of God's absolute holiness impact my daily decisions, especially concerning what I allow into my mind and heart?**
* **What "spoils" or influences from the world might be subtly defiling my walk with God, and how can I actively seek cleansing and separation from them?**

### FAQ
**Why did Eleazar, not Moses, give this instruction?**

Answer: While Moses was the primary law-giver and leader of Israel, Eleazar, as the high priest and Aaron's successor, was the authoritative interpreter and enforcer of God's law, particularly concerning matters of ritual purity, the Tabernacle, and sacred objects. Moses had already received the command from the LORD to avenge Midian (Numbers 31:1-2), and the battle was complete. It was fitting for Eleazar, in his priestly capacity, to address the practical implications of the battle's aftermath regarding ritual cleanness. This was a domain central to priestly duties, as extensively outlined in the [book of Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Priestly Laws"). Eleazar's role here demonstrates the delegated authority within Israel's leadership structure, where the priesthood was responsible for maintaining the holiness of the camp.

**What specific purification laws are being referred to here?**

Answer: Numbers 31:21 serves as an introduction to the detailed purification laws outlined immediately afterward in Numbers 31:22-24. These laws specify how to cleanse items of metal (by fire) and all other items, along with the soldiers themselves, by water. This was necessary because contact with the dead (Numbers 19:11-13) or with objects from a pagan nation (such as Midian) could render individuals and items ritually unclean, preventing them from entering the holy camp or participating in worship. These specific instructions build upon broader purity laws found in [Leviticus 11](/leviticus/11 "Leviticus 11 - Clean and Unclean Animals") concerning clean and unclean things, and [Numbers 19](/numbers/19 "Numbers 19 - The Red Heifer and Purification from Death") regarding purification from contact with death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 31:21, with its emphasis on ritual purity and divine command, points forward to the ultimate and perfect purification found in Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant's elaborate system of cleansing, mediated by priests like Eleazar and involving fire and water, served as a shadow of the reality to come. Just as the Israelite soldiers needed to be cleansed from the defilement of battle to remain in God's holy presence, humanity, defiled by sin, requires a deeper, spiritual cleansing. Christ, our great High Priest, did not merely declare an "ordinance of the law" but embodied it, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice. His blood cleanses us from all sin, making us truly pure before God (as seen in [Hebrews 9:13-14](/hebrews/9-13 "Hebrews 9:13-14 - The Blood of Christ Cleanses Conscience") and [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by the Blood of Jesus")). Through faith in Him, we are not just ritually clean but spiritually regenerated, empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of true holiness, fulfilling the spirit of the law that Eleazar proclaimed. The need for cleansing from the world's defilements remains, but now it is through the transformative power of Christ's finished work, enabling us to approach God with confidence, as described in [Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Confidence to Enter the Holy Place").

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.