Numbers 31:33

KJV

And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,

KJV (with Strong's)

And threescore and twelve {H7657}{H8147} thousand {H505} beeves {H1241},

Complete Jewish Bible

72,000 cattle,

Berean Standard Bible

72,000 cattle,

American Standard Version

and threescore and twelve thousand oxen,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 31:33, stating "And threescore and twelve thousand beeves," provides a precise and astonishing inventory detail within the comprehensive account of Israel's divinely sanctioned war against the Midianites. This specific verse underscores the immense scale of the livestock spoils acquired, representing a substantial portion of the vast material wealth transferred to Israel. It powerfully illustrates God's meticulous attention to detail, His abundant provision for His covenant people, and the tangible, material consequences of divine judgment executed through His chosen nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 31 meticulously records the Israelites' punitive war against the Midianites, a direct command from the Lord as retribution for Midian's pivotal role in seducing Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal-peor, as vividly recounted in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Baal-Peor"). Following a decisive and overwhelming victory where all Midianite males and their five kings were slain, the narrative transitions into an exhaustive accounting and equitable division of the immense spoils. Verses 32-35 present a detailed inventory of the captured items—including sheep, cattle, donkeys, and human captives—before outlining the complex, divinely prescribed system for their distribution among the victorious warriors, the wider congregation, and specific portions consecrated for the Lord and the Levites. Verse 33, with its precise enumeration of "beeves" (cattle), is an integral component of this meticulous inventory, serving to emphasize the exhaustive nature of the record-keeping and the sheer volume of resources acquired through divine intervention.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The war against Midian was not merely a territorial or geopolitical conflict but a profound act of divine judgment against a people who had actively sought to corrupt Israel's covenant fidelity. Midian, a nomadic group often engaged in lucrative trade across the ancient Near East, had played a significant role in the spiritual and moral downfall of Israel at Baal-peor. In the ancient world, livestock, particularly cattle, represented an immense store of wealth, a clear indicator of status, and a vital source of sustenance. They provided essential resources such as meat, milk, hides, and crucial labor for agriculture and transport. The acquisition of 72,000 cattle would have been an astonishing logistical achievement and an unparalleled economic windfall for the nascent Israelite nation, powerfully underscoring the magnitude of their victory and the lavishness of God's provision. The highly ordered and legalistic division of spoils, as meticulously detailed in [Numbers 31:25-47](/numbers/31-25-47 "Numbers 31:25-47 - Division of Spoils"), reflects the structured nature of Israelite society under the Mosaic Law, emphasizing accountability, communal responsibility, and the sacred duty of setting aside consecrated portions for the Lord and His priestly servants.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, situated within its broader narrative framework, contributes significantly to several foundational biblical themes. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **Divine Judgment and Justice**, as the vast spoils are a direct, tangible outcome of God's righteous wrath against Midian's profound wickedness, particularly their instigation of the Baal-peor apostasy (compare with [Numbers 25:1-3](/numbers/25-1-3 "Numbers 25:1-3 - The Sin at Baal-Peor")). Secondly, it highlights **Obedience and Order**, as the entire military campaign and the subsequent meticulous division of spoils were executed in strict accordance with specific divine commands, emphasizing the paramount importance of adhering to God's precise instructions and the highly structured nature of Israel's communal life (see [Numbers 31:1-2](/numbers/31-1-2 "Numbers 31:1-2 - God's Command to Avenge Midian")). Thirdly, the sheer abundance of "beeves" and other captured goods profoundly demonstrates **God's Abundant Provision** for His people, even when delivered through the challenging and often brutal means of warfare. These immense resources were absolutely vital for Israel's sustenance, economic stability, and future prosperity as they continued their journey towards the Promised Land, unequivocally showcasing God's faithfulness to meet their every need (consider [Deuteronomy 8:3-4](/deuteronomy/8-3-4 "Deuteronomy 8:3-4 - God's Provision in the Wilderness")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **bâqâr (Hebrew, _bâqâr'_):** From H1241, meaning "beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd." This term, translated as "beeves" in the KJV, refers to a substantial number of large domesticated animals. In an ancient agrarian society, cattle were an incredibly valuable asset, serving multiple critical purposes: as a primary source of food (meat and milk), for their hides (leather), and most importantly, as powerful draft animals for plowing fields, threshing grain, and transporting goods. The acquisition of 72,000 _bâqâr_ signifies an enormous influx of economic power, sustenance, and productive capacity for the Israelite nation, far beyond mere survival, indicating a significant boost to their national wealth and agricultural potential.
* **ʼeleph (Hebrew, _ʼeleph'_):** From H505, meaning "a thousand." This numerical unit is crucial for understanding the sheer scale of the spoils. The repetition of "thousand" throughout the inventory (e.g., 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys) emphasizes the truly immense quantity of captured goods. The use of this large numeral highlights the overwhelming victory granted by God and the extraordinary level of material provision bestowed upon Israel. It conveys the magnitude of the transfer of wealth, underscoring that this was not a minor skirmish but a comprehensive and devastating blow to Midian, resulting in an unprecedented acquisition of resources for God's people.
* **shibʻîym (Hebrew, _shibʻîym'_):** From H7657, meaning "seventy." This word, combined with H8147 (_shᵉnayim_, "two"), forms the "seventy-two" (threescore and twelve) in the verse. The precise numerical detail, 72,000, is not a round approximation but a specific accounting. This meticulousness reflects the divine emphasis on order, accuracy, and accountability in all matters pertaining to Israel's life, resources, and the execution of God's commands. It signifies a thorough and exact inventory, demonstrating the divine oversight even in the distribution of war spoils, ensuring that every detail was recorded and every portion accounted for according to God's will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,":** This clause serves as a direct, precise, and astonishing numerical entry within the detailed inventory of the spoils taken from the Midianites. The opening conjunction "And" seamlessly links it to the preceding enumeration of 675,000 sheep, indicating a continuation of the meticulous and exhaustive accounting. The specific number, 72,000, underscores the vastness of the captured livestock, reflecting the overwhelming and comprehensive victory granted by God to His people. This detail is far more than a dry statistic; it powerfully communicates the tangible and material result of divine judgment against a wicked enemy and God's abundant, even lavish, provision for His covenant people. It highlights the immense wealth and vital resources transferred to Israel, demonstrating God's sovereign power to provide for His chosen nation even through the means of warfare, ensuring their material well-being and economic stability as they prepared for the momentous task of settling in the Promised Land.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Enumeration**, as it is an integral part of a detailed and exhaustive listing of captured spoils. This meticulous counting, also evident in the enumeration of sheep, donkeys, and human captives, powerfully emphasizes the sheer scale of the victory and the vastness of God's provision. The precision of the numbers, though seemingly mundane, also contributes significantly to a sense of **Verisimilitude**, lending credibility, historical weight, and an undeniable realism to the narrative. It suggests an actual, painstaking inventory was conducted. Furthermore, the sheer magnitude conveyed by "threescore and twelve thousand beeves" can be perceived as having an effect akin to **Hyperbole**, even if the number is literally accurate within the narrative. Its dramatic impact serves to profoundly impress upon the reader the overwhelming abundance and wealth acquired, thereby highlighting the extent of God's blessing and the thoroughness of the judgment enacted against Midian.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 31:33, while a specific detail of war spoils, resonates with profound and enduring theological themes. It unequivocally underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all creation and His meticulous, active involvement in the affairs of nations, extending even to the seemingly mundane distribution of material wealth. The acquisition of such vast resources, following a divinely commanded war of righteous judgment, powerfully illustrates that God's justice often has tangible, material consequences, and His provision for His people is comprehensive, extending to their physical, economic, and spiritual needs. This event serves as a powerful reminder that all things ultimately belong to the Lord, and He orchestrates circumstances—whether through judgment or blessing—to fulfill His overarching purposes and demonstrate His glory.

* [Deuteronomy 20:14](/deuteronomy/20-14 "Spoils of War in Israelite Law")
* [Psalm 24:1](/psalm/24-1 "The Earth is the Lord's and Everything in It")
* [Matthew 6:33](/matthew/6-33 "Seek First the Kingdom of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This ancient verse, detailing the spoils of an ancient war, offers enduring and profound insights for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is a God of intricate order and divine precision, attentive to every single detail, even in areas we might deem purely logistical or mundane. His meticulousness in the accounting of these "beeves" challenges us to deeply consider the importance of faithful stewardship and rigorous accountability in our own lives, recognizing that all we possess ultimately belongs to Him and is entrusted to our care. Furthermore, the sheer abundance of these spoils, bestowed upon Israel after an act of righteous judgment, speaks volumes about God's unwavering commitment to provide abundantly for His people, often in challenging or unexpected ways. It profoundly encourages us to cultivate a deep and abiding trust in His sovereign provision, knowing that He can utilize diverse and even extraordinary means to meet our every need, and that His perfect justice will ultimately prevail. We are therefore called to live lives of unwavering obedience, trusting implicitly that God's detailed and intricate plans, though sometimes beyond our immediate comprehension, always work for His ultimate glory and our eternal good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's meticulousness in this passage challenge our approach to details, stewardship, and accountability in our own lives today?**
* **What does the overwhelming abundance of spoils reveal about God's comprehensive provision for His people, even in challenging and often brutal circumstances like warfare?**
* **How can we apply the principle of righteous judgment and the tangible consequences of sin, as vividly seen in the Midianite war, to our understanding of God's character and actions in the world today?**

### FAQ
**Why was such a vast number of animals, specifically "beeves," taken from the Midianites?**

Answer: The immense number of "beeves" (cattle) taken from the Midianites served multiple, interconnected purposes within the divine plan for Israel. Economically, livestock represented significant wealth and vital resources in ancient societies, providing essential food, labor, and valuable trade goods. This massive acquisition was a direct and tangible act of divine provision for the burgeoning Israelite nation, equipping them with crucial sustenance and economic stability for their arduous journey through the wilderness and their eventual settlement in the Promised Land. Theologically, it was an integral part of the comprehensive judgment against the Midianites for their grievous sins, particularly their role in enticing Israel to idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal-peor (as vividly seen in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - The Sin at Baal-Peor")). The taking of spoils was a tangible and undeniable consequence of their wickedness, powerfully demonstrating God's justice and His sovereign power to transfer wealth from the wicked to His chosen people (compare with [Proverbs 13:22](/proverbs/13-22 "Proverbs 13:22 - A Good Man's Inheritance")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Numbers 31:33 details a specific historical event of judgment and provision in the Old Testament, it profoundly foreshadows deeper spiritual truths gloriously realized in Christ. The meticulous accounting of the "beeves" and other spoils points to God's precise, ordered, and just nature, a characteristic perfectly embodied in Christ, who flawlessly fulfills every jot and tittle of God's divine law (as declared in [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). The judgment against Midian, culminating in the acquisition of spoils for Israel, powerfully prefigures the ultimate and decisive judgment against sin, death, and the powers of darkness accomplished by Christ on the cross. Through His perfect sacrifice, Christ disarmed the principalities and powers, triumphing over them and taking "spoils" in the form of a definitive victory over sin, death, and the devil (as celebrated in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Just as the "beeves" provided essential sustenance and material wealth for physical Israel, Christ Himself is the ultimate and all-sufficient provision for spiritual Israel, which is the Church. He is the life-giving [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus the Bread of Life"), the compassionate [Good Shepherd](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus the Good Shepherd") who provides abundantly for His flock, and the spotless [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose atoning sacrifice brings us true spiritual wealth, eternal life, and every spiritual blessing (as proclaimed in [Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). The meticulous division of spoils, with portions consecrated for the Lord, subtly hints at the profound truth that all blessings, both material and spiritual, flow directly from God and are ultimately intended for His glory, a principle perfectly demonstrated in Christ's life, redemptive work, and ongoing reign.

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.