The Hebrew word mekeç, represented by H4371, denotes an assessment or tribute. Based on what is probably an unused root meaning to enumerate, it appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage is highly specific, referring to a portion set aside from a census of spoils as a special levy for the Lord.
All occurrences of H4371 are found in Numbers 31, detailing the spoils of war. After a battle, a command is given to "levy a tribute unto the LORD" from the men of war Numbers 31:28. This assessment was precisely calculated as one soul out of five hundred from the persons, beeves, asses, and sheep. The subsequent verses meticulously record the exact count of the LORD's tribute from the sheep Numbers 31:37, the beeves Numbers 31:38, the asses Numbers 31:39, and the persons Numbers 31:40.
Two related words are crucial for understanding the context and function of this tribute:
- H7311 rûwm: This root, meaning to raise or lift up, is used for the verb "levy" in the command to set apart the tribute Numbers 31:28. This action signifies the setting apart or "lifting out" of a special portion.
- H8641 tᵉrûwmâh: Defined as a present or heave offering, this term is used to clarify the nature of the tribute. The text states that Moses gave the tribute H4371 to the priest as "the LORD'S heave offering" Numbers 31:41, directly connecting the assessed tax to an act of sacred worship.
The theological weight of H4371 is significant within its narrative context:
- The LORD's Portion: The repetition of the phrase "the LORD'S tribute" (Numbers 31:37, 38, 39, 40) establishes the principle that God has a rightful, designated share in the spoils of victory.
- Tribute as Worship: The tribute is explicitly identified as a heave offering H8641, which elevates it from a mere administrative tax to a sacred offering. It was given to Eleazar the priest as something holy, set apart for the LORD Numbers 31:41.
- Divine Command: The levying of the tribute was not a human suggestion but a direct commandment from the LORD to Moses Numbers 31:41, underscoring its importance and binding nature as a divine ordinance.
In summary, H4371 is a very specific term for a divinely mandated tribute or assessment taken from the spoils of war. Its sole appearance in scripture, within Numbers 31, illustrates how a calculated portion of material gain is to be set apart for God. The word demonstrates a seamless link between a census-based levy and a sacred heave offering, acknowledging the LORD's sovereignty and role in the victory.
TRV