Numbers 31:44

And thirtie and sixe thousand beeues: Numbers 31:44 (KJV)

Numbers 31:44 records a statement about thirty‑six thousand beeves. The passage has drawn attention in various study notes. One note asserts that Moses gave tribute, the tribute of those who were captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, to Eleazar the priest as a heave offering to the Lord, specifying six hundred and seventy‑five sheep. Another note records a similar tribute, again from the captains over thousands and hundreds, but directed to the Levites for the charge of the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, enumerating twelve thousand sheep. A third note observes that the King James Version contains no verse that records Moses giving a tribute of six hundred thousand three thousand and five hundred sheep to the Levites. These differing observations highlight the need for careful comparison of textual sources. The verse itself mentions beeves, not sheep, and the numbers cited in the first two notes differ from the larger figure mentioned in the third note. Readers are encouraged to consult the biblical text directly and to verify the details of any tribute figures against the authoritative translation. Understanding the precise content of Numbers 31:44 helps avoid conflating separate passages or misattributing numbers that belong to other contexts. The study of tribute in the wilderness period remains a valuable window into the organization of the Israelite community, the roles of the priesthood and Levites, and the allocation of resources for worship and communal support. Such careful study honors the text and deepens our appreciation of God’s provision.