Numbers 31:4

4 Send a thousand of each tribe from all the tribes of the children of Israel to set themselves in array.

Numbers 31:4 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 31:4

Of every tribe a thousand
So that the whole number of those that were armed were 12,000 as after given:

throughout all the tribes of Israel;
this is observed, as Jarchi thinks, to comprehend the tribe of Levi, which in some cases was left out of the account:

shall ye send to the war;
to fight with Midian.

Numbers 31:4 In-Context

2 Avenge the wrongs of the children of Israel on the Madianites, and afterwards thou shalt be added to thy people.

3 And Moses spoke to the people, saying, Arm some of you, and set yourselves in array before the Lord against Madian, to inflict vengeance on Madian from the Lord.

4 Send a thousand of each tribe from all the tribes of the children of Israel to set themselves in array.

5 And they numbered of the thousands of Israel a thousand of tribe, twelve thousands; armed for war.

6 And Moses sent them away a thousand of every tribe with their forces, and Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest: and the holy instruments, and the signal trumpets in their hands.