Numbers 31:4

4 From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle.”

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 “On behalf of the people of Israel, take revenge on the Midianites for leading them into idolatry. After that, you will die and join your ancestors.”

3 So Moses said to the people, “Choose some men, and arm them to fight the LORD ’s war of revenge against Midian.

4 From each tribe of Israel, send 1,000 men into battle.”

5 So they chose 1,000 men from each tribe of Israel, a total of 12,000 men armed for battle.

6 Then Moses sent them out, 1,000 men from each tribe, and Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest led them into battle. They carried along the holy objects of the sanctuary and the trumpets for sounding the charge.