Numbers 31:4

4 From every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war."

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 children of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people."

3 And Moses spoke unto the people, saying, "Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the LORD on Midian.

4 From every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war."

5 So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.

6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe -- them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the war, with the holy instruments and the trumpets to blow in his hand.