Definition: And of the children of IsraelĆ¢ĀĀs half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.
Explanation: Okay, letās break down this passage from Numbers 31:30. Itās a really important part of the Old Testament that deals with how land is divided among the Israelites after their conquest of Canaan (modern-day Israel and Palestine). Hereās what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: The Israelites are giving a portion of the land to the priests and Levites ā people who were responsible for keeping the Tabernacle, which was God's dwelling place. Letās look at each part: āAnd of the children of IsraelĆ¢ĀĀs halfā¦ā : This means they're dividing the land into equal groups based on the size of the group ā half of the entire population of Israel. Itās a way to ensure fair distribution. āā¦Thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levitesā¦ā : This is the key part. They're giving 50% of the land to the priests and Levites. Hereās what that means: Fifty: This is a specific number ā fifty souls. Persons: This refers to all the people living in Israel (men, women, and children). Beeves (Goats & Sheep): These are livestock ā goats, sheep, cattle, etc. ā that were important for the Israelitesā livelihood. Asses (Cattle): Similar to the above, these were used for food and transportation. Flocks of Beasts: This includes all kinds of animals - horses, oxen, donkeys, etc. "...and give them unto the Levitesā¦ā : The priests and Levites are responsible for keeping the Tabernacle ā a sacred building where God lived with his people. They were given this land as a responsibility to protect and care for it. In short, this verse is saying that the Israelites will receive 50% of the land, and they'll be entrusted with its care and protection by the priests and Levites. Why was this law established? Itās a way for God to show his blessing and control over his people. By giving some land to the priests, he hoped to ensure that they would use it wisely and protect it from harm. --- Important Note: This is a complex passage with historical context. There's some debate among scholars about exactly how this land division was implemented in practice. Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts further? Provide more context about the history behind this law?