Definition: And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, [for] a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 31:54. It’s a pretty significant passage about a special offering to God. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it says: God wanted to give the Israelites (the people Moses led) a way to remember how important they were to Him and how much He cared for them. He gathered some gold – a valuable metal – from leaders of large groups (thousands and hundreds), and brought it into the Tabernacle, which was a special building where God lived with his people. Let’s unpack it further: “Numbers 31:54” : This is the verse itself, giving us the specific detail. "And Moses and Eleazar the priest took..." : This tells us who was involved – Moses, the leader, and Eleazar, a priest (a person who served in the temple). "...the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds..." : This is key! “Captains of thousands” meant very important leaders like kings or prominent figures. “Captains of hundreds” meant even more important leaders – think powerful judges or elders. It’s a significant amount of gold! "...and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation..." : The Tabernacle was a special structure where God would dwell with his people, and it was a place for worship and remembrance. "[for] a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD." : This is the why behind the gold. It wasn’t just about showing off wealth; it was a reminder that God loved these people so much he wanted to keep them safe and remember their special place in His eyes. It was a way to show He was watching over them. So, what's the big takeaway? This verse shows how God valued his people and used a tangible offering – gold – to demonstrate that He cared deeply for them and wanted to keep them close. It’s a powerful story of reverence and remembrance! --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse in more detail? Discuss the significance of the Tabernacle itself? Relate it to a particular event or story from the Bible?