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Numbers 31:45 - Donkeys' hidden spiritual significance?

Numbers 31:45 - במדבר 31:45

Hebrew Text

וַחֲמֹרִים שְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף וַחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת׃

English Translation

and thirty thousand five hundred asses,

Transliteration

Vachamorim shloshim elef vachamesh me'ot.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַחֲמֹרִ֕ים שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃
וַחֲמֹרִ֕ים שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף וַחֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

The verse (Numbers 31:34) appears in the account of the spoils taken by Bnei Yisrael after their battle with Midian. The tally of donkeys (חֲמֹרִים) is part of the detailed enumeration of captured livestock.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi notes that the donkeys were distinct from other animals in the spoils because they were primarily used for carrying burdens (Rashi on Numbers 31:34). He explains that their large number (30,500) reflects the practical need for transporting goods acquired in war.

Symbolic Significance

The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 22:4) connects donkeys to material wealth and physical labor. The precise counting teaches that even mundane possessions are accounted for by Hashem and must be used for holy purposes.

Halachic Perspective

  • Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 8:1) derives from such war spoils that animals must be treated ethically even in battle.
  • The Talmud (Chullin 7a) discusses the kosher status of donkeys, contrasting them with permitted livestock counted elsewhere in the spoils.

Numerical Precision

Baal HaTurim observes that the number 30,500 corresponds to the gematria of certain phrases about material blessings, suggesting that these donkeys represented Divine providence in sustaining Israel during their journeys.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the number of donkeys (30,500) represent in Numbers 31:45?
A: In Numbers 31:45, the 30,500 donkeys were part of the spoils from the war against Midian. According to Rashi, these animals were given to the Levites as their portion (Numbers 31:30), since the Levites did not receive a regular inheritance of land like the other tribes.
Q: Why does the Torah specify the exact number of donkeys in this verse?
A: The Torah specifies exact numbers to show the precision of the division of spoils after the battle. The Talmud (Chullin 11a) teaches that every detail in the Torah has significance, and numbers often carry symbolic meaning or teach practical lessons about proper distribution.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the donkeys being counted separately in the spoils of war?
A: The separate counting teaches that every type of possession has value and should be properly accounted for. The Rambam (Hilchot Matnot Aniyim 8:1) derives from such verses that we must be careful with all possessions, even animals, and distribute them properly according to Torah law.