Numbers 31:48 - Officers' gratitude for divine protection

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Hebrew Text

וַיִּקְרְבוּ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה הַפְּקֻדִים אֲשֶׁר לְאַלְפֵי הַצָּבָא שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים וְשָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת׃

English Translation

And the officers who were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near to Moshe:

Transliteration

Vayikrevu el-Moshe hapekudim asher lealfei hatzava sarei ha'alafim vesarei hame'ot.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַֽיִּקְרְבוּ֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה הַפְּקֻדִ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לְאַלְפֵ֣י הַצָּבָ֑א שָׂרֵ֥י הָאֲלָפִ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י הַמֵּאֽוֹת׃

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

The verse appears in Bamidbar (Numbers) 31:14, describing the approach of the military officers to Moshe after the battle against Midian. This occurs following the command to wage war as retribution for Midian's role in leading Bnei Yisrael astray through the incident of Baal Peor (Bamidbar 25:1-9).

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (31:14) notes that these officers came to Moshe with a halachic inquiry regarding the spoils of war. They questioned whether the gold and silver captured from Midian—which had been used for idolatry—was permitted for Jewish use or if it fell under the prohibition of "issur hana'ah" (benefit from idolatrous items). This demonstrates their meticulousness in observing Torah law even in wartime.

Military Structure and Leadership

The verse emphasizes the hierarchy of the Israelite army:

Officers over the thousands (פְּקֻדִים אֲשֶׁר לְאַלְפֵי הַצָּבָא): The highest-ranking commanders.
Captains of thousands (שָׂרֵי הָאֲלָפִים): Leaders of individual thousand-man units.
Captains of hundreds (שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת): Subordinate officers responsible for smaller groups.

The Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 4:1) later codifies this structure as the ideal model for Jewish military organization, reflecting both efficiency and decentralized leadership.

Midrashic Insight

The Midrash Tanchuma (Matot 3) highlights the officers' humility in approaching Moshe despite their high rank. Unlike other nations where military leaders might act independently, these officers recognized Moshe's supreme authority in both spiritual and military matters. This reinforces the Torah ideal that even in war, Jewish leaders remain subservient to Torah law.

Halachic Implications

The Chizkuni (31:14) observes that the officers' approach to Moshe sets a precedent for seeking rabbinic guidance in complex situations—especially those involving potential conflicts between military necessity and halachic observance. This principle remains foundational in Jewish military ethics (hilchot tzava) to this day.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who were the 'officers' mentioned in Numbers 31:48?
A: The 'officers' (פְּקֻדִים) were the appointed leaders of the Israelite army, specifically the captains over thousands and hundreds. Rashi explains that these were trustworthy men chosen to oversee the troops during the battle against Midian.

Q: Why did the officers approach Moshe in this verse?
A: According to the Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 22:4), the officers came to Moshe to report that not a single Israelite soldier had been lost in the battle against Midian, demonstrating Hashem's miraculous protection. They also brought voluntary offerings to express gratitude.

Q: What is the significance of the military structure mentioned (captains of thousands and hundreds)?
A: The Torah (Exodus 18:21-25) established this hierarchical system on Yitro's advice. Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 4:5) explains it reflects proper leadership structure - with smaller groups allowing for closer supervision and maintaining order among the people.

Q: What lesson can we learn from the officers approaching Moshe?
A: The Talmud (Berachot 34b) derives from here the importance of giving proper credit and reporting to Torah leadership. Just as these officers respectfully approached Moshe, we should maintain proper channels of communication with our spiritual leaders.

Q: How does this verse connect to the broader narrative in Numbers 31?
A: This verse introduces the officers' report that leads to their voluntary donation (mentioned in the next verses). The Kli Yakar notes this shows their integrity - first ensuring no lives were lost before dealing with the spoils of war.