Numbers 31:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Cyril. Indeed, for what comes next is the divine instruction that provides a straightforward and clear directive. “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Count the spoils of the captivity, from man to cattle, you and Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the tribes of the people; and divide the spoils in half among those who fought, and among all the people; and from the soldiers who went to battle, take a tribute for the Lord, one soul of each five hundred, of men, cattle, donkeys, and sheep; and from the half of the children of Israel, take it from their portion and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the Lord; and from the remaining half of the children of Israel, take one soul of fifty, of men, cattle, donkeys, and sheep, and give it to the Levites who serve at the tabernacle of the Lord. And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses” (Num. 31:25-31). Thus, the command of God was promptly fulfilled: the spoils were meticulously counted and divided; and the portions dedicated to the Lord were given to Eleazar the priest and the tribe of Levi.

What follows? Can your mind overcome forgetfulness and remember what we discussed initially?

Palladius. What is it?

Cyril. Does Holy Scripture not indicate that a thousand from each tribe assembled for battle?

Palladius. Indeed, it is stated.

Cyril. Have we not clearly stated that the glory of a part is attributed to the whole, since the kindness and mercy of God orchestrate this beautifully, so that, metaphorically speaking, from one fragrant offering made of various incense, a common aroma may arise to God, and both the distinguished and less distinguished be praised together?

Palladius. This is exactly what we aimed to explore.

Cyril. Observe how clearly God establishes this for the Israelites. Even though a chosen thousand warriors from each tribe engaged in battle against the Midianites and emerged victorious, I believe, through great effort and sacrifice, the spoils of the war were immediately shared with the entire community. Thus, the bravery of these valiant men brought honor to the rest of the people: “You and Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the host, shall divide the spoils; and you shall share the spoils among the soldiers who fought and among all the people” (Num. 31:26-27).

The apostle Paul also emphasizes that even those who may seem lesser are glorified alongside the most distinguished: after recounting the saints of old, who earned recognition through faith and attained radiant glory through their devoted worship, he states: “All these died in faith without receiving the promises... because God had provided something better for us, so that they might not attain perfection without us” (Hebrews 11:13-40). To others, he also writes: “You are already perfect; you have begun to reign without us. Oh, if you would indeed reign, that we also might reign with you!” (1 Cor. 4:8). Do you see how those who have reached perfection share in that glory, while those who may seem inadequate are blessed alongside the elect?

And the inspired David proclaims, “Blessed are you by the Lord, who made heaven and earth... The Lord remembers us, blesses us, blesses the house of Israel, blesses the house of Aaron; blesses those who fear the Lord, the small along with the great” (Psalm 113:23-21). Alongside the mighty are blessed those who are deemed lesser, who, despite their inability to boast equal strength or readiness to suffer, share in zeal and faith, and bring joy to Christ through their steadfastness.

Moses and Eleazar symbolize the one High Priest and Lawgiver of Christ, distributing the congregation’s bounty in the presence of the holy angels, represented perhaps by the leaders of the tribes. Do you not recognize that there are many holy angels present on earth, appointed by God to aid the faithful and guide the nations?

Palladius. I acknowledge that; how could I not?

Cyril. We anticipate the return of Christ from heaven, accompanied by the holy angels, to take His seat on the throne of glory and to reward each individual with honor corresponding to their good works. As the wise Isaiah proclaims about Christ, “Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He shall share the spoil with the strong, because He gave His life to death, and was counted among the evildoers, whereas He bore the sin of many, and was made an intercessor for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Thus, the sharing of benefits will be fulfilled in Christ, reflected in the actions of Moses and Aaron, as Christ is both Lawgiver and High Priest.

Palladius. You have spoken very well.

In the context of the destruction of the Midianites, Moses, whose law is referenced and relied upon, commands that their maidens be taken as slaves, along with their possessions. From the warriors who went to battle, a tribute is to be offered to the Lord: one soul from every five hundred, including men, cattle, donkeys, and small livestock. The spoils secured by the Israelites are then enumerated: six hundred and seventy-five thousand small livestock, seventy-two thousand cattle, sixty-one thousand donkeys, and thirty-two thousand souls—women who had not known a man (Num. 31:32-35). Once again, humanity is classified alongside livestock! What does this signify? It surely holds significance; the very expressions placing man alongside cattle and lifeless objects were inspired by the Holy Spirit. These vivid, concrete features illustrate the profound depths of humanity's fall. Just as the fallen angel, due to his transgression, is numbered among the beasts of the earth (Gen. 3), so too fallen humanity is reduced to the status of unthinking cattle and compared to them (Ps. 48:21). Into this moral chasm, the God-Man descended to rescue humanity! He, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), not only assumed the form of a servant but also chose to liken Himself to creatures destined for slaughter. This is the manner in which the Holy Scriptures describe the beheaded Lord (Psalm 48:21, translated from the Hebrew).