The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the children of Israel on the Midianites.
Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.”
Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD’s vengeance on Midian.
You shall send one thousand out of every tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, to the war.”
So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.