Numbers 31:18

18 And as for all the captivity of women, who have not known the lying with man, save ye them alive.

Numbers 31:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 31:18

But all the women children
The females among the little ones:

that have not known a man by lying with him;
which might be pretty clear, and easily concluded, from their age:

keep for yourselves;
either to be handmaids to them, or to be married among them when grown up, and become proselytes, and initiated into their religion.

Numbers 31:18 In-Context

16 For they were to the children of Israel by the word of Balaam of their revolting and despising the word of the Lord, because of Phogor; and there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord.

17 Now then slay every male in all the spoil, slay every woman, who has known the lying with man.

18 And as for all the captivity of women, who have not known the lying with man, save ye them alive.

19 And ye shall encamp outside the camp seven days; every one who has slain and who touches a dead body, shall be purified on the third day, and ye and your captivity on the seventh day.

20 And ye shall purify every garment and every leathern utensil, and all furniture of goat skin, and every wooden vessel.