Numbers 31:18

18 "But all the girls * who have not known man intimately *, spare for yourselves.

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 "Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD .

17 "Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately .

18 "But all the girls who have not known man intimately , spare for yourselves.

19 "And you, camp outside the camp seven days; whoever has killed any person and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves, you and your captives, on the third day and on the seventh day.

20 "You shall purify for yourselves every garment and every article of leather and all the work of goats' hair, and all articles of wood."

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "female children"
• [b]. Lit "by lying with a man"
• [c]. Lit "keep alive"