Numbers 31:18

but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite warriors immediately after their campaign against Midian. He issues a command to separate surviving female captives based on their sexual history before distributing spoils.

The words — הַטַּף (ha./Taf) means the little ones, and מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר (mish.Kav za.Khar) literally denotes a male's sexual lying. The syntax directly qualifies which captives fall under the exemption from execution.

The thread — This directive intersects with wartime captivity laws in Deuteronomy 21:10 and plunder regulations in Deuteronomy 20:14. It also parallels the broader scriptural framework for acquiring servants from surrounding nations in Leviticus 25:44.

Why it lands — The text demands a precise application of judgment and preservation without emotional hesitation. It requires the reader to recognize how legal boundaries govern the treatment of captives in ancient Israelite warfare.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְכֹל֙ve./Kholand/ all הַטַּ֣ףha./Tafthe/ little one[s]בַּנָּשִׁ֔יםba./na.Shimamong the/ women אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwho לֹא־lo'-not יָדְע֖וּya.de.'Uthey have known מִשְׁכַּ֣בmish.Kavlying of זָכָ֑רza.Khara male הַחֲי֖וּha.cha.Yupreserve aliveלָכֶֽם׃la./Khemfor <the>/ yourselves

King James Version

But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 21:10 When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,
Leviticus 25:44 Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.
Deuteronomy 20:14 But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
2 Chronicles 28:8 Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.
Isaiah 14:2 The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.