Numbers 31:14-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
14 Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. 15 Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live? 16 These women here, on Balaam’s advice, made the Israelites act treacherously against the Lord in the affair of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.(A) 17 Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by sleeping with him.(B) 18 But all the young girls who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves.
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Numbers 31:14-18
International Standard Version
Commands Concerning War Captives
14 But Moses became livid with anger at the officers of the army, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds who had returned from servicing in the battle. 15 “Did you keep all the women alive?” Moses asked them. 16 “Look! These women were the same ones who were counseled by Balaam to cause the Israelis to commit a grievous sin against the Lord at Peor. As a result, that plague infected the Lord’s community. 17 You are to kill every male child[a] and every woman who has had sexual relations with a man.[b] 18 You are to allow the young women who haven’t yet had sexual relations with a man[c] to live for yourselves.”
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- Numbers 31:17 Lit. every male among the little ones
- Numbers 31:17 Lit. every woman who has known a man by lying with him
- Numbers 31:18 Lit. little ones among the women, who had not known a man by lying with him
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