Numbers 31:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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

Complete Jewish Bible:

But the young girls who have never slept with a man, keep alive for yourselves.

Berean Standard Bible:

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

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But all the women^{H802} children^{H2945}, that have not known^{H3045} a man^{H2145} by lying^{H4904} with him, keep alive^{H2421} for yourselves.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 31:18

1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Command and Obedience:** The verse reflects the theme of adherence to divine commands, as the Israelites are being instructed by God, through Moses, on how to deal with the captives from their battle against the Midianites.
- **Purity and Separation:** There is an emphasis on maintaining purity within the Israelite community, which is why virgin women are distinguished from others.
- **Military Conquest and Spoils of War:** The theme of conquest and the distribution of spoils, including people, is evident, which was a common practice in ancient warfare.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The events in Numbers 31 take place during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, after the exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land.
- **Occasion:** The Israelites are instructed to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, as described in Numbers 25.
- **Cultural Practices:** In the ancient Near Eastern context, it was not uncommon for victorious armies to take captives, including women and children. The instruction to keep virgin women alive may reflect the practice of incorporating outsiders into the community through marriage, albeit under strict guidelines.
- **Mosaic Law:** The directive is consistent with the laws concerning warfare and treatment of captives as found in Deuteronomy 20 and 21, which include provisions for the treatment of female captives.

In summary, Numbers 31:18 is situated within the broader context of the Israelites' divinely sanctioned military campaigns and reflects the themes of obedience to God's commands, concerns with ritual purity, and the treatment of captives in the ancient world. It also highlights the complex intersection of religious, military, and social norms in ancient Israelite society.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2945
   There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טַף
   Transliteration: ṭaph
   Pronunciation: taf
   Description: from טָפַף (perhaps referring to the tripping gait of children); a family (mostly used collectively in the singular); (little) children (ones), families.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3045
   There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָדַע
   Transliteration: yâdaʻ
   Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
   Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2145
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָכָר
   Transliteration: zâkâr
   Pronunciation: zaw-kawr'
   Description: from זָכַר; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex); [idiom] him, male, man(child, -kind).
   
5. Strong's Number: H4904
   There are 44 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁכָּב
   Transliteration: mishkâb
   Pronunciation: mish-kawb'
   Description: from שָׁכַב; a bed (figuratively, a bier); abstractly, sleep; by euphemism, carnal intercourse; bed(-chamber), couch, lieth (lying) with.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2421
   There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָיָה
   Transliteration: châyâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-yaw'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָוָה, חָיָה); to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive; keep (leave, make) alive, [idiom] certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore (to life), revive, ([idiom] God) save (alive, life, lives), [idiom] surely, be whole.