Numbers 31:17

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

Now therefore kill {H2026} every male {H2145} among the little ones {H2945}, and kill {H2026} every woman {H802} that hath known {H3045} man {H376} by lying {H4904} with him {H2145}.

Now kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has ever slept with a man.

So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man,

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

Commentary

Numbers 31:17 presents a challenging and often debated command given by Moses to the Israelite army after their victory over the Midianites. This verse is part of a larger narrative detailing divine judgment against a people who had actively sought to corrupt Israel.

Context

This command follows Israel's war against the Midianites, initiated by God's instruction in Numbers 31:2 to "avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites." The Midianites, along with the Moabites, had previously enticed Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality through the incident at Peor, as recorded in Numbers 25. Many Israelites died in a plague as a direct result of this sin. After the initial battle, the Israelite soldiers spared the Midianite women and children, but Moses, upon seeing this, was enraged. He recognized that these very women were instrumental in leading Israel into sin at Peor (Numbers 31:16). Therefore, he issued this severe command to prevent future spiritual contamination and to execute divine judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Holiness: The command underscores God's absolute holiness and His severe intolerance for sin, especially idolatry and spiritual apostasy. This was a direct act of judgment against a people who had become utterly corrupt and a clear spiritual threat to Israel.
  • Consequences of Sin: The drastic nature of the command highlights the extreme consequences of rebellion against God and the severity of leading others into sin. The Midianites faced total destruction for their role in tempting Israel.
  • Protection of Israel's Purity: Moses's instruction aimed to safeguard the spiritual and moral purity of the Israelite community. By removing the source of past temptation, he sought to prevent further idolatry and immorality that could jeopardize Israel's covenant relationship with God.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "kill every male among the little ones" refers to infant and young boys.
  • "kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him" is a clear euphemism for adult women who have had sexual intercourse. This distinction is crucial; it targeted those capable of perpetuating the Midianite culture and, specifically, those who had participated in the previous enticement of Israel at Peor. The young girls who had not "known man" were spared, likely with the intent of assimilating them into Israelite society, perhaps through marriage, under strict adherence to Israelite law.

Theological Considerations & Practical Application

Numbers 31:17 is undeniably one of the most challenging passages in the Old Testament for modern readers. It is essential to interpret it within its unique historical and theological context:

  • Sovereignty of God: This passage affirms God's ultimate sovereignty over life and death, and His right to execute judgment upon nations for their wickedness (see Genesis 18:25). The Midianites were not merely enemies of Israel, but enemies of God's redemptive plan, having actively sought to corrupt His chosen people.
  • Unique Context of Holy War: This was a specific instance of "holy war" or divine judgment, distinct from general warfare. It was a direct command from God for a specific purpose at a specific time, not a universal mandate for all societies or situations. It represents the eradication of a deeply corrupt culture that posed an existential spiritual threat to God's covenant people.
  • Severity of Sin: While the command is harsh, it powerfully conveys the extreme seriousness of sin in God's eyes, particularly spiritual rebellion and enticing others into idolatry. It demonstrates that God's holiness demands a response to deep-seated wickedness.
  • New Testament Perspective: While the Old Testament reveals God's justice and judgment, the New Testament reveals the fullness of His love and mercy through Christ, where the ultimate judgment for sin was borne by Jesus on the cross. However, the principles of God's holiness, hatred of sin, and the need for spiritual purity remain constant. For believers today, the application is not about literal warfare, but about the spiritual battle against sin within our own lives and communities, striving for holiness and resisting spiritual corruption.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 20:16 (3 votes)

    But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee [for] an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:

  • Deuteronomy 20:18 (3 votes)

    That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.

  • Judges 21:11 (3 votes)

    And this [is] the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

  • Judges 21:12 (3 votes)

    And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which [is] in the land of Canaan.

  • Deuteronomy 7:2 (3 votes)

    And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, [and] utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: