Numbers 31:35

Numbers 31:35 is part of the detailed accounting of the spoils taken by the Israelites after their punitive war against the Midianites. This verse specifically lists the number of women who were spared because they were virgins, designated to be kept alive according to God's command.

Context of Numbers 31:35

The war against Midian, described in Numbers chapter 31, was a direct command from God to Moses to execute vengeance upon the Midianites. This was not a war of territorial expansion but a divine judgment for Midian's role in seducing Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality through the Baal-peor incident (Numbers 25:1-9, 16-18). The instructions for the spoils of war were specific: all males and non-virgin women were to be killed, while virgin women were to be kept alive (Numbers 31:17-18). Verse 35 provides the exact count of these surviving virgin women who became part of the congregation's share of the plunder.

Key Themes and Messages

• Divine Judgment and Justice: The war itself underscores God's unwavering justice against those who lead His people astray and promote pagan practices. The severity of the command reflects the gravity of Midian's sin and its corrupting influence on Israel.
• Holiness and Purity: The distinction between women who had "known man by lying with him" and those who had not highlights the profound importance of purity within the Israelite covenant community. Non-virgins were associated with the defilement of Midianite idolatry and immorality, which God sought to eradicate from His people's midst. This emphasis on separation from corrupting influences is a recurring theme in the Law.
• God's Meticulousness: The detailed accounting of every item, including people, animals, and precious metals, reveals God's meticulous nature and His involvement in every aspect of Israel's life, even in the distribution of war spoils.

Linguistic Insight

The phrase "had not known man by lying with him" is a common biblical euphemism for a woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse, signifying virginity. The Hebrew verb for "known" (yada') often implies intimate, experiential knowledge, which in this context, refers to sexual relations. This distinction was crucial for the Mosaic Law concerning ritual purity and lineage.

Practical Application

While the specific commands for warfare and the taking of spoils are unique to ancient Israel under the Mosaic covenant, the underlying principles offer enduring lessons:

• Guarding Against Corrupting Influences: Believers today are called to maintain spiritual purity and to be vigilant against influences that could lead them away from God's commands, much like Midian led Israel astray. This is a call to separate from ungodly practices.
• God's Holiness: This passage serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute holiness and His intolerance for sin, particularly idolatry and immorality, which defile His covenant people.
• Consequences of Sin: The Midianite war is a stark illustration of the severe consequences that can follow disobedience and leading others into sin.