Numbers 31:18 | DiscipleDeck

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Numbers 31:18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others · Public Domain

keep alive for yourselves: It has been groundlessly asserted, that Moses here authorised the Israelites to make concubines of the whole number of female children; and an insidious objection against his writings has been grounded upon this monstrous supposition.

But the whole tenor of the law, and especially a statute recorded in Deuteronomy 21:10-14, proves most decisively to the contrary. They were merely permitted to possess them as female slaves, educating them in their families, and employing them as domestics; for the laws concerning fornication, concubinage, and marriage, were in full force, and prohibited an Israelite even from marrying a captive, without delays and previous formalities; and if he afterwards divorced her, he was to set here at liberty, "because he had humbled her."

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Numbers 31 — OverviewNumbers 31 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis chapter belongs to "the book of the wars of the Lord," in which it is probable it was inserted. It is the history of a holy war, a war with Midian. Here is, I. A divine command for the war, ver. 1, 2. II.…Numbers 31 — OverviewNumbers 31 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 31:1, The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain; Numbers 31:13, Moses is wroth with the officers, for saving the women alive; Numbers 31:19, How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be…Numbers 31 — OverviewNumbers 31 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter contains an order to make war upon Midian, which was accordingly done, Nu 31:1, but Moses was wroth, because they saved the women alive, who, through the counsel of Balaam, had been the cause of sin, and of…Numbers 31:13-24Numbers 31:13-24 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleWe have here the triumphant return of the army of Israel from the war with Midian, and here, I. They were met with great respect, v. 13. Moses himself, notwithstanding his age and gravity, walked out of the camp…Numbers 31:18Numbers 31:18 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleBut all the women children,.... The females among the little ones:that have not known a man by lying with him; which might be pretty clear, and easily concluded, from their age:keep for yourselves; either to be…

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