Numbers 31:17
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that has known man by lying with him.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that has known man by lying with him.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
So now put every male child to death, and every woman who has had sex relations with a man.
Webster's Revision
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
World English Bible
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
Clarke's Numbers 31:17 Bible Commentary
Kill every male among the little ones - For this action I account simply on the principle that God, who is the author and supporter of life, has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper; and the Judge of all the earth can do nothing but what is right. Of the women killed on this occasion it may be safely said, their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions; and yet even in this case there can be little doubt that God showed mercy to their souls. The little ones were safely lodged; they were taken to heaven and saved from the evil to come.
Wesley's Numbers 31:17 Bible Commentary
31:17 The little ones - Which they were forbidden to do to other people, Deuteronomy 20:14 , except the Canaanites, to whom this people had equaled themselves by their horrid crimes, and therefore it is not strange, nor unjust, that God, the supreme Lord of all mens lives, who as he gives them, so may take them away when he pleaseth, did equal them in the punishment. Every woman - Partly for punishment, because the guilt was general, and though some ofthem only did prostitute themselves to the Israelites, yet the rest made themselves accessary by their consent or approbation; and partly, for prevention of the like mischief from such an adulterous generation.
