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Numbers 31:15 "Have you spared all the women?" he asked them.
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 31:15 "Have you spared all the women?" he asked them.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/31-15.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/20/04_Num_31_15.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 31:15 - Vengeance on Midian" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Have you spared all the women? he asked them." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script 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frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/numbers/31-14.htm" title="Numbers 31:14">◄</a> Numbers 31:15 <a href="/numbers/31-16.htm" title="Numbers 31:16">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/numbers/31.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/31.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/31.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/31.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/31.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Have you spared all the women?” he asked them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/31.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/31.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Moses said to them: “Have you kept all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/31.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/31.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/31.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/31.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So Moses said to them, “Have you spared all the women?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/31.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/31.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Have you let every female live? ” he asked them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/31.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Have you let every female live?” he asked them. “<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/31.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/31.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and said, "I can't believe you let the women live! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/31.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/31.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"Why did you let all the women live?" he asked them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/31.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He asked them, "Why have you kept all the women alive? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/31.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Did you keep all the women alive?" Moses asked them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/31.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?Have you spared all the women?? he asked them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/31.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Moses said to them, "Have you allowed all the women to live?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/31.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Moses said to them, "Have you saved all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/31.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Moses said to them, Have ye saved all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/31.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive? <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/31.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Moses says to them, “Have you kept every female alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/31.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Moses saith unto them, 'Have ye kept alive every female?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/31.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Moses will say to them, Preserved ye alive every female?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/31.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Said: Why have you saved the women? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/31.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />said: “Why have you spared the females?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/31.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“So you have spared all the women!” he exclaimed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/31.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live?<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/31.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Moses said to them, Why have you let all the women live?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/31.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Moshe said to them, “Why have you saved all the females?<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/31.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Moses said unto them: 'Have ye saved all the women alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/31.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Moses said to them, Why have ye saved every female alive?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/31-15.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=9531" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/31.htm">Vengeance on Midian</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">14</span>But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who were returning from the battle. <span class="reftext">15</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2421.htm" title="2421: ha·ḥî·yî·ṯem (V-Piel-Perf-2mp) -- To live, to revive. A primitive root; to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive.">“Have you spared</a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/5347.htm" title="5347: nə·qê·ḇāh (N-fs) -- A female. From naqab; female.">the women?”</a> <a href="/hebrew/4872.htm" title="4872: mō·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- A great Isr. leader, prophet and lawgiver. From mashah; drawing out, i.e. Rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver.">he</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">asked them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. "></a> </span><span class="reftext">16</span>“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/20-16.htm">Deuteronomy 20:16-18</a></span><br />However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, / so that they cannot teach you to do all the detestable things they do for their gods, and so cause you to sin against the LORD your God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/6-17.htm">Joshua 6:17-21</a></span><br />Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent. / But keep away from the things devoted to destruction, lest you yourself be set apart for destruction. If you take any of these, you will set apart the camp of Israel for destruction and bring disaster upon it. / For all the silver and gold and all the articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they must go into His treasury.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">1 Samuel 15:3</a></span><br />Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/21-10.htm">Judges 21:10-11</a></span><br />So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children. / This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-2.htm">Deuteronomy 7:2</a></span><br />and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-2</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/34-15.htm">Exodus 34:15-16</a></span><br />Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-16.htm">Deuteronomy 7:16</a></span><br />You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/10-11.htm">2 Kings 10:11</a></span><br />So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/15-9.htm">1 Samuel 15:9</a></span><br />Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/13-15.htm">Deuteronomy 13:15</a></span><br />you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/25-12.htm">2 Chronicles 25:12</a></span><br />and the army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/20-42.htm">1 Kings 20:42</a></span><br />And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/11-1.htm">2 Kings 11:1</a></span><br />When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-17.htm">Matthew 5:17-18</a></span><br />Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Moses said to them, Have you saved all the women alive?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/2-34.htm">Deuteronomy 2:34</a></b></br> And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/20-13.htm">Deuteronomy 20:13,16-18</a></b></br> And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/6-21.htm">Joshua 6:21</a></b></br> And they utterly destroyed all that <i>was</i> in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/22-33.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-39.htm">Allowed</a> <a href="/numbers/30-14.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/numbers/24-23.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/24-21.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/numbers/22-33.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/numbers/22-33.htm">Spared</a> <a href="/numbers/31-9.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/31-18.htm">Alive</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/7-22.htm">Allowed</a> <a href="/numbers/31-18.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/numbers/33-53.htm">Live</a> <a href="/numbers/32-16.htm">Safe</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-29.htm">Saved</a> <a href="/joshua/6-17.htm">Spared</a> <a href="/numbers/31-18.htm">Women</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 31</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-1.htm">The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-13.htm">Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-19.htm">How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-25.htm">The proportion in which the prey is to be divided</a></span><br><span class="reftext">48. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/31-48.htm">The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/31.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/31.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Have you spared all the women?</b><br>This question is posed by Moses to the Israelite soldiers returning from battle against the Midianites. The context is a divine command to execute judgment on the Midianites for their role in leading Israel into idolatry and immorality (Numbers 25). Sparing the women, particularly those who had led Israel into sin, was contrary to the instructions given by God. This highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for complete obedience to God's commands. <p><b>he asked them.</b><br>Moses, as the leader and prophet of Israel, is the one questioning the soldiers. His role is to ensure that God's commands are followed precisely. This moment underscores the importance of leadership accountability and the responsibility of leaders to guide their people in righteousness. Moses' inquiry reflects his concern for the spiritual purity of the nation and the potential consequences of disobedience. This incident also foreshadows the need for a perfect leader, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who leads His people in perfect obedience to God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is addressing the Israelite soldiers after their return from battle.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelite_soldiers.htm">Israelite Soldiers</a></b><br>The men who went to battle against the Midianites as commanded by God. They are the recipients of Moses' question and rebuke.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/midianites.htm">Midianites</a></b><br>A nomadic people who were adversaries of Israel. The Midianites had previously led Israel into sin through the counsel of Balaam.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/w/women_of_midian.htm">Women of Midian</a></b><br>Specifically, the women who were spared by the Israelite soldiers. These women had played a role in leading Israel into idolatry and immorality.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_battle_against_midian.htm">The Battle Against Midian</a></b><br>An event where God commanded Moses to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in leading Israel into sin.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sin.htm">The Seriousness of Sin</a></b><br>The passage highlights the gravity of sin and its consequences. The Midianite women had led Israel into sin, and Moses' question underscores the need for vigilance against influences that lead us away from God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">Obedience to God's Commands</a></b><br>The Israelites were given specific instructions regarding the Midianites. This teaches us the importance of complete obedience to God's commands, even when they are difficult to understand or execute.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_leadership.htm">The Role of Leadership</a></b><br>Moses' leadership is evident as he holds the soldiers accountable. This demonstrates the responsibility of leaders to guide and correct those under their care according to God's standards.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_compromise.htm">The Danger of Compromise</a></b><br>Sparing the women represented a compromise that could lead to future sin. This serves as a warning against allowing seemingly small compromises to take root in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_holiness_and_justice.htm">God's Holiness and Justice</a></b><br>The command to take vengeance on the Midianites reflects God's holiness and justice. It reminds us that God is righteous and will not tolerate sin indefinitely.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_31.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 31</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_blame_balaam_alone_for_midian's_fate.htm">Numbers 31:15–16: Why is Balaam’s influence singled out as the sole reason for divine judgment on Midian, given previous chapters mention other deeds? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible_on_refusing_medical_treatment.htm">What happened to the Midianite virgins in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/any_evidence_of_amalekites'_destruction.htm">Are there any historical or archaeological records supporting the total destruction of the Amalekites described in 1 Samuel 15?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_reconcile_numbers_31_7-18_with_compassion.htm">Numbers 31:7-18: How can the command to kill non-virgin women and boys be reconciled with claims of a compassionate God?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/numbers/31.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(15) <span class= "bld">Have ye saved all the women alive?--</span>It was the women, as is expressed in the following verse, who had been the cause, at the instigation of Balaam, of the apostacy of the Israelites; and consequently the command to "avenge the Lord of Midiani" implied the punishment of those who had been the instruments employed in the seduction of the Israelites.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/31-15.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“Have you spared</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽחִיִּיתֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(ha·ḥî·yî·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2421.htm">Strong's 2421: </a> </span><span class="str2">To live, to revive</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the women?”</span><br /><span class="heb">נְקֵבָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(nə·qê·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5347.htm">Strong's 5347: </a> </span><span class="str2">A female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he</span><br /><span class="heb">מֹשֶׁ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(mō·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4872.htm">Strong's 4872: </a> </span><span class="str2">Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver</span><br /><br /><span class="word">asked them.</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֥אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/31-15.htm">Numbers 31:15 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/31-15.htm">OT Law: Numbers 31:15 Moses said to them Have you saved (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/31-14.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 31:14"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 31:14" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/31-16.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 31:16"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 31:16" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>