But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Study Helps
Interpretation
The sword of war should spare women and children; but the sword of justice should know no distinction, but that of guilty or not guilty. This war was the execution of a righteous sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were the worst criminals.
Read with
This thought runs through Numbers 31:16-20.