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NASB | Numbers 31:17 "Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Numbers 31:17 "Now therefore, kill every male among the children, and kill every woman who is not a virgin. |
Bible Question:
Thank you for sharing your opinions about the purpose of this scripture and the interesting commentaries along those lines. My only concern, though, with the ideas that 1) its none of our business, 2) we're not smart enough to understand or 3) we're not interested and just want to complain, comes in light of 2 Tim 3:16 "Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, for training in righteousness" If the purpose of this scripture is not to be explained in the terms I have put the question, and that is certainly possible, then what purpose does Numbers 31:17-18 serve, among those listed by Paul to Timothy? |
Bible Answer: Dear Parable, None of my explanations for God's unwillingness to answer "why" questions contradicts 2 Timothy 3:16 or any other Scripture. Indeed, it is consistent with what we know about special and general revelation. Note, for example, one of the wisdom books: Job. It records a God-initiated set of events in the life of Job. The question it poses is "Why do the righteous suffer?" In 42 chapters, no answer is given. You wrote, "If the purpose of this scripture is not to be explained in the terms I have put the question, and that is certainly possible, then what purpose does Numbers 31:17-18 serve, among those listed by Paul to Timothy?" Now you are asking a completely different question. (By the way, every one of those commentators answered your original question. That was why I provided them for you.) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (ESV) The book of Numbers is a historic book. It is profitable for our instruction (teaching) about God's dealings with the Israelites in the past. It is reproof of our plans and intentions when they contravene the will of God. It is correction to our culturally based presuppositions associated with the explicit command of God. It stirs humility and reverential fear in our hearts, in the face of a God who both gives and takes life, thereby training us in righteousness. I could go on and on and on. The net effect is that we are better equipped for every good work. We are pretty much a compendium of laymen. As I suggested in a previous post, if you are not satisfied with the answers you receive, you should research the questions in more detail by leveraging resources elsewhere. We may have, quite simply, exhausted our resources and abilities. When you do find an answer with which you are satisfied, perhaps you can post it here for our consideration and edification. In Him, Doc |