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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 (short): how to rightly divide the Word? |
Question (full): Regarding the expectation on boys that was not the same as for girls, you said "This was simply the cultural norm." This implies that cultural expectations influenced the decision to kill the boys and spare the girls. This implies that in a different culture, with different expectations, the outcome might be different. For example, if this were to occur in a society in which the girls would grow into women who feel empowered to act, they too might desire to exact revenge upon the Israelites and therefore would also be killed. Of course, this is speculation. However, if the expectation on the boys is the justification, then this is an example of pre-emptive self-defense, is it not? My point is that while cultural norms are always important to consider in attempting to understand what people do in the Name of God, how does one rightly divide the Word in order to distinguish actions in the context of cultural norms and those that transcend culture and are appropriate in every circumstance? |