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NASB	Numbers 31:18 "But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves.
AMPLIFIED 2015	Numbers 31:18 "But all the young girls who have not known a man intimately, keep alive for yourselves [to marry].

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Bible Question: In this early Jewish culture what would have become of these women that were spared because of their virginity. Has anyone done any study in this area? Would they have just been made a part of Israel by their marriage to a Jewish man? Would they have been looked down upon because they were not Jewish by blood? How would they have blended with the culture? Thanks

Bible Answer: Greetings Patawa,

Welcome to the forum!

(Numbers 31:18 KJV) But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

[Note: "women children" - the flower had not bloomed yet.]
Children: Hebrew - 'taph'
As: From the time that as a "taph" he clung to her; or; from an infant; small child

They were severely reproved for saving the women alive. It is very probable that Moses had commanded them to kill the women, at least this was implied in the general order to avenge Israel of the Midianites; the execution having reference to that crime, their drawing them in to the worship of Peor, it was easy to conclude that the women, who were the principal criminals, must not be spared. What! says Moses, have you saved the women alive? (Num 31:15). He was moved with a holy indignation at the sight of them. These were those that caused the children of Israel to commit this trespass; and therefore,
1. It is just that they should die. The law in case of whoredom was, The adulterer and adulteress should surely be put to death. God had put to death the adulterers of Israel by the plague, and now it was fit that the adulteresses of Midian, especially since they had been the tempters, should be put to death by the sword.
2. “It is dangerous to let them live; they will be still tempting the Israelites to uncleanness, and so your captives will be your conquerors and a second time your destroyers.” Severe orders are therefore given that all the grown women should be slain in cold blood, and only the female children spared.
(Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible)

As in the verse: "keep alive for yourselves." either to be handmaids to them, or to be married among them when grown up, and become proselytes, and initiated into their religion.
(John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)

Since the children were not of Israel bloodline they would be "strangers that sojourn with them". To sojourn: to live with the Israelites and receive their religion (a proselyte).

Some verses on a stranger:
((Exodus 12:49 KJV) One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
(Exodus 22:21 KJV) Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
(Leviticus 19:34 KJV) But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Children of a stranger:
(Leviticus 25:45 KJV) Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
(Leviticus 25:46 KJV) And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.

Word study: stranger; sojourn; fatherless

Hope this helps,
terrib

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