God said WHAT???

By Vishal Sooklall

One of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible is Numbers 31:17–18. Many people claim these verses prove that God commanded the Israelites to take young girls as sex slaves. However, that is not what the text says. A careful reading of the entire chapter reveals a very different picture.

The first rule of Bible study is to read every verse in its context. In Numbers 25, the Midianites deliberately led Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal Peor. They used their women to entice the Israelites into worshipping false gods. Because of this rebellion, God's judgment fell upon Israel, and thousands of Israelites died.

Later, in Numbers 31, God commanded Israel to execute judgment on Midian. Moses reminded the people why this judgment was taking place: "These women caused the children of Israel... to trespass against the LORD" (Numbers 31:16). The women who had participated in leading Israel into sin were judged because of their role in that rebellion.

The young girls, however, had not participated in those events. That is why they were spared. The Bible simply says to "keep alive" the girls who had not known a man. It does not say they were to be raped, abused, or used as sex slaves. Those ideas are added to the text by critics—they are not found in the passage itself.

In fact, the Law of Moses contains many commands protecting women from sexual immorality and unlawful sexual behavior. God repeatedly condemned sexual sin and required His people to live holy lives. It would be inconsistent to claim that the same God who condemned sexual immorality was commanding sexual abuse in this passage when the text never says so.

This event was also not a general command for all nations or all generations. It was a unique act of divine judgment against the Midianites because of their deliberate attempt to corrupt God's people through idolatry and immorality. It was a specific historical event, not a universal rule.