Good News Bible

Numbers 31:11-19 Good News Bible (GNB)

11. They took all the loot that they had captured, including the prisoners and the animals,

12. and brought them to Moses and Eleazar and to the community of the people of Israel, who were at the camp on the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.

13. Moses, Eleazar, and all the other leaders of the community went out of the camp to meet the army.

14. Moses was angry with the officers, the commanders of battalions and companies, who had returned from the war.

15. He asked them, “Why have you kept all the women alive?

16. Remember that it was the women who followed Balaam's instructions and at Peor led the people to be unfaithful to the Lord. That was what brought the epidemic on the Lord's people.

17. So now kill every boy and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse,

18. but keep alive for yourselves all the girls and all the women who are virgins.

19. Now all of you who have killed anyone or have touched a corpse must stay outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and on the seventh day purify yourselves and the women you have captured.