Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 31:17
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
Verse 17. Kill every male among the little ones] For this action I account simply on the principle that God, who is the author and supporter of life, has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper; and the Judge of all the earth can do nothing but what is right. Of the women killed on this occasion it may be safely said, their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions; and yet even in this case there can be little doubt that God showed mercy to their souls. The little ones were safely lodged; they were taken to heaven and saved from the evil to come.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Among the little ones, which they were forbidden to do to other people, Deu 20:14, except the Canaanites, to whom this people had equalled themselves by their horrid crimes; and therefore it is not strange, nor unjust, that God, the supreme Lord of all mens lives, who as he gives them, so may take them away when he pleaseth, did equal them in the punishment.
Every woman that hath known man; partly for punishment, because the guilt was general, and though some of them only did prostitute themselves to the Israelites, yet the rest made themselves accessory by their consent, or concurrence, or approbation; and partly for prevention of the like mischief from such an adulterous generation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones,…. Which they had taken and brought captives, Nu 31:9
and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him; who might be such, at least many of them, who had lain with Israelitish men; and as the adulterers had been put to death, so now the adulteresses; or they were ordered to, be slain, even all of them, lest they should entice the children of Israel to uncleanness, and so to idolatry again: now these were known to be such, either by conjecture at their age, or rather, through the examination of matrons, unless it can be thought, as it is by some, that it was by divine revelation.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. The little ones The object of the command to kill every male was to exterminate the whole nation, the cup of whose iniquity was full. For the righteousness of the mode see Jos 6:21, note. Every woman who might possibly have been engaged in the licentious worship of Peor was to share the fate of the male children, to preserve Israel from all taint of that abomination. The pure maidens could be incorporated into Israel without peril to the national religion. Jos 6:23-25, notes. They could not be treated as concubines, since the law against fornication was in full force, (Deu 22:25-29,) but they could be lawfully married to their captors. Deu 21:10-14.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
him = male.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
kill every male: The sword of war should spare women and children, as incapable of resisting; but the sword of justice knows no distinction, except that of guilty or not guilty, or more or less guilty. This was the execution of a righteous sentence upon a guilty nation, in which the women were the greatest criminals; and it may safely be said, that their lives were forfeited by their personal transgressions. With respect to the execution of the male infants, who cannot be supposed to have been guilty, God, the author and supporter of life, who has a right to dispose of it when and how he thinks proper, commanded it; and “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Jdg 21:11, Jdg 21:12
him: Heb. a male
Reciprocal: Gen 4:1 – knew Gen 24:16 – known Gen 34:25 – Simeon Gen 34:28 – General Num 31:32 – the booty Deu 20:13 – thou shalt smite 1Sa 15:3 – slay 1Ki 11:15 – every male
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 31:17. Kill every male among the little ones Which they were forbidden to do to other people, (Deu 20:14,) except the Canaanites, to whom this people had equalled themselves by their horrid crimes; and therefore it is not strange, nor unjust, that God, the supreme Lord of all mens lives, who, as he gives them, so may take them away when he pleaseth, did equal them in the punishment. Kill every woman, &c. Partly for punishment, as having, in general, either prostituted themselves to the Israelites, or some way been accessary in enticing them to idolatry, in which they were so confirmed that there was no hope of reclaiming them; and partly for prevention of the like mischief in future; for had they been saved alive, they would probably have continued to lead the Israelites into the sin of fornication, and have poisoned their minds by their superstitions. The female children were to be spared, because, being young, there was some hope they might be reformed from idolatry, and become proselytes to the true religion. These they might have as servants, or might marry them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
31:17 Now therefore kill every male among the {g} little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
(g) That is, all the boy children.