New Living Translation (NLT)
Numbers 31
9 Then the Israelite army captured the Midianite women and children and seized their cattle and flocks and all their wealth as plunder.
10 They burned all the towns and villages where the Midianites had lived.
11 After they had gathered the plunder and captives, both people and animals,
12 they brought them all to Moses and Eleazar the priest, and to the whole community of Israel, which was camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp.
14 But Moses was furious with all the generals and captains who had returned from the battle.
15 “Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded.
16 “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD’s people.
17 So kill all the boys and all the women who have had intercourse with a man.
18 Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves.
19 And all of you who have killed anyone or touched a dead body must stay outside the camp for seven days. You must purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days.
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