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Content:

1. Introduction

2. The Hebrew word "taph" (children)

3. The Hebrew word "lachem" ("for yourselves")

4. The Ancient Interpretation of Numbers 31:18

5. Contemporary Interpretation of Numbers 31:18

6. "Forced" – Deuteronomy 21:14

7. Conclusion

1. Introduction

The details that are given in Numbers 31:18 about the female captives caught and distributed to Moses's men is disturbing for many reasons, as we read the verse closer. I have written about this verse before, however, I think we need to look at the Hebrew words closer and see how the verse was interpreted by classical ancient scholars.

2. The Hebrew word "taph" (children)

Although many of the translations for Numbers 31:18 render the females as being "women", a closer look at the verse, it refers to "children", prepubescent girls who have not hit puberty. This is what the Hebrew text reveals. The Hebrew word 'taf' (taph) refers to children only: BlueletterBible.org

The Hebrew word "taf (taph) according to Lexicons.

An English and Hebrew Lexicon – Professor Selig Newman:

"CHILD , an INFANT … טַף… an offspring,… get with-……" (An English and Hebrew lexicon composed after Johnson's directory, containing fifteen thousand English words, rendered into Biblical, or rabbinical Hebrew, or into Chaldee. To which is annexed a list of English and Hebrew words the expressions and meanings of which appear to be the same in both languages (1832), by Professor Selig Newman page 61)

A complete Hebrew-English pocket-dictionary to the Old Testament (1905) – Karl Feyerabend:

"טַף (TAF) ., i.p. .., w.s…. coll. CHILDREN, LITTLE ONES. (A complete Hebrew-English pocket-dictionary to the Old Testament (1905]) By Karl Feyerabend page 118)

A Compendious Hebrew-Lexicon – Samuel Pike:

"טַף LITTLE ONES or CHILDREN… mincing in a childish manner, Isai. Iii. 16. –… to drop, or distil… to prophecy, or distil instruction, Micah ii. 6, 11." (A Compendious Hebrew Lexicon, Adapted to the English Language, and Composed upon A New and Commodious Plan [Second Edition (1811)] by Samuel Pike page 59)

Here are three accurate translations which show that the verse only speaks about 'female children':

Jubilee Bible 2000 – "But all the FEMALE CHILDREN that have not known a man by lying with him KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES." – Numbers 31:18

Webster's Bible – "Translation But all the FEMALE CHILDREN that have not known a man by lying with him, KEEP ALIVE FOR YOURSELVES." – Numbers 31:18

Living Bible (TLB) – "Only the LITTLE GIRLS may live; you may KEEP THEM FOR YOURSELVES." – Numbers 31:18

3. The Hebrew word "lachem" ("for yourselves")

The next line we need to look at, what does "keep alive for yourselves" mean? When we read the verse, it does not give us much information what is meant by that. The first time I came across the verse, reading the ending, I believed it was sexual. When I got into few discussions with Christians what the end "for yourselves" means, they all said that the girls had to be taken care of, and wait until they grow up before they could marry an Israelite. Although such interpretation at the time was possibly plausible (so I thought), however, upon further investigation, I realized that this was not what the verse was relaying.

The words "for yourselves" in Hebrew is "lachem" (lakham):

Although the word is unexplained, and deliberately left blank on Christian websites which explain the Bible word for word – when we consult Hebrew-English Lexicons, they give us the following meaning(s) for "lachem" (lakham).

A complete Hebrew and English critical and pronouncing dictionary – Professor William L. Roy:

"לָכֶֽם la-chem. The bread, flesh. P. N.

לָכֶֽם la-cham. 1 He ate,