31:12. And they brought them to Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and to all the multitude of the children of Israel. But the rest of the things for use they carried to the camp on the plains of Moab, beside the Jordan over against Jericho.
31:13. And Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the princes of the synagogue went forth to meet them without the camp.
31:14. And Moses being angry with the chief officers of the army, the tribunes, and the centurions that were come from the battle,
31:15. Said: Why have you saved the women?
31:16. Are not these they, that deceived the children of Israel by the counsel of Balaam, and made you transgress against the Lord by the sin of Phogor, for which also the people was punished?
The sin of Phogor… The sin committed in the worship of Beelphegor.
31:17. Therefore kill all that are of the male sex, even of the children: and put to death the women, that have carnally known men.
Of children… Women and children, ordinarilly speaking, were not to be killed in war, Deut. 20.14. But the great Lord of life and death was pleased to order it otherwise in the present case, in detestation of the wickedness of this people, who by the counsel of Balaam, had sent their women among the Israelites on purpose to draw them from God.
31:18. But the girls, and all the women that are virgins save for yourselves:
31:19. And stay without the camp seven days. He that hath killed a man, or touched one that is killed, shall be purified the third day and the seventh day.