In Numbers 31:13-18, Moses has just conquered the pagan Midianites and instructs his soldiers to kill all but the young girls who the soldiers may keep for themselves. “13 Moses and Eleazar the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp. 14 And Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.15 Moses said to them, “Have you let all the women live? 16 Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident ofPeor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord. 17 Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him. 18 But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.” (Numbers 31:13-18) In Judges 21, the Jewish tribe of Benjamin is unable to find enough wives, so Moses’ successor Joshua sends an army to Jabesh-gilead to kill all the adults and take the virgins. When the tribe realizes they still don’t have enough girls, Joshua sends them out to ambush the girls of Shiloh
