Definition: And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Numbers 31:15. It's a really surprising and somewhat unsettling passage! Here’s an explanation in simple terms: The Basic Situation: Israel was invaded by the Canaanites. This is the background – a group of people called the Canaanites were attacking Israel, and they were incredibly brutal. The Canaanites were killing women. They weren't just randomly harming women; they were systematically murdering them. This was a horrific practice. Moses’s Question & The Shocking Answer: Moses asks a direct question: He’s looking at the survivors of these attacks and says, "Have you saved all the women alive?" The answer is… nothing. This is where it gets really strange. The verse doesn't say that any women survived. It simply states that none of the women were saved. What Does It Mean? This verse is a key part of the story of Deborah and the Women of Gilead. Here’s what it suggests: The Canaanites prioritized male warriors. The Canaanites focused on killing men, believing this would make them stronger and more effective in battle. They didn't care about women. The women were treated as property. This verse highlights the dehumanizing treatment of women during this time – they were seen as objects to be killed rather than individuals with value. A sign of God’s judgment: The sheer lack of survival among the women is a powerful symbol of God's wrath and His desire to protect His people. It demonstrates that He doesn’t tolerate such cruelty. In short, this verse is a stark reminder of a brutal act and highlights the profound injustice inflicted upon women during this period. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the story? Discuss the context of this verse within the larger narrative?