The Israelites go now and attack the Midianites and take home their women, children, and all of their goods as spoils of war. Moses then orders all of the CHILDREN killed, along with all women who have ever had sex. The "girls who have not had intercourse with a man" [aka- bluntly speaking, the virgins] can be kept by the Israelite men. I'm sure we can imagine what life was like for them.

Questions: Do you think God really ordered the children to be killed and the young girls to be treated that way? Why or why not?

If so, why is it now morally wrong to treat people like that today, and not back then?

If not, why does the Bible clearly spell out these details, condoning them?

Final question: (which relates to both chapter 30 and 31):

Is it all right to treat a woman as a possession not capable of making her own decisions (in the case of swearing oaths) or a possession that can be used as a man wills (in the second case)?

Why or why not?