Christians believe that the Bible has nothing to say with regards to the condoning and approving of paedophilia. However, when we look into the Bible, we find passages that do approve of it. One of the most prominent examples is of Numbers 31.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. Numbers 31:17-18 (KJV)

This is one of the most disturbing set of passages that I have come across in the Bible. These passages basically state to Moses’s soldiers that it’s ‘OK’ to have sex with “women children” that are obtained in war. The translation for “women children” is very misleading and it has been deliberately translated that way to deceive readers. In fact when we look at the Hebrew words used in the verse, it just says female “children”, “little ones”.

Three accurate translations which clearly show that the passage only speaks about ‘female children’ are as follows:

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

Since it’s clear that Numbers 31:18 speaks about female children and not women, what does “keep alive for yourselves” mean? Of course the verse gave permission to Moses’s soldiers to marry those female children. However, don’t take my word for it, let’s see what Christian Bible commentaries say on the verse.

BIBLE COMMENTARIES

Whedon’s Commentary on the Bible:

Verse 17-18.
The little ones — The object of the command to kill every male was to exterminate the whole nation, the cup of whose iniquity was full. For the righteousness of the mode see Joshua 6:21, note. Every woman who might possibly have been engaged in the licentious worship of Peor was to share the fate of the male children, to preserve Israel from all taint of that abomination. The pure maidens could be incorporated into Israel without peril to the national religion. Joshua 6:23-25, notes. They could not be treated as concubines, since the law against fornication was in full force, (Deuteronomy 22:25-29,) but they could be lawfully married to their captors (Deuteronomy 21:10-14). [1]



Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible:

Numbers 31:18
‘But all the women-children, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.’ But the young women children were a different matter. They could be taken in marriage or as servants and would expect to accept the religion of their new husbands or masters. They would gradually be merged into Israel. Compare Deuteronomy 21:10-14. They would not feel the same responsibility for blood vengeance which was mainly incumbent on the males.[2]



NIV: The New American Commentary – An Exegetical And Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture:

… Only the young girls would be allowed to live so that they may be taken as wives or slaves by Israelite men, according to the principles of holy war (Deut 20:13-14; 21:10-14). By this they could be brought under the umbrella of the covenant community of faith. [3]



John Dummelow’s Commentary on the Bible:

13-18. The male children are put to death in order that the race of idolaters may be extirpated. The older women are also slain as having been the prime cause of the apostasy, and likely to lead the people astray at a future time. The women-children, or young females, are spared, and are taken as slaves or wives, being probably adopted into the Hebrew nation as proselytes: cp. Deuteronomy 21:10-14. For the reason of such wholesale slaughter see Numbers 33:55; Deuteronomy 20:17-18; Joshua 23:13 and on Numbers 25:16-18. [4]



The above Bible commentaries quite clearly state that, “keep alive for yourselves” means those female children were to be married off to grown adult Israelite men. There is no mention anywhere in the commentaries that the girls have to grow up and hit puberty before they get married. I brought up the latter point, because some desperate missionaries claim that the girls had to grow up before a marriage took place. Numbers 31:18 in the Bible shows that Moses’s soldiers were commanded to marry pre-pubescent girls. This means that the holiest text of Christianity supports marrying and having sex with pre-pubescent girls. This is concrete proof that the Bible endorses pedophilia. As we have read in Numbers 31:18 and in the Bible commentaries, they all state that marriage took place straight away.

In fact, in the Biblical commentaries already mentioned, they all refer to Deuteronomy 21:10-14 as evidence that the marriage took place straight away within a month. Let’s read the verse:

Deuteronomy 21:10-14 Good News Translation (GNT) – “When the Lord your God gives you victory in battle and you take prisoners, 11 you may see among them a beautiful woman that you like and want to marry. 12 Take her to your home, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails, 13 and change her clothes. She is to stay in your home and mourn for her parents for a month; after that, you may marry her. 14 Later, if you no longer want her, you are to let her go free. Since you forced her to have intercourse with you, you cannot treat her as a slave and sell her.”

In the part where it says beautiful “woman”, the Hebrew word ‘ishshah’ is translated as ‘woman’ and it is also translated as “female” (when we consult Jubilee Bible and Webster’s Bible for Numbers 31:18, both of them translate the Hebrew word ‘Ishashah’ as ‘female’).

Reading Deuteronomy 21:10-14 we get a clear picture that YHWH commands its soldiers that when they go out in war and they see a beautiful female, and the soldier is attracted to her, he can “TAKE” the female and force her to marry him after one month. The word “take” is in of itself evidence that the females were taken without their consent i.e., they were forced into a marriage that the female didn’t consent to. In verse 13 to 14 it goes further and states, that if the soldier were to not desire the female any-more he may let her go as he wishes because “you forced her to have intercourse with you”.

The period in which the soldier cannot marry her is within a one month period of mourning. After that period the soldier can do what he wishes to the female, as the verse clearly states.

References:

[1] Whedon’s Commentary on the Bible
[2] Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible
[3] NIV: The New American Commentary – An Exegetical And Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture: Numbers, [Copyright 2000 – B& H Publishing Group] By R. Dennis Cole, volume 3b, page 499
[4] John Dummelow’s Commentary on the Bible

yazach:
Christians believe that the Bible has nothing to say with regards to the condoning and approving of paedophilia. However, when we look into the Bible, we find passages that do approve of it. One of the most prominent examples is of Numbers 31.

17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. Numbers 31:17-18 (KJV)

This is one of the most disturbing set of passages that I have come across in the Bible. These passages basically state to Moses’s soldiers that it’s ‘OK’ to have sex with “women children” that are obtained in war. The translation for “women children” is very misleading and it has been deliberately translated that way to deceive readers. In fact when we look at the Hebrew words used in the verse, it just says female “children”, “little ones”.

Three accurate translations which clearly show that the passage only speaks about ‘female children’ are as follows:

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

Since it’s clear that Numbers 31:18 speaks about female children and not women, what does “keep alive for yourselves” mean? Of course the verse gave permission to Moses’s soldiers to marry those female children. However, don’t take my word for it, let’s see what Christian Bible commentaries say on the verse.

BIBLE COMMENTARIES

Whedon’s Commentary on the Bible:

Verse 17-18.
The little ones — The object of the command to kill every male was to exterminate the whole nation, the cup of whose iniquity was full. For the righteousness of the mode see Joshua 6:21, note. Every woman who might possibly have been engaged in the licentious worship of Peor was to share the fate of the male children, to preserve Israel from all taint of that abomination. The pure maidens could be incorporated into Israel without peril to the national religion. Joshua 6:23-25, notes. They could not be treated as concubines, since the law against fornication was in full force, (Deuteronomy 22:25-29,) but they could be lawfully married to their captors (Deuteronomy 21:10-14). [1]



Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible:

Numbers 31:18
‘But all the women-children, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.’ But the young women children were a different matter. They could be taken in marriage or as servants and would expect to accept the religion of their new husbands or masters. They would gradually be merged into Israel. Compare Deuteronomy 21:10-14. They would not feel the same responsibility for blood vengeance which was mainly incumbent on the males.[2]



NIV: The New American Commentary – An Exegetical And Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture:

… Only the young girls would be allowed to live so that they may be taken as wives or slaves by Israelite men, according to the principles of holy war (Deut 20:13-14; 21:10-14). By this they could be brought under the umbrella of the covenant community of faith. [3]



John Dummelow’s Commentary on the Bible:

13-18. The male children are put to death in order that the race of idolaters may be extirpated. The older women are also slain as having been the prime cause of the apostasy, and likely to lead the people astray at a future time. The women-children, or young females, are spared, and are taken as slaves or wives, being probably adopted into the Hebrew nation as proselytes: cp. Deuteronomy 21:10-14. For the reason of such wholesale slaughter see Numbers 33:55; Deuteronomy 20:17-18; Joshua 23:13 and on Numbers 25:16-18. [4]



The above Bible commentaries quite clearly state that, “keep alive for yourselves” means those female children were to be married off to grown adult Israelite men. There is no mention anywhere in the commentaries that the girls have to grow up and hit puberty before they get married. I brought up the latter point, because some desperate missionaries claim that the girls had to grow up before a marriage took place. Numbers 31:18 in the Bible shows that Moses’s soldiers were commanded to marry pre-pubescent girls. This means that the holiest text of Christianity supports marrying and having sex with pre-pubescent girls. This is concrete proof that the Bible endorses pedophilia. As we have read in Numbers 31:18 and in the Bible commentaries, they all state that marriage took place straight away.

In fact, in the Biblical commentaries already mentioned, they all refer to Deuteronomy 21:10-14 as evidence that the marriage took place straight away within a month. Let’s read the verse:

Deuteronomy 21:10-14 Good News Translation (GNT) – “When the Lord your God gives you victory in battle and you take prisoners, 11 you may see among them a beautiful woman that you like and want to marry. 12 Take her to your home, where she will shave her head, cut her fingernails, 13 and change her clothes. She is to stay in your home and mourn for her parents for a month; after that, you may marry her. 14 Later, if you no longer want her, you are to let her go free. Since you forced her to have intercourse with you, you cannot treat her as a slave and sell her.”

In the part where it says beautiful “woman”, the Hebrew word ‘ishshah’ is translated as ‘woman’ and it is also translated as “female” (when we consult Jubilee Bible and Webster’s Bible for Numbers 31:18, both of them translate the Hebrew word ‘Ishashah’ as ‘female’).

Reading Deuteronomy 21:10-14 we get a clear picture that YHWH commands its soldiers that when they go out in war and they see a beautiful female, and the soldier is attracted to her, he can “TAKE” the female and force her to marry him after one month. The word “take” is in of itself evidence that the females were taken without their consent i.e., they were forced into a marriage that the female didn’t consent to. In verse 13 to 14 it goes further and states, that if the soldier were to not desire the female any-more he may let her go as he wishes because “you forced her to have intercourse with you”.

The period in which the soldier cannot marry her is within a one month period of mourning. After that period the soldier can do what he wishes to the female, as the verse clearly states.

References:

[1] Whedon’s Commentary on the Bible
[2] Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible
[3] NIV: The New American Commentary – An Exegetical And Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture: Numbers, [Copyright 2000 – B& H Publishing Group] By R. Dennis Cole, volume 3b, page 499
[4] John Dummelow’s Commentary on the Bible

wə·rā·’î·ṯā 11
וְרָאִיתָ֙ 11
And see 11
Verb 11
7633 [e]
baš·šiḇ·yāh,
בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה
among the captives
Noun


､

802 [e]
[size=13pt]’ê·šeṯ
אֵ֖שֶׁת
a women
Noun
3303 [e]
[/b]yə·p̄aṯ-
[/size]יְפַת־
beautiful
Adj
8389 [e]
tō·’ar;
תֹּ֑אַר
a beautiful
Noun
2836 [e]
wə·ḥā·šaq·tā
וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣
and have a desire
Verb

ḇāh,
בָ֔הּ
in
Prep
3947 [e]
wə·lā·qaḥ·tā
וְלָקַחְתָּ֥
that you would have
Verb

lə·ḵā
לְךָ֖
to her
Prep
–
802 [e]
lə·’iš·šāh.
לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
to your

etc

’[size=13pt][b]ê·šeṯ other uses in the Bible , the first mention being Eve:[/size]

HEB: מִן־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־
NAS: fashioned into a woman the rib
KJV: made he a woman, and brought
INT: from the man A woman and brought to
Genesis 2:21

Genesis 2:23
HEB: לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ
NAS: She shall be called Woman, Because
KJV: shall be called Woman, because she
INT: she shall be called Woman Because of Man

Genesis 2:24
HEB: אִמּ֑וֹ וְדָבַ֣ק בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְהָי֖וּ לְבָשָׂ֥ר
NAS: and be joined to his wife; and they shall become
KJV: and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
INT: and his mother and be joined to his wife shall become flesh

Genesis 2:25
HEB: עֲרוּמִּ֔ים הָֽאָדָ֖ם וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֖א יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ׃
NAS: And the man and his wife were both
KJV: the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
INT: naked and the man and his wife and were not ashamed

Genesis 3:1
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ף כִּֽי־
NAS: And he said to the woman, Indeed,
KJV: And he said unto the woman, Yea,
INT: said to the woman Yea for

Genesis 3:2
HEB: וַתֹּ֥אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־ הַנָּחָ֑שׁ
NAS: The woman said to the serpent,
KJV: And the woman said unto the serpent,
INT: said the woman to the serpent

Genesis 3:4
HEB: הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־ הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לֹֽא־ מ֖וֹת
NAS: said to the woman, You surely
KJV: said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
INT: the serpent to the woman not surely

Genesis 3:6
HEB: וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּ֣י טוֹב֩
NAS: When the woman saw that the tree
KJV: And when the woman saw that the tree
INT: saw the woman for was good

Genesis 3:8
HEB: וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם וְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ מִפְּנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה
NAS: and the man and his wife hid
KJV: and Adam and his wife hid themselves
INT: hid and the man and his wife the presence of the LORD

Genesis 3:12
HEB: וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הָֽאָדָ֑ם הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תָּה
NAS: The man said, The woman whom You gave
KJV: said, The woman whom thou gavest
INT: said the man the woman whom gave

Genesis 3:13
HEB: יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָאִשָּׁ֖ה מַה־ זֹּ֣את
NAS: God said to the woman, What is this
KJV: said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done?
INT: the LORD God to the woman What hast

Genesis 3:13
HEB: עָשִׂ֑ית וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה הַנָּחָ֥שׁ הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי
NAS: you have done? And the woman said,
KJV: What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said,
INT: done said to the woman the serpent me

Genesis 3:15
HEB: בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖
NAS: Between you and the woman, And between
KJV: enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
INT: Between and between and the woman Between your seed

Genesis 3:16
HEB: אֶֽל־ הָאִשָּׁ֣ה אָמַ֗ר הַרְבָּ֤ה
NAS: To the woman He said, I will greatly
KJV: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly
INT: to the woman said will greatly

Genesis 3:17
HEB: שָׁמַעְתָּ֮ לְק֣וֹל אִשְׁתֶּךָ֒ וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ מִן־
NAS: to the voice of your wife, and have eaten
KJV: unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten
INT: have listened to the voice of your wife eaten from

Genesis 3:20
HEB: הָֽאָדָ֛ם שֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ חַוָּ֑ה כִּ֛י
NAS: called his wife's name
KJV: And Adam called his wife's name Eve;
INT: now the man name his wife's Eve because

Genesis 3:21
HEB: אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְאָדָ֧ם וּלְאִשְׁתּ֛וֹ כָּתְנ֥וֹת ע֖וֹר
NAS: for Adam and his wife, and clothed
KJV: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD
INT: God Adam and his wife garments of skin

Genesis 4:1
HEB: אֶת־ חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד
NAS: had relations with his wife Eve,
KJV: Eve his wife; and she conceived,
INT: had Eve his wife conceived and gave

Genesis 4:17
HEB: קַ֙יִן֙ אֶת־ אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד
NAS: had relations with his wife and she conceived,
KJV: knew his wife; and she conceived,
INT: had Cain his wife conceived and gave

Genesis 4:19
HEB: לֶ֖מֶךְ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙
NAS: to himself two wives: the name
KJV: unto him two wives: the name
INT: Lamech two wives the name of the one

Genesis 4:23
HEB: וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לֶ֜מֶךְ לְנָשָׁ֗יו עָדָ֤ה וְצִלָּה֙
NAS: said to his wives, Adah
KJV: said unto his wives, Adah
INT: said Lamech to his wives Adah and Zillah

Genesis 4:23
HEB: שְׁמַ֣עַן קוֹלִ֔י נְשֵׁ֣י לֶ֔מֶךְ הַאְזֵ֖נָּה
NAS: to my voice, You wives of Lamech,
KJV: my voice; ye wives of Lamech,
INT: Listen to my voice wives of Lamech Give

Genesis 4:25
HEB: עוֹד֙ אֶת־ אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן
NAS: had relations with his wife again;
KJV: knew his wife again;
INT: Adam again his wife gave to a son

Genesis 6:2
HEB: וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: and they took wives for themselves, whomever
KJV: and they took them wives of all which they chose.
INT: they took wives all manner they

Genesis 6:18
HEB: אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֛יךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנֶ֖יךָ
NAS: you and your sons and your wife, and your sons'
KJV: and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons'
INT: thou and your sons' and your wife wives and your sons'

Genesis 6:18
HEB: וּבָנֶ֛יךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנֶ֖יךָ אִתָּֽךְ׃
NAS: and your sons' wives with you.
KJV: and thy sons' wives with thee.
INT: and your sons' and your wife wives and your sons' and of

Genesis 7:2
HEB: שִׁבְעָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָ֡ה
NAS: a male and his female; and of the animals
KJV: the male and his female: and of beasts
INT: sevens A male and his female and of the animals

Genesis 7:2
HEB: שְׁנַ֖יִם אִ֥ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
NAS: two, a male and his female;
KJV: by two, the male and his female.
INT: two A male and his female

Genesis 7:7
HEB: נֹ֗חַ וּ֠בָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנָ֛יו
NAS: and his sons and his wife and his sons'
KJV: and his sons, and his wife, and his sons'
INT: Noah and his sons and his wife wives and his sons'

Genesis 7:7
HEB: וּ֠בָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנָ֛יו אִתּ֖וֹ
NAS: and his sons' wives with him entered
KJV: and his sons' wives with him, into the ark,
INT: and his sons and his wife wives and his sons' for

Genesis 7:13
HEB: בְּנֵי־ נֹ֑חַ וְאֵ֣שֶׁת נֹ֗חַ וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת
NAS: and Noah's wife and the three
KJV: and Noah's wife, and the three
INT: the sons of Noah wife and Noah's and the three

Genesis 7:13
HEB: נֹ֗חַ וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת נְשֵֽׁי־ בָנָ֛יו אִתָּ֖ם
NAS: and the three wives of his sons
KJV: and the three wives of his sons
INT: and Noah's and the three wives of his sons for

Genesis 8:16
HEB: הַתֵּבָ֑ה אַתָּ֕ה וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֛ וּבָנֶ֥יךָ וּנְשֵֽׁי־
NAS: out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons
KJV: of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons,
INT: of the ark you and your wife and your sons wives

Genesis 8:16
HEB: וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֛ וּבָנֶ֥יךָ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנֶ֖יךָ אִתָּֽךְ׃
NAS: and your sons' wives with you.
KJV: and thy sons' wives with thee.
INT: and your wife and your sons wives and your sons' for

etc
http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_802.htm


Now, was Eve a pre-pubescent girl or a woman?

How many men had pre-teens as kids in the Bible that can be established beyond every shadow of doubt?

Apparently the word is used for female only when animals are the reference.

Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Job, Solomon, Hosea, all had wives and I am yet to see ANYTHING that remotely implies that their wives were kids!

And why will Moses command something contrary to Deuteronomy? That clearly states that women, not kid-girls, be married?

The translation for “women children” in the verse is very misleading and it has been deliberately translated that way to deceive readers. In fact when we look at the Hebrew words used in the verse, it just says female “children”, “little ones”.

Webster’s Bible Translation Numbers 31:17-18
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones (taph), and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the female children (taph), that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

In order for me to go further let’s first show the part where the Hebrew word ‘taph’ used and what it means in the verse. Below is the text-image for the passage under discussion

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

When we consult Hebrew-English Lexicons on the word ‘taph’, it only refers to pre-pubescent girls and boys:

An English and Hebrew Lexicon – Professor Selig Newman: Child , an infant … טַף… an offspring,… get with-……

A complete Hebrew-English pocket-dictionary to the Old Testament (1905) – Karl Feyerabend:
טַף (taf) ., i.p. .., w.s…. coll. Children, little ones.

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

The above Lexicons commenting on the Hebrew word ‘taph’, they quite clearly show that the word only refers to children or infants.

Let’s now read the verse again to get a better understanding:

Webster’s Bible Translation Numbers 31:17-18
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones (taph), and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the female children (taph), that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

My Christians bros. Over to you

yazach:
The translation for “women children” in the verse is very misleading and it has been deliberately translated that way to deceive readers.

deceive which readers? Give ONE example of an OT/NT saint or person who married a pre-teen and substantiate that from the Scripture. I am willing to learn.

As regards women children, look at the direct transliteration below:

3605 [e] 18
wə·ḵōl 18
וְכֹל֙ 18
But all 18
Noun 18

2945 [e]
haṭ·ṭap̄
הַטַּ֣ף
children
Noun
802 [e]
ban·nā·šîm,
בַּנָּשִׁ֔ים
the women
Noun
834 [e]
’ă·šer
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
that
Prt
3808 [e]
lō-
לֹא־
not
Adv
3045 [e]
yā·ḏə·‘ū
יָדְע֖וּ
do known
Verb
4904 [e]
miš·kaḇ
מִשְׁכַּ֣ב
by lying
Noun
2145 [e]
zā·ḵār;
זָכָ֑ר
a man
Noun
2421 [e]
ha·ḥă·yū
הַחֲי֖וּ
keep alive
Verb


.


lā·ḵem.
לָכֶֽם׃
to

Ibid.


Furthermore, the story of Naaman the syrian, gives us an insight into what those little girls taken captive (by even other nations ) did with them:

2 Kings 5:2,3
2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

Whither your allegation of child marriage? In fact, I am yet to see any from Syria, Israel, Canaan, Babylon etc in the Bible that had a pre-teen wife.

madjnr:
My Christians bros. Over to you

If you are asked to keep something for yourself. You have the choice to use it instantly or keep it for future use. Any sort of use. If God wanted them to commit adultery He would have used words like "go in them" rap them or violate them. But this is not the case. keep for yourselves: either keep them to be handmaids or to be married among them when grown up.

Scholar8200:


wə·rā·’î·ṯā 11
וְרָאִיתָ֙ 11
And see 11
Verb 11
7633 [e]
baš·šiḇ·yāh,
בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה
among the captives
Noun


､

802 [e]
[size=13pt]’ê·šeṯ
אֵ֖שֶׁת
a women
Noun
3303 [e]
[/b]yə·p̄aṯ-
[/size]יְפַת־
beautiful
Adj
8389 [e]
tō·’ar;
תֹּ֑אַר
a beautiful
Noun
2836 [e]
wə·ḥā·šaq·tā
וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣
and have a desire
Verb

ḇāh,
בָ֔הּ
in
Prep
3947 [e]
wə·lā·qaḥ·tā
וְלָקַחְתָּ֥
that you would have
Verb

lə·ḵā
לְךָ֖
to her
Prep
–
802 [e]
lə·’iš·šāh.
לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
to your

etc

’[size=13pt][b]ê·šeṯ other uses in the Bible , the first mention being Eve:[/size]

HEB: מִן־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וַיְבִאֶ֖הָ אֶל־
NAS: fashioned into a woman the rib
KJV: made he a woman, and brought
INT: from the man A woman and brought to
Genesis 2:21

Genesis 2:23
HEB: לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ
NAS: She shall be called Woman, Because
KJV: shall be called Woman, because she
INT: she shall be called Woman Because of Man

Genesis 2:24
HEB: אִמּ֑וֹ וְדָבַ֣ק בְּאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וְהָי֖וּ לְבָשָׂ֥ר
NAS: and be joined to his wife; and they shall become
KJV: and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one
INT: and his mother and be joined to his wife shall become flesh

Genesis 2:25
HEB: עֲרוּמִּ֔ים הָֽאָדָ֖ם וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְלֹ֖א יִתְבֹּשָֽׁשׁוּ׃
NAS: And the man and his wife were both
KJV: the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
INT: naked and the man and his wife and were not ashamed

Genesis 3:1
HEB: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ף כִּֽי־
NAS: And he said to the woman, Indeed,
KJV: And he said unto the woman, Yea,
INT: said to the woman Yea for

Genesis 3:2
HEB: וַתֹּ֥אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־ הַנָּחָ֑שׁ
NAS: The woman said to the serpent,
KJV: And the woman said unto the serpent,
INT: said the woman to the serpent

Genesis 3:4
HEB: הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־ הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לֹֽא־ מ֖וֹת
NAS: said to the woman, You surely
KJV: said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
INT: the serpent to the woman not surely

Genesis 3:6
HEB: וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּ֣י טוֹב֩
NAS: When the woman saw that the tree
KJV: And when the woman saw that the tree
INT: saw the woman for was good

Genesis 3:8
HEB: וַיִּתְחַבֵּ֨א הָֽאָדָ֜ם וְאִשְׁתּ֗וֹ מִפְּנֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה
NAS: and the man and his wife hid
KJV: and Adam and his wife hid themselves
INT: hid and the man and his wife the presence of the LORD

Genesis 3:12
HEB: וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הָֽאָדָ֑ם הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תָּה
NAS: The man said, The woman whom You gave
KJV: said, The woman whom thou gavest
INT: said the man the woman whom gave

Genesis 3:13
HEB: יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָאִשָּׁ֖ה מַה־ זֹּ֣את
NAS: God said to the woman, What is this
KJV: said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done?
INT: the LORD God to the woman What hast

Genesis 3:13
HEB: עָשִׂ֑ית וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה הַנָּחָ֥שׁ הִשִּׁיאַ֖נִי
NAS: you have done? And the woman said,
KJV: What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said,
INT: done said to the woman the serpent me

Genesis 3:15
HEB: בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖
NAS: Between you and the woman, And between
KJV: enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
INT: Between and between and the woman Between your seed

Genesis 3:16
HEB: אֶֽל־ הָאִשָּׁ֣ה אָמַ֗ר הַרְבָּ֤ה
NAS: To the woman He said, I will greatly
KJV: Unto the woman he said, I will greatly
INT: to the woman said will greatly

Genesis 3:17
HEB: שָׁמַעְתָּ֮ לְק֣וֹל אִשְׁתֶּךָ֒ וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ מִן־
NAS: to the voice of your wife, and have eaten
KJV: unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten
INT: have listened to the voice of your wife eaten from

Genesis 3:20
HEB: הָֽאָדָ֛ם שֵׁ֥ם אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ חַוָּ֑ה כִּ֛י
NAS: called his wife's name
KJV: And Adam called his wife's name Eve;
INT: now the man name his wife's Eve because

Genesis 3:21
HEB: אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְאָדָ֧ם וּלְאִשְׁתּ֛וֹ כָּתְנ֥וֹת ע֖וֹר
NAS: for Adam and his wife, and clothed
KJV: Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD
INT: God Adam and his wife garments of skin

Genesis 4:1
HEB: אֶת־ חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתַּ֙הַר֙ וַתֵּ֣לֶד
NAS: had relations with his wife Eve,
KJV: Eve his wife; and she conceived,
INT: had Eve his wife conceived and gave

Genesis 4:17
HEB: קַ֙יִן֙ אֶת־ אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתַּ֖הַר וַתֵּ֣לֶד
NAS: had relations with his wife and she conceived,
KJV: knew his wife; and she conceived,
INT: had Cain his wife conceived and gave

Genesis 4:19
HEB: לֶ֖מֶךְ שְׁתֵּ֣י נָשִׁ֑ים שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙
NAS: to himself two wives: the name
KJV: unto him two wives: the name
INT: Lamech two wives the name of the one

Genesis 4:23
HEB: וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לֶ֜מֶךְ לְנָשָׁ֗יו עָדָ֤ה וְצִלָּה֙
NAS: said to his wives, Adah
KJV: said unto his wives, Adah
INT: said Lamech to his wives Adah and Zillah

Genesis 4:23
HEB: שְׁמַ֣עַן קוֹלִ֔י נְשֵׁ֣י לֶ֔מֶךְ הַאְזֵ֖נָּה
NAS: to my voice, You wives of Lamech,
KJV: my voice; ye wives of Lamech,
INT: Listen to my voice wives of Lamech Give

Genesis 4:25
HEB: עוֹד֙ אֶת־ אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֔ן
NAS: had relations with his wife again;
KJV: knew his wife again;
INT: Adam again his wife gave to a son

Genesis 6:2
HEB: וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: and they took wives for themselves, whomever
KJV: and they took them wives of all which they chose.
INT: they took wives all manner they

Genesis 6:18
HEB: אַתָּ֕ה וּבָנֶ֛יךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנֶ֖יךָ
NAS: you and your sons and your wife, and your sons'
KJV: and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons'
INT: thou and your sons' and your wife wives and your sons'

Genesis 6:18
HEB: וּבָנֶ֛יךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֥ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנֶ֖יךָ אִתָּֽךְ׃
NAS: and your sons' wives with you.
KJV: and thy sons' wives with thee.
INT: and your sons' and your wife wives and your sons' and of

Genesis 7:2
HEB: שִׁבְעָ֖ה אִ֣ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וּמִן־ הַבְּהֵמָ֡ה
NAS: a male and his female; and of the animals
KJV: the male and his female: and of beasts
INT: sevens A male and his female and of the animals

Genesis 7:2
HEB: שְׁנַ֖יִם אִ֥ישׁ וְאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃
NAS: two, a male and his female;
KJV: by two, the male and his female.
INT: two A male and his female

Genesis 7:7
HEB: נֹ֗חַ וּ֠בָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנָ֛יו
NAS: and his sons and his wife and his sons'
KJV: and his sons, and his wife, and his sons'
INT: Noah and his sons and his wife wives and his sons'

Genesis 7:7
HEB: וּ֠בָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנָ֛יו אִתּ֖וֹ
NAS: and his sons' wives with him entered
KJV: and his sons' wives with him, into the ark,
INT: and his sons and his wife wives and his sons' for

Genesis 7:13
HEB: בְּנֵי־ נֹ֑חַ וְאֵ֣שֶׁת נֹ֗חַ וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת
NAS: and Noah's wife and the three
KJV: and Noah's wife, and the three
INT: the sons of Noah wife and Noah's and the three

Genesis 7:13
HEB: נֹ֗חַ וּשְׁלֹ֧שֶׁת נְשֵֽׁי־ בָנָ֛יו אִתָּ֖ם
NAS: and the three wives of his sons
KJV: and the three wives of his sons
INT: and Noah's and the three wives of his sons for

Genesis 8:16
HEB: הַתֵּבָ֑ה אַתָּ֕ה וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֛ וּבָנֶ֥יךָ וּנְשֵֽׁי־
NAS: out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons
KJV: of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons,
INT: of the ark you and your wife and your sons wives

Genesis 8:16
HEB: וְאִשְׁתְּךָ֛ וּבָנֶ֥יךָ וּנְשֵֽׁי־ בָנֶ֖יךָ אִתָּֽךְ׃
NAS: and your sons' wives with you.
KJV: and thy sons' wives with thee.
INT: and your wife and your sons wives and your sons' for

etc
http://biblehub.com/hebrew/strongs_802.htm
[size=16pt]

Now, was Eve a pre-pubescent girl or a woman?

How many men had pre-teens as kids in the Bible that can be established beyond every shadow of doubt?

Apparently the word is used for female only when animals are the reference.

Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Job, Solomon, Hosea, all had wives and I am yet to see ANYTHING that remotely implies that their wives were kids!

And why will Moses command something contrary to Deuteronomy? That clearly states that women, not kid-girls, be married?
[/size]

This alone refuted the OP. Nice one.

D op has a shallow knowledge, no single example of a child marriage he can point to in The Bible. All these in an attempt to justify d evils of muhamad, who they take to be the best of muslims.

The op is serioslly trying to use the Bible to justify Muhammed's marriage to a 9year old Aisha but failed woefully. He is seriously ashamed of his pedophile prophet.

Medicis:
The op is serioslly trying to use the Bible to justify Muhammed's marriage to a 9year old Aisha but failed woefully. He is seriously ashamed of his pedophile prophet.

Exactly...

plappville:


If you are asked to keep something for yourself. You have the choice to use it instantly or keep it for future use. Any sort of use. If God wanted them to commit adultery He would have used words like "go in them" rap them or violate them. But this is not the case. keep for yourselves: either keep them to be handmaids or to be married among them when grown up.

Keep 'em for yourself means store 'em in a ward rope abi ?lol to those cave men then... That's what it means ? You're denying the attrocities in your own Bible... Very hypocritical

Medicis:
The op is serioslly trying to use the Bible to justify Muhammed's marriage to a 9year old Aisha but failed woefully. He is seriously ashamed of his pedophile prophet.

Please explain... How did he fail ?didn't the Bible authorize those killing and raping ?

It is Only Prophet Muhammad that married a six years old girl. Have you ever seen any Christian that marry pre teen girl?

madjnr:

Please explain... How did he fail ?didn't the Bible authorize those killing and raping ?

Show me a prophet who married a child in the the Bible

Medicis:
Show me a prophet who married a child in the the Bible

Still searching?

Usually when I do research on certain words which are disputed from Biblical verses, I visit these sites, Blueletterbible.org or biblestudytools.com, and they have always given an explanation in detail, what a word means. But when I started examining Numbers 31:18, what caught my eye was the word ‘lacham’, it was left blank. What made it even strange is, I was not allowed (able) to click on the word, to see what the meaning of the word is.

This prompted me to do more research on the word and find out what the meaning of it is. Shaye J. D. Cohen who is a renowned Professor writes that the word lachem used in the verse is meant sexually:

“Moses enjoins upon the returning warriors to kill their Midianite female captives who have lain with a man, but ‘spare for yourselves every young woman who has not had carnal relations with a man’; WE MAY BE SURE THAT ‘FOR YOURSELVES’ MEANS THAT THE WARRIORS MAY ‘USE’ THEIR VIRGIN CAPTIVES SEXUALLY.52 The law in numbers differs from the law in Deuteronomy- perhaps the most significant distinction is that the law in Deuteronomy does not care whether the captive is a virgin or not- but it too permits Israelite warrior to marry (or ‘marry) a foreign woman.”

In the same page, in footnote 52, Professor Shaye J.D. Cohen goes further on the verse, he writes:

“I do not know why the new Jewish version omits ‘for yourselves’; the Hebrew lakhem is unambiguous. That the intent of ‘FOR YOURSELVES’ IS SEXUAL OR MATRIMONIAL IS OBVIOUS; the passage is correctly understood by Rabbi Simeon Yohai in the Sifrei ad loc (177 212H).” [4]

Now it all makes sense why missionaries try hard not to give the true meaning for the word. We can see the deceit of Evangelicals trying hard to cover up the word. Thankfully we have a sincere Scholar as Shaye J.D. Cohen who makes it clear that the word can only be meant ‘sexually’.

Wil Gafney, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and is an Episcopal Priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. She is another line of Scholars who comments on Numbers 31:18, she writes,

“The ‘one woman, one man’ relationship of Eve and Adam becomes one man and two women in Genesis 4:19, ONE MAN AND AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF PREPUBESCENT GIRL CAPTIVES IN NUMBER 31:18 and in several other texts. IT APPEARS THAT GOD HAS LEFT IT TO HUMANITY TO DECIDE WHO ARE APPROPRIATE INTIMATE PARTNERS AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES. The evolution of polygamy, both CONSENSUAL AND FORCED, as a human-initiated cultural practice in the scriptures is particularly striking because of God’s lack of condemnation of it (not to mention, according to Deuteronomy, God’s sanction of abduction or rape-marriage during armed conflicts).
When inviting individuals and their descendants into eternal covenant relationships with God, God never required that the matriarchs and patriarchs revert to an Eve-Adam, monogamous pairing.

Notice, Professor Wil brings up Numbers 31:18 and at the same time she writes, “God has left it to humanity to decide who are appropriate intimate partners and under what circumstances.” She is referring to the pre-pubescent girls. In other words, she is saying God left it to humanity to decide whether it is ‘ok’ to cohabit with a pre-pubescent girls or not.

Another Professor by the name Miguel A. De La Torre mentions that Numbers 31:18 found Biblical justification of raping female slaves and that it was considered ordained by God, by Christian slave owners of the past. He writes,

“The Bible was masterfully used by those in power to justify the owning of black bodies. This was an easy feat; nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament is slavery categorically condemned. The supporters of slavery in the antebellum south were the ones who had the biblical chapters and verses to quote to justify their way of life. The abolitionists were hard pressed to find any biblical passage that outright condemned the institution of slavery. EVEN THE RAPE OF FEMALE SLAVES FOUND BIBLICAL JUSTIFICATION AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ORDAINED BY GOD. SPECIFICALLY, NUMBERS 31:18 INSTRUCTS CONQUERORS AS FOLLOWS: ‘YOU SHALL KEEP ALIVE ALL YOUNG FEMALES WHO HAVE NOT HAD SEX WITH A MALE FOR YOURSELVES.’

yazach:
Usually when I do research on certain words which are disputed from Biblical verses, I visit these sites, Blueletterbible.org or biblestudytools.com, and they have always given an explanation in detail, what a word means. But when I started examining Numbers 31:18, what caught my eye was the word ‘lacham’, it was left blank. What made it even strange is, I was not allowed (able) to click on the word, to see what the meaning of the word is.

This prompted me to do more research on the word and find out what the meaning of it is. Shaye J. D. Cohen who is a renowned Professor writes that the word lachem used in the verse is meant sexually:

“Moses enjoins upon the returning warriors to kill their Midianite female captives who have lain with a man, but ‘spare for yourselves every young woman who has not had carnal relations with a man’; WE MAY BE SURE THAT ‘FOR YOURSELVES’ MEANS THAT THE WARRIORS MAY ‘USE’ THEIR VIRGIN CAPTIVES SEXUALLY.52 The law in numbers differs from the law in Deuteronomy- perhaps the most significant distinction is that the law in Deuteronomy does not care whether the captive is a virgin or not- but it too permits Israelite warrior to marry (or ‘marry) a foreign woman.”

In the same page, in footnote 52, Professor Shaye J.D. Cohen goes further on the verse, he writes:

“I do not know why the new Jewish version omits ‘for yourselves’; the Hebrew lakhem is unambiguous. That the intent of ‘FOR YOURSELVES’ IS SEXUAL OR MATRIMONIAL IS OBVIOUS; the passage is correctly understood by Rabbi Simeon Yohai in the Sifrei ad loc (177 212H).” [4]

Now it all makes sense why missionaries try hard not to give the true meaning for the word. We can see the deceit of Evangelicals trying hard to cover up the word. Thankfully we have a sincere Scholar as Shaye J.D. Cohen who makes it clear that the word can only be meant ‘sexually’.

Wil Gafney, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, and is an Episcopal Priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. She is another line of Scholars who comments on Numbers 31:18, she writes,

“The ‘one woman, one man’ relationship of Eve and Adam becomes one man and two women in Genesis 4:19, ONE MAN AND AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF PREPUBESCENT GIRL CAPTIVES IN NUMBER 31:18 and in several other texts. IT APPEARS THAT GOD HAS LEFT IT TO HUMANITY TO DECIDE WHO ARE APPROPRIATE INTIMATE PARTNERS AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES. The evolution of polygamy, both CONSENSUAL AND FORCED, as a human-initiated cultural practice in the scriptures is particularly striking because of God’s lack of condemnation of it (not to mention, according to Deuteronomy, God’s sanction of abduction or rape-marriage during armed conflicts).
When inviting individuals and their descendants into eternal covenant relationships with God, God never required that the matriarchs and patriarchs revert to an Eve-Adam, monogamous pairing.

Notice, Professor Wil brings up Numbers 31:18 and at the same time she writes, “God has left it to humanity to decide who are appropriate intimate partners and under what circumstances.” She is referring to the pre-pubescent girls. In other words, she is saying God left it to humanity to decide whether it is ‘ok’ to cohabit with a pre-pubescent girls or not.

Another Professor by the name Miguel A. De La Torre mentions that Numbers 31:18 found Biblical justification of raping female slaves and that it was considered ordained by God, by Christian slave owners of the past. He writes,

“The Bible was masterfully used by those in power to justify the owning of black bodies. This was an easy feat; nowhere in either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament is slavery categorically condemned. The supporters of slavery in the antebellum south were the ones who had the biblical chapters and verses to quote to justify their way of life. The abolitionists were hard pressed to find any biblical passage that outright condemned the institution of slavery. EVEN THE RAPE OF FEMALE SLAVES FOUND BIBLICAL JUSTIFICATION AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE ORDAINED BY GOD. SPECIFICALLY, NUMBERS 31:18 INSTRUCTS CONQUERORS AS FOLLOWS: ‘YOU SHALL KEEP ALIVE ALL YOUNG FEMALES WHO HAVE NOT HAD SEX WITH A MALE FOR YOURSELVES.’

must you lie? Support this with examples of the men or prophet that carried out this commandment, or practiced the child sex. For example, according to Muslims writings, muhammed is believed to have had sex with aisha at 9, even died on top of her. Similar example(s) from the Bible would make your arguments above sensible.

adullam210:

must you lie? Support this with examples of the men or prophet that carried out this commandment, or practiced the child sex. For example, according to Muslims writings, muhammed is believed to have had sex with aisha at 9, even died on top of her. Similar example(s) from the Bible would make your arguments above sensible.

when xtians can't defend their evil rapist terror manual from even an atheists they start attacking Islam losers!

Mary was 12 years old when betrothed to Joseph

Catholic Encyclopaedia says:

“When forty years of age, Joseph married a woman called Melcha or Escha by some, Salome by others; they lived forty-nine years together and had six children, two daughters and four sons, the youngest of whom was James (the Less, “the Lord’s brother”). A year after his wife’s death, as the priests announced through Judea that they wished to find in the tribe of Juda a respectable man to espouse Mary, then twelve to fourteen years of age. Joseph, who was at the time ninety years old, went up to Jerusalem among the candidates; a miracle manifested the choice God had made of Joseph, and two years later the Annunciation took place.” [6]

One thing needs to be remembered, although they say that she was 12 years old when she was betrothed to 90 year old Joseph, most Christians of today reject this story, because Joseph would be labelled a ‘paedophile’.

‘History of Joseph the Carpenter’ also confirms that Mary was 12 years old when betrothed to Joseph. Chapter 3 and 4 states:

3. Now when righteous Joseph became a widower, my mother Mary, blessed, holy, and pure, was already twelve years old. For her parents offered her in the temple when she was three years of age, and she remained in the temple of the Lord nine years. Then when the priests saw that the virgin, holy and God-fearing, was growing up, they spoke to each other, saying: Let us search out a man, righteous and pious, to whom Mary may be entrusted until the time of her marriage; lest, if she remain in the temple, it happen to her as is wont to happen to women, and lest on that account we sin, and God be angry with us.

4. Therefore they immediately sent out, and assembled twelve old men of the tribe of Judah. And they wrote down the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. And the lot fell upon the pious old man, righteous Joseph. Then the priests answered, and said to my blessed mother: Go with Joseph, and be with him till the time of your marriage. Righteous Joseph therefore received my mother, and led her away to his own house. And Mary found James the Less in his father’s house, broken-hearted and sad on account of the loss of his mother, and she brought him up. Hence Mary was called the mother of James. Luke 24:10 Thereafter Joseph left her at home, and went away to the shop where he wrought at his trade of a carpenter. And after the holy virgin had spent two years in his house her age was exactly fourteen years, including the time at which he received her.

Doesn't the Catholic encyclopedia also say :

"the apocryphal literature is full of details, the non-admittance of these works into the Canon of the Sacred Books casts a strong suspicion upon their contents"

Also wat does Joseph character have to do wit Christians, I mean he could have even been a murderer and still it wouldn't affect Christianity.

Jesus is Christianity not Joseph.

Christians aren't criticizing muhammad base on his father character, they criticizing muhammad base his own character.

Richirich713:
Doesn't the Catholic encyclopedia also say :

"the apocryphal literature is full of details, the non-admittance of these works into the Canon of the Sacred Books casts a strong suspicion upon their contents"

Also wat does Joseph character have to do wit Christians, I mean he could have even been a murderer and still it wouldn't affect Christianity.

Jesus is Christianity not Joseph.

Christians aren't criticizing muhammad base on his father character, they criticizing muhammad base his own character.

And Joseph is not a biblical prophet of God

Neither Jesus nor prophets before him were ever Christian (fact)

yazach:


And Joseph is not a biblical prophet of God

Neither Jesus nor prophets before him were ever Christian (fact)

no wer does the bible say Joseph is a prophet.

How is that a fact?

Christians are people that follow jesus and believe in his teachings, it's just a term used to describe the ORIGINAL followers of jesus.

Whatever jesus believe, we believe.

Without jesus there's no Christianity.

yazach:


And Joseph is not a biblical prophet of God

Neither Jesus nor prophets before him were ever Christian (fact)

Joseph was not a prophet! Was Nebuchadnezzar a prophet because he had a prophetic dream and heard the voice of angels like Joseph did?

Since you are passionate about this, give us a SINGLE person from credible sources that had a kid as a wife in the Bible?
Straining at words and diligently searching for one that seem to agree with your bias is no way to seek for truth; a self-defeating procedure that lacks credibility (whereby minority becomes majority) is thereby illustrated! That you had to seek the aid of extra-biblical, spurrious sources to attempt to corrupt one person, overplays your hand and real intention.
As regards one man and wife, the OT allowed for the hardness of the heart of those in that dispensation.
As regards Christ, it is not possible for the Master to be a disciple of Himself!!!

Scholar8200:

Joseph was not a prophet! Was Nebuchadnezzar a prophet because he had a prophetic dream and heard the voice of angels like Joseph did?

Since you are passionate about this, give us a SINGLE person from credible sources that had a kid as a wife in the Bible?
Straining at words and diligently searching for one that seem to agree with your bias is no way to seek for truth; a self-defeating procedure that lacks credibility (whereby minority becomes majority) is thereby illustrated! That you had to seek the aid of extra-biblical, spurrious sources to attempt to corrupt one person, overplays your hand and real intention.
As regards one man and wife, the OT allowed for the hardness of the heart of those in that dispensation.
As regards Christ, it is not possible for the Master to be a disciple of Himself!!!

Mother of your God was married at the age of 12

Richirich713:


no wer does the bible say Joseph is a prophet.

How is that a fact?

Christians are people that follow jesus and believe in his teachings, it's just a term used to describe the ORIGINAL followers of jesus.

Whatever jesus believe, we believe.

Without jesus there's no Christianity.

I disagree with you in this regards. It is better to say without paul, their is no Christianity

What is religion of Abraham, Noah, Adam?

yazach:


Mother of your God was married at the age of 12

Ouch! Book, chapter and verse from a CREDIBLE source sire!
And of Paul and Christianity show us ONE teaching of Paul that contradicts that of CHRIST and/or His disciples!

yazach:


I disagree with you in this regards. It is better to say without paul, their is no Christianity

What is religion of Abraham, Noah, Adam?

No paul is a apostle of jesus. Jesus is his Lord and savior.

Abraham was a jew who believed in Yahweh.

He was not a Muslim.

Richirich713:


No paul is a apostle of jesus. Jesus is his Lord and savior.

Abraham was a jew who believed in Yahweh.

He was not a Muslim.

you don't want to see nor listen to someone but you claim to be his apostle after his death

Please don't tell me the same lie Paul gave as evidence

Hope you got the message

Please provide

1- Biblical prove that Abrahm was a Jew. Don't forget you Christians also call he "Father of Faith"

2- Al least 3 attributes of Jewish religion that Abrahm possessed according to the bible

yazach:



you don't want to see nor listen to someone but you claim to be his apostle after his death

Please don't tell me the same lie Paul gave as evidence

Hope you got the message

Please provide

1- Biblical prove that Abrahm was a Jew. Don't forget you Christians also call he "Father of Faith"

2- Al least 3 attributes of Jewish religion that Abrahm possessed according to the bible

And yet u believe muhammad who came "600 years later knew more about jesus than paul. Even tho paul knew jesus disciples and was accepted by them as a true apostle of Jesus.

My whole point was abraham was a Ancient hebrew man who lived in Israel and worship Yahweh.

Richirich713:


And yet u believe muhammad who came "600 years later knew more about jesus than paul. Even tho paul knew jesus disciples and was accepted by them as a true apostle of Jesus.

Yes, the same way Jesus knew more about the past prophets

Richirich713:


My whole point was abraham was a Ancient hebrew man who lived in Israel and worship Yahweh.

Just like that? Not a single quote from the bible

yazach:


Yes, the same way Jesus knew more about the past prophets

Difference is jesus never talk about a other moses or other abraham. Muhammad did talk about a other jesus, a jesus who never claim to be the Son of god, a jesus who said God name is Allah nd not Yahweh, a jesus who was never crucified.

yazach:


Just like that? Not a single quote from the bible

" God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD (YHWH), the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,the name you shall call me
from generation to generation. (Exodus 3:15)

One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew". (Genesis 14.13

@op, the whole of that chp 31 is horrible in fact from vs 25; see how the shared the loots,and they claimed God instructed them, these people are just devilish, they have nothing to do with God.
From vs 48 down is just a bomb, how can man bribe his way to protection with looted gold.

Moses did some shit, he actually led the people from God.