The Controversial Bible Passage: A Mother's Attempt to Shield Her Child

Chloe Whisperwillow

Updated Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

In an evocative and thought-provoking illustration, a mother and her young daughter share a quiet moment reading a book together. Set indoors, the scene is illuminated by the warm glow of a lamp, casting a comforting light over the pair. The daughter, dressed in a white short-sleeve shirt with long, wavy blonde hair, holds the book with a focused expression. Beside her, the mother, wearing a light-colored dress or nightgown and with long, wavy brown hair, also looks at the book, smiling gently.

The illustration captures a poignant conversation between the two, depicted through their speech bubbles. The daughter, pointing to a specific passage, asks, "Numbers 31:17, 18, 35. Mom, why the Celestial father killed all the little children but saved 32 virgins and gave them to soldiers?" This question references a highly debated and controversial part of the Bible where, according to the text, young virgins were spared and given to soldiers as spoils of war, while others were killed.

In response, the mother's speech bubble reads, "Skip that part Honey, look here, Baby Jesus! He's so cute." This response highlights the tendency of some to avoid addressing the more difficult and unsettling passages of religious texts, instead diverting attention to more pleasant narratives.

The image has sparked various reactions and comments online, reflecting a wide range of perspectives on the subject:

- One user commented, "Wow, there's a bit of the Bible that Christians find inconvenient, so they just ignore it? That's crazy, I'm glad this is the only time they've ever done such a thing."

- Another user added, "According to my reading, it wasn't 32 virgins. It was 32,000 virgins. Tens of thousands of women given as loot to the conquering army. Oh, and 1-in-500 of the captured people just got straight up sacrificed to god."

- A different perspective was offered: "Religious folks all wild-eyed and drooly over virgins. Weirdos."

- Some users questioned the broader implications of religious teachings, with one stating, "Pick a religion, any religion, and read from their Holy Texts. They’re all sort of like this."

The illustration and the ensuing discussions serve as a powerful reminder of the complexities and controversies within religious texts. It also underscores the human tendency to selectively interpret and prioritize certain narratives over others.

Noticed an error or an aspect of this article that requires correction? Please provide the article link and reach out to us. We appreciate your feedback and will address the issue promptly.

View source: Imgur

Top Comments from Imgur

transirebenefaciendo

Wow, there's a bit of the Bible that Christians find inconvenient, so they just ignore it? That's crazy, I'm glad this is the only time they've ever done such a thing

Illithidbane

According to my reading, it wasn't 32 virgins. It was 32,000 virgins. Tens of thousands of women given as loot to the conquering army. Oh, and 1-in-500 of the captured people just got straight up sacrificed to god. 1-in-500 out of the 50% of captured people that went to soldiers gives us the cited 32, but those were the ones ritually slaughtered.

drduffer

Pick a religion, any religion, and read from their Holy Texts. They’re all sort of like this. “Your enemies will be smited (smote?) and you’ll be martyred and go straight to the holy place to be given all of the riches and virgins and be anointed with the oils and drink wine and everything because only true believers can get these things and all the other guys (cause they’re all men, right?) will go to hell and/or die horrible deaths because they’re heathens and other unmentionables, etc, etc.”

UpoiciaTupelo

Wait… the only children they didn’t kill were… the virgins? Wtf is wrong with Christians?

AShadyRaven

what is it with ancient religions and their fascination with virginity?

tirpider

Religious folks all wild-eyed and drooly over virgins. Weirdos.

GTimgur

I get why Christians are into the New Testament, even though they should really limit themselves to the Gospel. But why they look at the Old Testament as anything more than "yeah this is the stuff Jesus wanted a contract renegotiation about" is beyond me.

Euchre

God didn't kill those women (non-virgin), men, and male children - a bunch of Hebrew men under the command of their priests and with the apparent consent of Moses, did the killing. The priests may have claimed it was 'the will of God', but whoever wrote the Bible passage doesn't stipulate that. People have been being atrocious and contrary to religious teachings forever.

samanthadlcruz

where does it say that there were only 32 virgins sent to sex slavery? It says to save those virgins as war b**** but I don't see where it states how many there were.

aguacatedeldiablo

I grew up in the church - I don't go anymore not bc my thoughts or beliefs about God changed (lifelong agnostic, since before I knew what the word meant), it has to do with just how utterly *human* organized religion is. Yeah, this is f***ed up. But, it's also common throughout history, and even today it's the rare exception to not completely dehumanize your opponents, and no military or conflict is free of it completely. I think this is just a good example of how human the Bible is.