שופטים, פרק כ״א, פסוק י״א

The fighters receive highly precise instructions that establish strict boundaries for their mission of punishment. Their orders demand the complete destruction of the men and the women who have experienced physical intimacy with a man [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, this command is strictly limited in its scope. The fighters are instructed to carry out only this exact measure, deliberately sparing the young women who have never been with a man and ensuring they remain alive [מצודת דוד].

This specific directive presents a practical challenge on the battlefield, as the fighters need a reliable way to determine the private history of each woman. Tradition provides two possible methods used to uncover this information [רד״ק]. One approach involves a spiritual test, mirroring a historical event where women were brought before the holy headplate of the High Priest. In that instance, the faces of those who had been intimate with a man miraculously turned green. An alternative approach describes a physical test where the women were seated over a barrel of wine. According to this method, the scent of the wine would only pass through and become detectable in a woman who was no longer a virgin.

Ultimately, during this specific campaign, the fighters relied on the physical test with the wine barrel rather than seeking a spiritual revelation. The holy headplate worn by the High Priest is a sacred object designed to draw favor and kindness from God. Because of its holy purpose, it is deemed entirely inappropriate to use it as an instrument to determine guilt and deliver disaster [רד״ק].