Ad Choices, Old Testament Murder Count: God Vs. Satan, Lets face it: the Old Testament God was a deity who really needed to rip the amphetamine drip out of his celestial arm. @H3br3wHamm3r81: Depends on context, but probably yes. Wired took things even further and compared the God-ordained deaths to those caused by, or carried out in the name of . We have been declared righteous and can enter the holy of holies and stand in the very presence of God with confidence because of Christs atoning sacrifice. Here are some things we learn from the Bible that put the killing of the first-born in perspective. The Lord Jesus is Gods firstborn if you would. -Like the practice of Er and Onan, and yet not [exactly] like the practice of Er and Onan: 'Like the practice of Er and Onan', for it is written in Scripture, And it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilt it on the ground; and 'not [exactly] like the practice of Er and Onan', for whereas there it was an unnatural act, here it is done in the natural way. Lamech admits to having killed a man in Genesis 4:23-24. Wont Someone Think of the Moths? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Hananiah, a false prophet who led the people to believe lies, is executed within a year after he is told by the prophet Jeremiah he will be punished for his sins (Jeremiah 28:12 - 17). He attends Faith Fellowship Church in East Rochester, OH where he has given multiple sermons and is discipled by pastor Chet Howes. When we sin, we sin in Gods name. Nabal was a wealthy but harsh man. (Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Bereshit 38:7), ' . And Aaron died there on top of the mountain. At one point in his message, he paused and asked the men if they knew who killed Jesus. Kindly join in and be blessed. that he wasted his semen, as it is written in connection with Onan: and He put him to death also, meaning that, as Ers death, so was Onans death. He has given us His word to instruct us both in our attitudes and practices so we can know how to worship in a manner that delights Him. Steve Wells is the author of the brilliant Skeptics Annotated Bible website. The Psychedelic Scientist Who Sends Brains Back to Childhood. So that she (Tamar) would not become pregnant and her beauty be impaired. It was only a few months ago when he published a print version of the site a massive tome that chronicles the messed. In a strictly nationalistic sense, Judah is the primary kingdom of the South, and Joseph the hero of the North (Ephraim is Joseph's son), it is interesting how bad of a light the south is shown in this story. Or as Romans 3:25 says, God put [him] forward as a propitiation by his blood. Just as Abraham lifted the knife over the chest of his son Isaac, but then spared his son because there was a ram in the thicket, so God the Father lifted his knife over the chest of his own Son, Jesus but did not spare him, because he was the ram; he was the substitute. Someone asked me this question and I was curious how other people might answer it. Why doesn't the Bible tell us? Some said Pilate. 32 For I take no delight in the death of anyone, declares the sovereign LORD. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. Why is God so different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament? Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. 58 If you refuse to obey all the words of this law, the things written in this scroll, and refuse to fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, 59 then the LORD will increase your punishments and those of your descendants great and long-lasting afflictions and severe, enduring illnesses. hollywood_gus 8 mo. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, 29 and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, all the Israelites . R. Nahman b. Isaac replied: It is written, And He slew him also, he also died of the same death. This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23). I don't want to try so hard that I'm forcing a fit through rationalization, but I think it could be argued that based on his role within his tribe, Abraham may very well have been acting as the appropriate agent of his State (tribal priest, for example? God interrupted the more normal processes of life and dying (which he controls) and took them away by a more direct act. God judges His own people. Why did God command the genocide of the Canaanites? (Exodus 20:13). Judah was stealing Tamar's rightful due, namely a sin and support mechanism. Nadab and Abihu received this honor because God selected Aaron and his sons to serve as priests on behalf of the people (Exodus 28:1). One way in which biblical scholars have attempted to resolve the problem of the mass killing of the Canaanites is to suggest that God never commanded it. Why did God command the genocide of the Canaanites? The Lord accepted them by consuming them with fire ( Leviticus 9:22-24 ). Answer In 1 Samuel 15:2-3, God commanded Saul and the Israelites, "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. " ( Genesis 38:7) "What Onan did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also ." As the government model changed priests, kings, soldiers, spies, etc. Here is the good news: We are all as worthy of death as the firstborn of Egypt. He is both our Offering and ourGreat High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). How Many Has God Killed? How Can We Model the Love of Jesus by Showing Compassion? Are high yield savings accounts as secure as money market checking accounts? All rights reserved. firstborn, was wicked in the LORDs sight; so the LORD put him to How many witnesses testimony constitutes or transcends reasonable doubt? Here are some things we learn from the Bible that put the killing of the first-born in perspective. How can sinful people be reconciled to a holy God? And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Er, the firstborn child of the patriarch Judah, was put to death by the Eternal for his unspecified wickedness (Genesis 38:7). But in what sense is he saving us right now? Exodus 13:15 - The Dedication of the Firstborn Numbers 20:22-29 NIV - The Death of Aaron - Bible Gateway One day they offered before the altar "strange fire" (KJV translation) before God and were immediately executed for their foolishness (Leviticus 10:1 - 2). How would life, that thrives on the magic of trees, survive in an area with limited trees? This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.' . And the thing which he did displeased (literally, was evil in the eyes of) the Lord: - the word Jehovah is employed not because the writer was a late interpolator, but because the sin of Onan was an offence against the sanctity and prosperity of the theocratic family (Hengstenberg) - wherefore he (i.e. Many worship services have transformed into a rock concert with light shows and loud music to appease the carnal desires of the masses. The last paragraph would make an excellent question, I think. Ananias and his wife Sapphira were New Testament believers. We should all heed the warning given on account of Nadab and Abihu. Nadab and Abihu remind us God is not to be taken for granted and He will not merely accept any casual worship we throw His way. Angel "marriages", rebellious angels, and Genesis-Jude intertextual connections. This page last updated: September 26, 2022. What's it called when multiple concepts are combined into a single problem? God commanded people to kill in the Old testament, does he still command people to kill today? . Is the name Israel intended to be ambiguous? - at that point, "the Lord let him alone" ( Exodus 4: . 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. God isholy and He hates sin (Psalm 5:4-6). God commanded people to kill in the Old testament, does he still command people to kill today? Did Anyone Ever Really Need a Smart Display? According to Jubilees, Er sinned by refusing to sleep with Tamar: (1) And in the forty-fifth jubilee, in the second week, (and) in the second year, Judah took for his first-born Er, a wife from the daughters of Aram, named Tamar. Three days ago I was doing a bible study with my friend and I came across Ezekiel 9:6-7, where God orders the slaughter of men, women and children, as a somewhat new Christian I was obviously disgusted and horrified by the verse, but can my fellow brothers and sisters Christians explain this verse for me in more detailed information, it is greatly appreciated. Taking the Bible at its word (and including events referenced in extra-canonical books) reveals a death count of 2,821,364, while the actual number, due to the text's having left out flood deaths, is probably pushing 24,994,828. Does air in the atmosphere get friction due to the planet's rotation? Stack Exchange network consists of 182 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. How he takes away is his call. Ocean creatures soak up huge amounts of humanitys carbon mess. Along with their father and other brothers, Nadab and Abihu underwent a meticulous seven-day cleansing/consecration ceremony. After Aaron's sacrifice, however, Nadab and Abihu offered "strange fire" before the Lordstrange because it did not adhere the His specifications or commandments. Although the New Testament gave us a kinder, gentler God with a bellyful of butterflies who only wants humanity to surround him in one big group hug, the Old Testament God comes []. And many more. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. How to Survive a Devastating Earthquakeand Firestorm. With all these things in mind, I believe that we can safely say this, with the apostle Paul: Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God harshness toward those who have fallen, but Gods kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off (Romans 11:22). This brings to light the most fundamental and severe problem every person has. Instead of asking what we can give to the Lord in worship, we tend to ask what we can get out of the Church. Kids soak up new skills, adults not so much. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Satan coming back from that would be like the Generals coming back against the Harlem Globetrotters in the last minutes of the 4th. The story does not tell us what Er did to be killed, but the Bible highlights a pervasive theme by implying: Er was displeasing before the Lord because he was a firstborn. It only takes a minute to sign up. They took advantage of their authority by coercing those who came to offer an animal sacrifice to give them whatever part of the beast they demanded (1Samuel 2:12 - 17). 61 Moreover, the LORD will bring upon you every kind of sickness and plague not mentioned in this scroll of commandments, until you have perished (Deuteronomy 28:58-61, emphasis mine). a man can't murder people, just because he may happen to be an executioner for the state) Phinehas was a priest, I think, and served some sort of role in the front-line fighting. The others said to him: Such actions are only like the practice of Er and Onan! Jehovah) slew him also (vide supra). Berean Standard Bible And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. Or is there clear evidence in the Bible that goes against this? Why does tblr not work with commands that contain &. Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Ten Tribes of Israel, was struck down because of his many sins, chief of which were leading the people away from the true God (2Chronicles 13:20). Should I include high school teaching activities in an academic CV? Numerous congregations seem to focus more on entertaining people and making them feel good about themselves as opposed to a focus on God and His holiness. This prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines not only killed them during a battle but also took from under their care the Ark of the Covenant (1Samuel 4:1 - 11). It would seem to be evidence for a more Northerly bias on the part of the writer(s) of Genesis. You can read more about the words used here. (Bereshit Rabbah 85:4), ' " ( , ) ( , ) " . Now, why should Er waste his semen? Why was Moses not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Certainly, we should strive for this because we love Him. In an age when we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and Lords Word so abundantly available, we have no excuses for being ignorant of what God asks of us. Sin and disobedience had no place there because sin cannot exist in the presence of God (Psalm 5:4). I believe we are wrong to think of the firstborn only as infants and toddlers. One thing to consider is the different role of the individual vs. the role as an agent of the State. (as a caveat, just because one may be officially an agent of the state doesn't mean that role provides universal covering e.g. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation. The Trillion-Dollar Auction to Save the World. Why Did God Kill Aaron's Sons Nadab and Abihu? I was merely looking for input. 105 Bible Verses about God Killing Are glass cockpit or steam gauge GA aircraft safer? When a 7.9-magnitude quake struck San Francisco in 1906, it opened the gates of hell. behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace" (Genesis 19:24-25, 28b).God made that valley uninhabitable, and the area that . In truth, our entire life should be an act of worship (Romans 12:1; Colossians 3:17). It only takes a minute to sign up. Firstborns don't do well in the Pentateuch: The story of Judah and Tamar emphasizes that Er was a firstborn: Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. "Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. They had to obey Gods command by faith in order to be spared (Hebrews 11:28). EIGHTH: We learn from the Book of Jonah that God sends those to warn Gentile nations which oppress Israel of impending judgment, and to give them the opportunity to repent and escape Gods judgment. Article by John Piper Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org The sons of Judah, Er and Onan, were wicked men, and the Bible says, the Lord killed them. It is of the utmost importance to remember all people deserve condemnation and death. I have wounded and it is I who heal, Several factors must be kept in mind in viewing this situation. suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Why did God command the Israelites to completely destroy the Midianites in Numbers 31:17? What Does the Bible Say About God Kills? I am going to completely disagree with the word "because." Ishmael and Gad were sons of concubines so really don't count as firstborns. According to Rabbinic sources, Er did sleep with Tamar, but avoided impregnating her, in order to maintain her beauty: ', . Nadab and Abihu were among the people personally selected by God to come before Him and worship at a distance (Exodus 24:1). The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. What Does "I Believe! The Levitical priestsas servants of the Lordfacilitated the animal sacrifices and acted on behalf of the people in order to keep them in right relationship with the Lord according to the conditions of the Old Covenant. (Romans 8:32). They had the privilege of being among the first men since the exodus to have fellowship with the Lord. When we read the Old Testament Law, we see how God demands the best (and best efforts) from His people. This argument is advanced in one of two ways: a. [closed], http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Examples_of_God_personally_killing_people, http://www.thethinkingatheist.com/page/bible-atrocities, from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, Starting the Prompt Design Site: A New Home in our Stack Exchange Neighborhood. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. Proof? Where to start with a large crack the lock puzzle like this? Some said Pilate. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. This has been called a primitive and barbaric act of murder perpetrated on innocent lives. The firstborn son is the rightful heir of the father, to lead or to rule in his place. How many people did God kill In the Bible? This assured they might be presented as holy before the Lord and fit for service in the Tabernacle (Leviticus 8). 28 Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. What does the Bible say about circumcision? More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! After there was silence, my friend said simply, His Father killed him.. When we put our hands to the plow of our Christian lives, we cannot leave prayer behind. All rights reserved. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. We still sin, but we are no longer slaves to it. Does New Testament accounting language have any Old Testament backing? Here are the clues: - God was seeking to kill Moses. Governing all does not mean governing all in the same way. Why Did God Kill Aaron's Sons Nadab and Abihu? death (NIV 38:6-7). Is this legit? There is no question God loves His children beyond comprehension, but He also asks us to yield our lives to Him (Luke 9:23). Christ paints a picture of Him returning and subduing the nations under himself, not countries subduing others under themselves. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. They carelessly acted on their own authority and did not bother to even consult Moses who oversaw the Tabernacle service that day. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and childrens children, to the third and fourth generation (Exodus 34:6-7). It would seem that this final judgment could also have been avoided by any Egyptian who believed God and acted accordingly. 11 Powerful Podcasts to Help Grow Your Faith. God hates sin, and loves the sinner, but if the sinner will not part from the sin, eventually God is forced to remove both together. It is the life-long mission of the Christian to cut sin out of their life. When you engage in practices like incest, adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality, it is going to provoke your Creator. Will spinning a bullet really fast without changing its linear velocity make it do more damage? THIRD: The killing of Egypts firstborn could have been avoided, had Pharaoh simply released the Israelites as God required. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Also, bear in mind that Israel underwent a government transition throughout the OT, so in a purely theocratic society, a priest might act as judge and would deliver justice based on revelation. Old Testament Mass Killings - bethinking.org What was the reason for Tamar and Judah's story? After Aarons sacrifice, however, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire before the Lordstrange because itdid not adhere the His specifications or commandments. Isaiah 6:3 (NASB) 1 Peter 1:14-16 also reminds us that we are evil, but God is holy. Were on a mission to change that. "This Jesus [was] delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God" ( Acts 2:23 ). Did God command genocide in the Bible? To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. rev2023.7.14.43533. God did not overreact. . They were among the generation of the Israelites whom God delivered from the powerful hand of the Egyptians who held them in captivity for 400 years. He refused, when asked, to provide desperately needed supplies for David (the future king of Israel) and his men. God commanded people to kill in the Old testament, does he still Why did the Israelites take the Canaanites as slaves instead of destroying them as they were instructed? Sure, the US secretary of transportation has thoughts on building bridges. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Some said the soldiers did. According to The Unger's Bible Dictionary under the term ER. Gen. 9:5-9:6. Why should you die, O house of Israel? My Rosary | Daily Prayers | Catholic Apps on Instagram: " My Rosary Holding Fast in Prayer (Luke 18:1-8) Save the bees, but save the moths too. Our sins make us worthy of death: For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Old Testament Murder Count: God Vs. Satan There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals! (Jonah 4:9-11, emphasis mine). God cares about how we worship. Christians make the worst sinners. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! All these, and no doubt countless others we are not aware of, were personally executed by God for their sins! Why is category theory the preferred language of advanced algebraic geometry? If we are not diligent to worship the Lord as He demands, we too will offer up the strange fire when we come before Him. But perhaps the most troubling question from the Old Testament is God's command to kill and drive out the Canaanites and perhaps . Why Are There So Many Different Bible Translations? They were not told by God to murder. One of the most popular interpretations credits LamechCain's great, great grandsonwith killing Cain. What should we learn from the walls of Jericho falling down? NUMBERS 31:17-18 God commanded Moses to kill all of the male Midianite children and "kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." The virgins were presumably raped. "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" ( Job 1:21 ). 0 181 181 comments Best Add a Comment hollywood_gus 8 mo. Biblical commentaries vary regarding their interpretation of what is meant by "strange fire," the offering of which brought about the swift deaths of these two priests. Does the Granville Sharp rule apply to Titus 2:13 when dealing with "the Blessed Hope? God no longer sees our sin when He looks at us, but instead sees His sinless Son. Thus, I would think that the middle-age firstborn of Egypt would be the current leaders (or at least would-be leaders) of the nation. I'm not sure that I gave it enough attention, but members of the armed service are agents of the state, as they are fighting on behalf of state interests; not just going out and shooting people for individual vendettas (or whatever). In response to this question asked by JonEricson. Did God Command the Mass Killing of the Canaanites? Along that same line, Morrow clarifies that God's instructions to the Israelite army in Deuteronomy 20 to destroy the people occupying the land of Canaan is "about judgment, not genocide." "The Bible teaches clearly that all people are sinful and in rebellion, kind of living in open rebellion against God, and God is just to judge anyone," says .
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