Why did God tell the Israelites to Kill Women, Children and even Animals in the Old Testament?

Why Did God Command the Israelites to Kill Women, Children, and Animals in the Old Testament?

This question often serves as a point of attack by atheists against many Christians. Even within Christian circles, understanding why God appeared to act harshly in the Old Testament while being described as love in the New Testament, as noted by the apostle John, poses a challenge. Is God truly love, or does His actions in the Old Testament portray Him as evil? Could He be both?

This article aims to delve into these questions:

1. Why did God wipe out the pre-flood people with a flood?
2. Why did God command the children of Israel to kill many nations, including women, children, and even animals?

These questions often remain untouched, as many struggle to find satisfactory answers. Some resort to phrases like “it was God’s will” or “who are we to question God?” Such responses, in my humble opinion, merely deflect from addressing the underlying issues, thereby enabling further attacks by atheists.

In this brief article, I endeavor to provide insights into these questions and assert that God is not inconsistent. He remains constant throughout time—unchanging. However, human perceptions and traditions have obscured the true nature of God the Father. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, sought to reveal the Father’s true character, being the exact image of Him.

Why did God wipe out the pre-flood people with a flood?

To address this question, one must explore the book of Genesis. In Genesis 6:5-7, God explicitly states His reasons for the impending destruction:

“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (KJV)

Now, what events led to God’s decision, as outlined in verses 5-7?

Genesis 6:1-3 provides insight into the state of affairs “in the days of Noah”:

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (KJV)

The term “sons of God” in Hebrew, Bene Ha’elohim, refers to the divine counsel. This interpretation aligns with other references to the sons of God in the book of Job. Genesis 6:1-4 indicates that angels had relations with human women, resulting in the Nephilim, or the fallen ones. Jude also makes a similar connection, referring to fallen angels who abandoned their habitation. The apostle Paul further elucidates this concept in his letter to the Corinthians.

Despite the prevalent theory attributing the “sons of God” to the offspring of Seth and the “daughters of men” to Cain’s descendants, deeper examination reveals the inadequacy of this explanation, which emerged in the 5th century A.D. and was subsequently used to undermine Christianity.

Why did God command the children of Israel to kill many nations, including women, children, and even animals?

This question demands a closer examination of Genesis 6:3, where God declares, “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” It’s plausible that God’s statement stems from the corruption resulting from the union between angels and human women, which tainted the purity of humanity’s lineage. Notably, Noah, described as “perfect in his generations,” exemplified the preservation of the untainted human lineage.

The phrase “perfect in his generations” denotes Noah’s purity of lineage, uncorrupted by the Nephilim seed. Consequently, God selected Noah to perpetuate the unadulterated human lineage.

While this interpretation may appear unconventional, it offers a coherent explanation for God’s command to exterminate certain nations, including women, children, and animals. Genesis 6:12 attests to the widespread corruption prevalent at the time. Additionally, references to post-flood Nephilim existence underscore the persistence of this corrupted lineage.

Satan’s malevolent intent to corrupt humanity’s lineage, particularly the lineage through which Jesus would come, underscores the urgency of God’s directive to eradicate these corrupted nations. Joshua’s reconnaissance mission underscores the formidable stature of the Nephilim, further substantiating the existence of giants.

Despite potential skepticism, this interpretation finds support in biblical text and addresses lingering questions surrounding these events.

Finally, objections citing Jesus’s words merit consideration. Jesus’s statement regarding marriage among angels pertains to those abiding in their heavenly habitation, distinct from fallen angels who abandoned their divine state. Thus, Jesus’s assertion aligns with the interpretation presented here.

In conclusion, God’s command to the Israelites to exterminate specific nations, including women, children, and animals, stemmed from the imperative to eradicate corrupted lineages threatening the integrity of humanity’s lineage. Through Jesus, we gain insight into the Father’s true character, revealing a God of love and compassion. This understanding underscores the importance of aligning our perception of God with the revelation embodied in Jesus.