On God killing the "little ones" of Dathan and Abiram

[Achilles6129]

So here's the passage in question:

"25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.” 27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones. 28 Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. 29 If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.” 31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!”" Num. 16:25-34 (NASB)

Now here's the question: why destroy the "little ones" (which I take to mean the small children) of Dathan/Abiram? It would have been easy for their lives to have been spared by God. So why did God destroy them along with Dathan and Abiram? I find this to be a very interesting theological question and I'd appreciate any input. I'm thinking that God may destroy the children of the wicked not as punishment against the children but as punishment against the wicked. Thoughts?

 

[SkyWriting]

So here's the passage in question:

"25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.” 27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones. 28 Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. 29 If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.” 31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!”" Num. 16:25-34 (NASB)

Now here's the question: why destroy the "little ones" (which I take to mean the small children) of Dathan/Abiram? It would have been easy for their lives to have been spared by God. So why did God destroy them along with Dathan and Abiram? I find this to be a very interesting theological question and I'd appreciate any input. I'm thinking that God may destroy the children of the wicked not as punishment against the children but as punishment against the wicked. Thoughts?

The wages of sin is death.

Note that the concept of "punishment" does
not come up in my quote or your story.

 

[Achilles6129]

The wages of sin is death.

Note that the concept of "punishment" does
not come up in my quote or your story.

I see. So his little ones were sinners?

 

[MWood]

So here's the passage in question:

"25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.” 27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones. 28 Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. 29 If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.” 31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, “The earth may swallow us up!”" Num. 16:25-34 (NASB)

Now here's the question: why destroy the "little ones" (which I take to mean the small children) of Dathan/Abiram? It would have been easy for their lives to have been spared by God. So why did God destroy them along with Dathan and Abiram? I find this to be a very interesting theological question and I'd appreciate any input. I'm thinking that God may destroy the children of the wicked not as punishment against the children but as punishment against the wicked. Thoughts?

The little ones were destroyed for the same reason that the little ones were destroyed by the flood, and the little ones that God ordered destroyed when Joshua took the land of Canaan. The evilness of the parents are pasted down to their children through DNA, Genetics? (shrugs). I don't know God knows. Remember God was telling someone??IDK that the time was not now for the evilness of Canaan was not complete?

 

[Achilles6129]

If that's the case, then why doesn't God just destroy all of us?

I will admit that this passage is problematic because we don't know the age of Dathan/Abiram's children, but I think since it says "little ones" that we can safely assume that they could not have been in conscious rebellion against God.

 

[EastCoastRemnant]

A couple of thoughts... first, assuming the children were still of an age of innocence, God will resurrect them when Christ comes, so innocence was not what was being punished here. But for the sake of the Israelites (and us), this action was used as an object lesson. Namely, that disobedience will result in death and that ones mans actions can have a ripple affect upon his family, causing them to suffer the same fate. This tragedy was necessary to show that there is more to consider when deciding to walk contrary to God's ways than ones self... for me, my wife is my "little ones". If I am not the example of priest in our home, she could be lost because of my misdirection, disobedience or pride.

Hope this makes sense...

 

[civilwarbuff]

A couple of thoughts... first, assuming the children were still of an age of innocence, God will resurrect them when Christ comes, so innocence was not what was being punished here. But for the sake of the Israelites (and us), this action was used as an object lesson. Namely, that disobedience will result in death and that ones mans actions can have a ripple affect upon his family, causing them to suffer the same fate. This tragedy was necessary to show that there is more to consider when deciding to walk contrary to God's ways than ones self... for me, my wife is my "little ones". If I am not the example of priest in our home, she could be lost because of my misdirection, disobedience or pride.

Hope this makes sense...

It does make sense but only under OT Covenant Law.....not under NT Covenant Grace...

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

I see. So his little ones were sinners?

The wages of sin is death? That's the answer they give for God killing children.

Interesting. The enemy of God, Satan, is the chief sinner. In all the Bible how many people have been killed by God? Compared to those whom Satan killed? Including on God's behalf?

 

[Achilles6129]

The wages of sin is death? That's the answer they give for God killing children.

Interesting. The enemy of God, Satan, is the chief sinner. In all the Bible how many people have been killed by God? Compared to those whom Satan killed? Including on God's behalf?

Well, God does describe Satan as a "murderer from the beginning." God's commands also show that murder is clearly not a part of his nature.

Is it possible that physical death really isn't death at all? If that were the case, then God actually wouldn't have killed Dathan/Abiram's children. There are passages in Scripture that do indicate that God has a different definition of death, so this suggestion may be plausible.

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

Well, God does describe Satan as a "murderer from the beginning." God's commands also show that murder is clearly not a part of his nature.

Is it possible that physical death really isn't death at all? If that were the case, then God actually wouldn't have killed Dathan/Abiram's children. There are passages in Scripture that do indicate that God has a different definition of death, so this suggestion may be plausible.

Could be. Except for the story of the flood would typically indicate the world drowned.
If we don't take that as a literal deluge, what allegory or metaphor would we arrive at in reading those passages? Or those wherein God commanded the Hebrews to kill for him? Like the Midian massacre in Numbers 31?

 

[civilwarbuff]

The wages of sin is death? That's the answer they give for God killing children.

Interesting. The enemy of God, Satan, is the chief sinner. In all the Bible how many people have been killed by God? Compared to those whom Satan killed? Including on God's behalf?

What kind of "Christian" would compare God to Satan?

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

What kind of "Christian" would compare God to Satan?

Careful. Address the thread topic not the individuals participating.

 

[Achilles6129]

Could be. Except for the story of the flood would typically indicate the world drowned.
If we don't take that as a literal deluge, what allegory or metaphor would we arrive at in reading those passages? Or those wherein God commanded the Hebrews to kill for him? Like the Midian massacre in Numbers 31?

I think you misunderstand. I'm saying that it's entirely possible that physical death is actually not how God defines death.

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

I think you misunderstand. I'm saying that it's entirely possible that physical death is actually not how God defines death.

I understood what you stated. My question was, if that were true, physical death is actually not how God defines death, how then do we explain certain deaths recorded in the scriptures and under order of God. Or under his act of causing them?
The flood, the massacre of Midian, for example.

 

[civilwarbuff]

Careful. Address the thread topic not the individuals participating.

If you believe I am "out of bounds" please feel free to report me. The question stands: What kind of "Christian" would compare God to Satan?

 

[Achilles6129]

I understood what you stated. My question was, if that were true, physical death is actually not how God defines death, how then do we explain certain deaths recorded in the scriptures and under order of God. Or under his act of causing them?
The flood, the massacre of Midian, for example.

If physical death were not God's definition of death, then those things mentioned in Scripture wouldn't be "deaths" at all.

 

[MoonofIsaiah]

If physical death were not God's definition of death, then those things mentioned in Scripture wouldn't be "deaths" at all.

What do you suggest they were?

 

[Achilles6129]

What do you suggest they were?

God removing them from this world.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

The little ones were destroyed for the same reason that the little ones were destroyed by the flood, and the little ones that God ordered destroyed when Joshua took the land of Canaan. The evilness of the parents are pasted down to their children through DNA, Genetics? (shrugs). I don't know God knows. Remember God was telling someone??IDK that the time was not now for the evilness of Canaan was not complete?

I know God is God...but that's still messed up..i mean were all sinful
..why were we spared...because of what? Just so god can show mercy? If that's the case it fully explains why my life is the way it is now.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

It does make sense but only under OT Covenant Law.....not under NT Covenant Grace...

The OT was scary