Violence in the OT

[RileyG]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

How do you explain the violence in the OT? How is it interpreted today?

Thanks you

 

[Wings like Eagles]

I believe it was barbaric, same as it is today, only today the violence is being promoted for political reasons.

 

[RileyG]

I believe it was barbaric, same as it is today, only today the violence is being promoted for political reasons.

So it was mostly political? Was it a "us" versus "them" mentality?

In some ways, Yahweh is described as a warrior God, and those who were against him were his "enemies." Am I understanding this correctly?

 

[Soyeong]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

How do you explain the violence in the OT? How is it interpreted today?

Thanks you

There is also violence in the NT, though violence can be done justly or unjustly, we should should not be quick to label it as being barbaric, but seek to understand why it is there.

 

[RileyG]

The NT does not seem as violent though. Although Jesus did get mad quite a few times, see Matthew 23 and John 2.

 

[Soyeong]

The NT does not seem as violent though. Although Jesus did get mad quite a few times, see Matthew 23 and John 2.

There is plenty of violence in Revelation.

 

[RileyG]

There is plenty of violence in Revelation.

That is very true. Revelation is also highly symbolic.

 

[HTacianas]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

How do you explain the violence in the OT? How is it interpreted today?

Thanks you

Most of the violence in the old testament is war. People fought wars in those days differently than we usually fight wars today. In those days warfare meant attacking your enemy and utterly destroying them. Wiping them out. A massacre. Men women and children. God commanded the Israelites on a number of times to do jut that. But note that those commands were to -in those days- wage war. But God did not create the rules of warfare, men did. So the command was to go and wage war just like everybody else does. That doesn't make it less brutal, it merely explains what was happening at the time.

It's funny that the Christianization of the West was what led to the rules of warfare today. At least in the Western world. Armies line up on a battlefield and fight each other all the while pretty much leaving the civilian population alone. If you look to history to find a comparison between "Christian" warfare and other cultures you'll find something of a comparison in the Declaration of Independence. One of the grievances the Colonists had with King George:

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

You can see the shock of comparing European warfare with the warfare of the Indian tribes. Their form of warfare hadn't changed since old testament times.

 

[Wings like Eagles]

So it was mostly political? Was it a "us" versus "them" mentality?

In some ways, Yahweh is described as a warrior God, and those who were against him were his "enemies." Am I understanding this correctly?

In the OT, I think the wars and direct violence .... like in Samuel had a purpose, Gods purpose.
The violence of today is chaotic and dark, the ruler/s of this world are using/unleashing it to further their agenda, of total control.

 

[Wings like Eagles]

That is very true. Revelation is also highly symbolic.

But will no doubt be very violent.

 

[RileyG]

Most of the violence in the old testament is war. People fought wars in those days differently than we usually fight wars today. In those days warfare meant attacking your enemy and utterly destroying them. Wiping them out. A massacre. Men women and children. God commanded the Israelites on a number of times to do jut that. But note that those commands were to -in those days- wage war. But God did not create the rules of warfare, men did. So the command was to go and wage war just like everybody else does. That doesn't make it less brutal, it merely explains what was happening at the time.

It's funny that the Christianization of the West was what led to the rules of warfare today. At least in the Western world. Armies line up on a battlefield and fight each other all the while pretty much leaving the civilian population alone. If you look to history to find a comparison between "Christian" warfare and other cultures you'll find something of a comparison in the Declaration of Independence. One of the grievances the Colonists had with King George:

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

You can see the shock of comparing European warfare with the warfare of the Indian tribes. Their form of warfare hadn't changed since old testament times.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[RileyG]

But will no doubt be very violent.

Again, that is true.