Why did God command all the ox, sheep, camels, and donkeys to be slaughtered in the Bible??

Question

"Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don't spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." - 1st Samuel 15:3

Why did these innocent animals deserve death when God did not give them free will?

The Jewish commentators were around to see how the animals were living 2000 years ago? Oh wow! That is why I love this comedy show. Hillarious!!

Answer 1

1st Samuel 15:2 "Thus says the LORD of Host, "I will punish Amalek for what He did to Israel, how He set himself against him on the way while he was coming up from Egypt. Samuel 15:3...

Saul didn't obey God on this one.. The LORD said to Samuel, "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands."

Behold to obey is better than sacrifice. Rebellion is as the sin of divination. This is when the LORD rejected Him as king over Israel. Read the whole chapter.

To me, I don't understand God about the animals, but God knew it was necessary. I have a hunch It had to do with bestiality & the whole area had been corrupt with the idolatry. Also, innocent animals, people die all the time because of the sins of others. Man's sin can lead to natural disasters. Environmental sins cause polution.

Answer 2

King Shaul actually went against G-d's wishes and did not kill all the animals out of compassion. It was a big mistake that he did not kill them. The people in Amelek knew some sorcery and some people actually transformed into animals as a cover-up.

One of the descendants from these people/animals was the evil Haman who tried to wipe out the Jewish race. And many other countries who persecuted the Jews came from them as well. G-d is kind and if he commands us to do something we should do it with no questions. Only he knows the master plan

By the way, to help repent of the sin of King Shaul - it was his descendant Esther who brought an end to the evil Haman.

Answer 3

Maybe they were heathens too? No one is sure.

Though the Beastiality answer above is rather odd. I have not run into anything on THAT scale, even in paganism. To mate with an idol? What is that? I am sure most of them did not have sexual relations with pieces of wood and such. I wonder if these people understand the idea of Symbolism.

Answer 4

You make the assumption that the animals were innocent. In fact, the Jewish commentators say that the animals were just as depraved as the Amalekites, and were thus deserving of destruction.

Answer 5

They were part of a city that was corrupted the whole way through. All the way through. He wanted to make sure that nothing of the city would remain.

And animals have free will. God doesn't force them. they made decisions on their own. As a pet owner, I know this.

Answer 6

It's just like when he killed the innocent animals in Egypt. I likes to see animals die. The Aroma pleases the gods.

Answer 7

To williamzo:
It says, who would Jesus bomb?


Um, I'm not sure why, the animals were slaughtered.
I can just imagine, my dad telling me this story and acting like it was something good.

Answer 8

Not only did he want the enemy destroyed, he also did not want his people being corrupted by the possession of the spoils.
Real war has no compassion, get over it.

Answer 9

if you are an atheist !!!
they are the animals available in middle east. Agriculture is difficult without assured irrigation. So dietry suppliment with animal protien is necessary. so the person who has written it may have suggested them to eat.....

Answer 10

My Question is why do you have your picture ID saying What would Jesus Want and then ask/reply to everything in an obvious anti-christian way?