Why did Israelites kill people when God said Thou shall not kill ?

Question

Only christians please,
Why does God allow and force the Israelites to go to war (read the book of Joshua) but on the other hand He asks us to Not Kill ?

Answer 1

Question 1: God commanded the people not to murder, which is the taking of an innocent life. Yet, He also commanded them to stone certain people to death -- blasphemers, adulterers, etc. These people were not innocent.

But this is what the Jews failed to grasp: a strict reading of all 613 laws should have caused the Jews to conclude that, although there was a punishment for certain sins, NONE of them were qualified to stone anyone because they were also guilty of sin.

The Mosaic Laws function as one unit; anyone breaking one law is guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10). Under the Laws related to "false witness," anyone who falsely accused someone of breaking a Law was to be stoned instead of the person accused. Since breaking one law caused you to break them all, a sinner (i.e. all of them) couldn't accuse anyone else of breaking any law, since this would make him or her a false witness and eligible for stoning!

This is the reason why no one threw the first stone when Jesus stated, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" -- because they all knew they weren't sinless. Notice that the only sinless one amoung them, Jesus, chose not to throw a stone, either. So, what should be conclude from this? God tells us "vengence is Mine, I will repay." God tells us to let Him do the judging and punishing; but that doesn't mean He won't use an invading army to accomplish His Will, which leads us to your second question.

Question 2: God used these wars as a way of judging the pagan peoples residing in the land He promised to Abraham and his decendents. None of these people were innocent, since they were all guilty of worshipping pagan gods. God also gave the Israelites the permission to defend their right to the land. Outside of this, God repeatedly condemns the spilling of innocent blood.

Peace.

Answer 2

The main reason for this is because the leaders in other countries confuse and lie to their people by telling them that if they kill and die in the process, they will go to heaven and become a hero. These people are ignorant and don't understand what God has in mind for them. God is about love and not about lies. The only time war is necessary is when God commands us to do so and on his terms. Do you remember David and Goliath? It to me shows that a small man, with God's help, can defeat anything or anyone.

Answer 3

this case was differant because theyre were protecting people. if they didnt kill the army, many more people would die. so by not killing more lives will be lost than if you kill. so by not killing would make you a killer because of you letmore people die.if you could save 100 lives by killing 1 person but you didnt, then you litaraly have killed 100 people when you would have only killed 1. so if the isrielites didnt kill the armys they would have killed 1000s more by not killing. so they were obaying god. also with the changing the other cheek thing what jesus said, that means if you get attaked but if you are defending other people, like if you were with your kid and a gang attacs you and your kid you could fight back but if you were alone you cant. also i think by the commandment he ment dont kill without a good reason.
ALSO THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN BREAK A COMMANDMENT IS IF GOD GIVES YOU PERMITION ON THAT OCATION

Answer 4

doomhammerony,
Because he wanted them to. God gave land to the Israelites, and they had to work for it. They had to "evict" the tenants of Palestine. Just like now.

I think the word you might understand better is murder. But that doesn't explain it all either, because they were told to kill all women and children and babies, cattle, etc.

So what is the answer to that?

God don't have to live by those rules. He has no rules to live by. But what He does say is that you can trust Him to keep His word. Note that God nevr told anyone, I will never tell you to go to war. I will never tell you to harm another tribe. God has His agenda, those in faith need to abide by it.

Answer 5

Because the understanding is thou shalt not do any murder.

Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, .

In hebrew the word is tharatazach which menas murder. You have the right to kill for a just cause. If it is not a just cause then it is murder.

Answer 6

Because the Bible contains a lot of intolerance and atrocities. People can point out the difference between killing and murder, but there are many instances of entire villiages and cities being wiped out. Of sparing nobody, not the women nor the children, you're not going to tell me that those deaths were not murder, are you?

If you read the whole Bible, you will see that the overriding theme is that the number one rule is to serve, worship, and bring glory to God. All other rules are secondary to that one.

Answer 7

You need to understand that there is a difference between murder and justified killing. Murder is what God does not want. However, God will deem certain evil to be wiped off the earth and to be killed. There is a difference. In order to understand this, just look at WWII: Hitler was evil and to kill him was the correct thing to do. Sending back to God for judgement.

Answer 8

The sixth commandment reads "Thou shall not murder". Webster define kill as: to cause death of, make die. Murder on the other hand is defined as: the unlawful and malicious or premeditated killing of one human being by another. Killing prompted by or condoned God would not be considered murder. Israel recent taking of life would not be considered murder either, it's a war on terrorist and murderers.

Answer 9

Try not to forget that the god of Abraham also LED many wars in the old testament.

Answer 10

I think the translation is wrong. Thou shalt not murder is a more correct translation in my opinion. As you point out the Bib;e is full of killing. There is sometimes justification for killing, but never for murder.