Bible question about crossing the river Jordon?

Question

To my understanding...when Moses came out from the mountian, did he not have the ten Commandments saying...'thou shall not kill,steal, ect....
But soon after the Hebrews warriors (Jewish people) were told to cross into Jordon and kill all the cannann and concor the city... I know about the 7th day march...but does it not conflit with the Ten Commandments....i am confused about that part...anyone with great knowledge please answer this..no bashing please

Answer 1

The answer is simple. The commandment is not "thou shalt not kill". The commandment is "thou shalt not murder". (The word "kill" has changed in its meaning some since the King James Bible was translated in the early 1600s).

God forbids murder. But right within the other 600+ laws that are included with the 10 commandment, he makes a difference between things like accidental deaths, self-defense, two people struggling and one of them falls, etc. He also makes an exception for killing that has to be done during times of war. None of those are considered "murder".

Even today, there are different degrees of "murder" in the legal system, from accidental homocide, to self defense to premeditated murder. And they receive different degrees of punishment. The act of killing during war is still today not seen as an act of murder.

Answer 2

Many people make the mistake of believing the Bible says, “You shall not kill,” and seek to apply this command to war. However, the Bible actually says, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12; 21:15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but rather only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm is by going to war with them.

Answer 3

I think the Canaanites were idol worshippers and did other things displeasing to God. So they themselves caused the conflict with the Ten Commandments. There's a consequence for actions. Its' like the great flood. People liked sin, people drowned. Even today, people vote into law bad laws not in keeping with the Commandments, what happens? Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes etc. Do they repent? No, so it happens over and over again. Right now, about 60% of our country is in a severe drought. We got severe flooding in the North East part of the US. Wiregrass area of Georgia is on fire. Tornadoes in various states. And they are predicting this year the hurricane season witll be very active. Now why you think that is? Could it be because of all the sinning going on? Of course the people will say... "We are not sinners"... You look that saying up in the bible about that remark. "We are living our lives the way we see fit. After all we are Americans and we have our freedom." Yes, you sure do, the freedom to choose between good and evil. And may the consequences fall where they may. Oh yeah, the honey bee is disappearing, hence no pollination for fruit trees, bark beetle is destroying our trees, and let's not forget about the huge Yellowstone fire and the huge fires in Arizona,etc. etc. etc.

Answer 4

It does seem confusing. But really it isn't.

The laws about killing were about individuals killing, murder.
Even our 'modern' societies recognize the difference between murder and the killing that goes on during war! God recognized this difference too.

But there is more to the answer than that. If you look at the scripture below, you see that God promised Abraham the land the Israelites got. However, the reason he had to wait was because their sin hadn't been completed.
Genesis 15:16And in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the sins of the Amorites are not yet filled up, even until now. (AB)

The people living in that land had become abhorrent in their worship of their false gods and were burning their own children on altars as sacrifices. Including all manners of other abhorrent practices, this meant that in God's eyes they needed to be erased from the surface of the earth.

Since God owns the earth and all living things on it, he had the right to judge so.

That he didn't bring fire from heaven was his choice. Look at the area where Sodom and Gomorrah was -- it is unlivable. Israel was to be lived in, thus God command the Israelites to be his executioners.

Answer 5

Moses was a tribal warrior chief who exercised control through religious authority.