Christian Publishing House Blog
Apologetic Defense of the faith, the Bible, and Christianity
The Israelites were not a distinctively warlike people, and their glory has been won on other fields than those of war. But Canaan, between the Mediterranean and the desert, was the highway of the East and the battle-ground of nations.
THE story of David opens with a dramatic contrast between the fresh hope of his young life and the rejection of the self-willed king Saul, whose course was rapidly descending towards the fatal field of Gilboa.
The historical record reveals that the men, women, children, old and young of the Canaanite cities captured by the Israelites were to be reduced to complete destruction. (Num. 21:1-3, 34, 35; Josh 6:20-21; 8:21-27; 10:26-40; 11:10-14) This has rightly brought about concern from Christians that the Hebrew Old Testament seems to be inundated with a sense of cruelty and senseless slaughter. How would you answer?