Vengeance against the Midianites
In Numbers 31, we read about Moses taking military action against the Midianites, because the Midianite women had been seducing men from Israel to worship Baal. So 'God' is reported as saying (verse 1) "Take vengeance on the Midianites." So they went into battle and killed every man, burnt down their towns and settlements, and returned to Moses with all the Midianite women, children, animals, and plunder.
But we're told (verse 14) Moses was angry. And he gave the soldiers this order (verse 17):
"Kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man."
So the boys were all killed, and we're told only 32,000 virgins were spared (verse 35) and given to the Israelites.
It is fairly clear from the narrative that Moses was apparently acting under orders from God, and the narrative seems to accept in unquestioning fashion this treatment of the children and prisoners.
My question is this: do you believe this 'God' portrayed here actually wanted this kind of treatment of children (execution) and women (execution or handing over of the virgins)?
This 'God' who we later read in the gospels saying "Let the little children come to me."
Or is this account in Numbers, simply a fallible human account of ruthless action, justifying the ethnic cleansing by claiming the sanction of 'God'?
But we're told (verse 14) Moses was angry. And he gave the soldiers this order (verse 17):
"Kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man."
So the boys were all killed, and we're told only 32,000 virgins were spared (verse 35) and given to the Israelites.
It is fairly clear from the narrative that Moses was apparently acting under orders from God, and the narrative seems to accept in unquestioning fashion this treatment of the children and prisoners.
My question is this: do you believe this 'God' portrayed here actually wanted this kind of treatment of children (execution) and women (execution or handing over of the virgins)?
This 'God' who we later read in the gospels saying "Let the little children come to me."
Or is this account in Numbers, simply a fallible human account of ruthless action, justifying the ethnic cleansing by claiming the sanction of 'God'?
