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Why Did God Command Violence in the Old Testament?

Q: In 1 Samuel 15:3, Deuteronomy 20:16-17, Joshua 6:21 God instructs to kill every man, woman, child, animal in different locations. In Menaham’s massacre – 2 Kings 15:16, Menahem kills all of Tiphsah, even the pregnant women. What defense to a non-believer that says God is two-faced; it’s ok for Him to command the death of men, women and children but when a man does it on their own, God is angered. Also, why sometimes does God command to kill everything and other times; Deuteronomy 20:13 God commands to kill the men by the sword but women, children and livestock are to be spared. Why the difference – is there anything symbolic here?

Summary

In this challenging episode, Dr. E tackles one of the hardest questions in Scripture: why did God command the destruction of entire nations in passages like Joshua, Deuteronomy, and 1 Samuel? Responding to a listener’s honest question, Dr. Easley explains the historical and theological context behind these difficult texts, emphasizing that God’s actions were not random acts of cruelty but judgments against deeply entrenched evil.

The conversation explores the wicked practices of the Canaanites and other nations, including child sacrifice, temple prostitution, and violent hatred toward God and His people. Dr. Easley explains that these wars were ultimately spiritual battles against evil and idolatry, not ethnic genocide. He also addresses the tension many believers feel when reading these passages, acknowledging the emotional difficulty while pointing listeners back to God’s sovereignty, justice, holiness, and mercy.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Easley reminds listeners that God is both loving and just, and that human beings are not in a position to judge God by human standards. The discussion ultimately points to Jesus Christ, where God’s justice and mercy fully meet at the cross. This episode offers thoughtful biblical perspective for anyone wrestling with difficult Old Testament passages.

Takeaways:

• God’s wars in the Old Testament were acts of judgment against systemic evil, not arbitrary violence.
• The Canaanite cultures practiced horrific sins including child sacrifice, idolatry, and temple prostitution.
• Scripture presents God as both perfectly just and perfectly merciful, even when humans struggle to understand His actions.
• Dr. Easley explains that rejecting God’s authority often reveals humanity’s desire to place itself in God’s position.
• The tension believers feel over difficult passages reflects both human compassion and the limits of human understanding.
• The cross of Jesus Christ ultimately reveals how God’s justice and mercy work together to defeat evil and save sinners.

Links Mentioned:

Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan

Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here.

If you’ve got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at question@michaelincontext.com.