Genocide
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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This is a relatively new term. Care must be taken when attempting to interpret ancient history (in any culture) on the basis of modern-day perspectives and definitions of issues.
"Genocide" is a relatively new term, created during World War 2, that refers to the systematic destruction of a people (nation, ethnic group, etc.), by another group of people. The destruction can be immediate (such as mass-killings) or prolonged (such as preventing births within the group), etc. Genocide falls under the prohibition of the Sixth Commandment, "Do not murder/kill."
Some Examples in the Bible:
- Attempted genocide of the entire Jewish race - Exodus 1 and 2.
- The king of Egypt tried to kill-off all the Jewish boys at birth.
- Attempted genocide of the entire Jewish race - book of Esther.
- Haman hated the Jews because one of them (Mordecai) wouldn't bow down to him. So he decided to get revenge, by having all the Jews killed. (Queen Esther exposed the plot and in the end, Haman was hanged.)
A situation in which the word "genocide" does not apply
Since God is both Creator and Sustainer of all things, people have the moral obligation to worship, serve and obey him. Because of this, the concept of "Genocide" does not apply to instances in which God judges a people for their wickedness. God owns all people and has an obligation to judge them; for wickedness is a rejection (and defiance) of all that God is, and is like high treason against the King of Kings.
Scripture gives several instances in which groups of people were destroyed, when their wickedness had reached the point of being "irreversible." In some instances, God used events in nature to accomplish this "providentially." At other times, he used people.
An example in which God used people to accomplish his judgment was the occasion when God told Israel to destroy several nations that lived in the land of Canaan. Israel was the weaker nation, going against several stronger nations. But since God was using them to accomplish his judgment, the weak overcame the strong.
Today, there are people who do not understand the reasons for these judgments (because they have never examined the Scriptures to find out). There are also people who, having rejected the God of the Bible, make a false accusation that "genocide" has been committed. Yet God defines the issue, not ignorant people, nor wicked people who have defied him, and who are worthy of the same judgment.
- See also: Destruction of Wicked Nations.
- For a greater focus on destroying the environment and things necessary for living, see: Scorched Earth Policy.
Scripture Pages that Link to Here
- The wicked, who despise the holiness of God and the need for sin to be judged, may falsely accuse Israel of Genocide, even though it was God who was judging those nations, and he was using the weaker army to do it. Those who make such accusations will, in the future, answer to the God who judges all people righteously.
- This is not an issue of a STRONG group of people deciding to encroach on the property of a WEAK group, and killing-off everyone so they can take over the land. This is a matter of God handing a STRONG group over to a WEAK group – the total opposite of Genocide!
- "The men of Israel turned again on the children of Benjamin, and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city [Gibeah], and the livestock, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire."
- This is after the battle (in which there were 600 survivors). Israel began to destroy everything there was that belonged to the tribe of Benjamin... and only later realized how terrible their actions had been. (It was far beyond anything God would have permitted within the context of warfare.)
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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