Chronology: the Exodus to Samuel

In this topic, Bible chronology is traced from the exodus out of Egypt until the judgeship of Samuel.  Earlier chronology is addressed in “Chronology: Abraham to the Exodus” and “Chronology: Septuagint versus Masoretic Text”.  My basic position is the so-called maximalist view, that Bible history is correct unless archaeology clearly proves it wrong.

However, exact dating cannot be done for Israel’s exodus, or for the years of the many judges which followed in the Land.  Also there’s no consensus among Bible historians regarding the dates when Saul, David, and Solomon were kings.  Their years cannot be pinpointed by dates from ancient histories.  (There’s no ‘BC’ or ‘BCE’ dates written in scripture.)  The dates in this topic are approximate.

A date of 1612 BC for the exodus of Israelites & the mixed multitude from Egypt was taken from Dr. Martin Anstey’s The Romance of Bible Chronology, v.2.  I use that date, 1612 BC.

Moses was born around (circa or c) 1692 BC.  Moses is the son of Amrám and the grandson of Koháth (who’d gone to Egypt with Jacob c 1827 BC, Ge.46:8, 11).  Moses’ father Amram was born in Egypt, while Joseph was still alive.  see “Levites and the Exodus Multitude (1)”.

Moses fled to Midian at age 40 (Ex.2:15, Ac.7:22-29), c 1652 BC.

Caleb was born in Egypt c 1651 BC.  (cf. Nu.13:25-30, the 2^nd year of the exodus…with Jsh.14:6-10.)

Moses is 80 when he returns to Egypt from Midian (Ac.7:30-34), c 1612 BC.  Ex.7:7 “Moses was 80 years old, and Aaron 83, at the time they spoke to Pharaoh.”  The exodus occurred then (Ex.12:39-41).

When they exited Egypt c 1612 BC, Joshua is a young man, compared to Moses (Ex.33:11, Nu.11:28).  Joshua is 44 or so.  Caleb is 39 (born c 1651 BC).

The Israelites left Egypt, and then had to spend 40 years in the wilderness (Nu.32:13), until c 1572 BC.

{Sidelight: Ge.41:51 Joseph fathered Manasséh.  Ge.50:23 Manasseh fathered Machír.  Machir’s son Gileád was the same generation as Moses/Aaron.  Joshua’s father Nun was the same generation as Gilead & Moses/Aaron.  Zelophehád, Hépher’s son, was Gilead’s grandson (1Ch.7:14-27, Nu.26:28-37, 27:1, Jsh.17:3).  Zelophehad’s daughters are seen in the 40^th year of the exodus (Nu.27:1-ff, 36:1-ff).}

Nu.21:23-26 & De.3:12 in the 40^th year Israel took Heshbón and Aroér, and began to dwell in that area east of the Jordan River.  (Nu.25:7 Phineás’ bold action occurred in the 40^th year in the wilderness.)

The Israelites entered the Promised Land c 1572 BC.  De.34:7-9 Moses died that year at age 120.

Jsh.11:15-19 Joshua then waged war with the kings in the Land for 5 years at least, and defeated them.

Jsh.13:1 Joshua is old, near 90.  Cambridge Bible Note Jsh.13:1 “The Hebrew leader was now about 90 years of age.”  Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 5:1:19 “The 5^th year was now past, and not one of the Canaanites remained.”  Josephus implied there were 5 years of conquest.  The supposed Book of Jasher 89:54, “For 5 years did Joshua carry on the war with these kings…the land became tranquil”.  The land of Canáan became relatively tranquil for a while.

Jsh.14:6-11 indicates there were 5 years of conquest.  Caleb says he’s 85.  45 years have passed since he was age 40 in the 2^nd year of the exodus (c 1611 BC), when he and Joshua spied out the Land.  Ellicott Commentary Jsh.14:7 “Caleb would be 40+38=78 years old when they crossed the Jordan. He was 85 when they began to divide the country.”  Joshua allotted the Land among the tribes of Israel c 1566 BC.

Jsh.23:1, 14 “a long time” (19-20 years) after the Land division, Joshua knows it’s his time to die.  Jsh.24:29 Joshua dies at age 110, c 1546 BC.  (Joseph previously also had died at age 110, Ge.50:26.)

Joshua was in the Land for around 25-28 years: 6-7 years of conquest/settlement, 19-20 years of ‘rule’.

Josephus op. cit. 5:1:29 “Joshua…became their commander after his [Moses’] death for 25 years.”  Jasher 90:32 indicates that Joshua died 28 years after crossing the Jordan, 68 years after leaving Egypt.  Eusebius Chronicles, p.111 “The Hebrews say that he [Joshua] was leader for 27 years, as so he was 43 years old when Moses went out of Egypt.”  Elihu Schatz “The traditional interpretation assumes that Joshua ruled for 28 years (Seder Olam Rabbah, ch. 12), which means that he was 83 when he began to rule, since he lived to be 110 years old (Jsh.24:29).”  Again, Joshua was 4 or 5 years older than Caleb.

Jsh.24:31 & Jg.2:7-10 the elders who outlived Joshua continued to serve the Lord…for several years.

Josephus op.cit. 6:5:4 “After the death of Joshua, for 18 years in all the multitude had no settled form of government, but were an anarchy; after which they then permitting themselves to be judged by…the best warrior…the Judges.”  The magistrate was usually a champion who delivered them from enemies.

bible.ca/archeology/chronology-of-judges “The 8 year oppression of Arám-naharáim (Jg.3:8) began…15 years after Joshua died.”  Jasher 91:12 “The elders judged Israel after the death of Joshua for 17 years.”

So Joshua and the elders who outlived him led the Israelites for 40 years or so in the Land, prior to the series of judges.  (6+19+15=40)  From c 1572 BC until c 1532 BC.

Jg.2:16 “Then the Lord raised up judges [shaphát Strongs h8199, Hebrew] who delivered them from those who plundered them.”  These judges were warriors, military leaders, or ad hoc rulers in the early loose confederation of Israel.  Succeeding Joshua, there are no ruling judges before this verse.  Barnes Notes Jg.2:16 “This is the first introduction of the term judge, which gives its name to the book.”

How long did the judges lead Israel (prior to the people asking Samuel for a king to rule them, 1Sm.8:4-5)?  Before we identify those judges, a pertinent passage was spoken by the apostle Paul in retrospect:

Ac.13:16-21 “The God of Israel chose our fathers…with a mighty arm He led them out from it [Egypt]; for 40 years He put up with them in the wilderness. When He had destroyed seven nations in the Land of Canaan, He divided by lot to them their Land, about 450 years. After this He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul…for 40 years.”  Our translations of the passage differ.  Barnes Notes “This is a most difficult passage, and has exercised all the ingenuity of chronologists.”  To what centuries was Paul referring?

Most commentaries interpret the 450-year period as…from when God chose the “fathers” until Joshua divided the Land.  The Land was divided in c 1566 BC.  Isaac the son of promise was born c 2017 BC.  That’s 451 years earlier.  Abram was called at age 75, c 2042 BC.  That’s 476 years earlier, perhaps still close enough to the “about 450 years” Paul indicated. (see “Chronology: Abraham to the Exodus”.)

Ellicott Commentary Ac.13:20 “The 450 years in this case referred to the interval between the choice of ‘our fathers’, which may be reckoned from the birth of Isaac.”  Benson Commentary Ac.13:19 “The apostle is not to be understood as signifying how long God gave them judges, but when he gave them….computed from the birth of Isaac….it will be 448 years.”

But some commentaries interpret the 450-year period as…from when the judges began until the days of Samuel.  Joshua and the elders had died by c 1532 BC.  Samuel was living 450 years later, c 1082 BC.

Meyer’s NT Commentary Ac.13:20 “Until the end of the series of judges.”  Eclectic Notes Ac.13:20 “Judges characterized the period of 450 years.”

I’ll leave it to the reader to decide which of the above two interpretations better fits the history.

Let’s now look at the period of the several judges/deliverers, until Samuel the prophet-judge.

After the deaths of Joshua and the elders who outlived him, c 1532 BC, the Israelites began to do evil.  Jg.2:10 “There arose another generation after them [Joshua and the elders] who did not know the Lord.”  Jg.3:7 they served heathen gods and angered the Lord.  So He allowed an oppressor to subjugate them.

Jg.3:8 the first oppressor was Cushán-rishatháim of Aram-naharaim for 8 years, until c 1524 BC.

Jg.3:9-11 the people cried out to the Lord.  He was merciful and raised up Othniél (Caleb’s nephew, the son of his younger brother Kenáz, Jsh.15:17) as warrior-judge.  Othniel prevailed, and the Land had rest 40 years, from c 1524 BC to c 1484 BC.

A pattern will repeat throughout the time of the judges:  Israel would disobey the Lord, come under foreign domination, the people will cry out to God, God mercifully raises up a judge to defeat the oppressor, the Land has peace.  Then the people disobey again, God allows them to be subjugated, they cry out to God, He sends a deliverer, the Land has rest again, etc.  The same cycle, over and over again.

Jg.3:12-14 Israel does evil.  So they must serve Eglón king of Moab for 18 years, c 1484 BC – c 1466 BC.  Jg.3:15-30 Ehúd of Benjamin subdues Moab, and the Land has rest 80 years, until c 1386 BC.

Jg.3:31 Shamgár saved Israel from Philistines.  Josephus op.cit. 5:4:3 said Shamgar died in his 1^st year.

Jg.4:1-3 Jabín of Canaan oppresses Israel for 20 years, c 1386 BC – c 1366 BC.  Barák, Deboráh and Jaél defeat Jabin and his general Siserá (Jg.4:4–5:31), and the Land has peace 40 years, until c 1326 BC.

Jg.6:1-ff Israel does evil again, so the Lord gives them over to the Midianites for 7 years, until c 1319 BC.  Gideon is called; he defeats Midian.  Jg.8:28 the Land has peace 40 years, until c 1279 BC.

Jg.9:1-22 Abimélech, Gideon’s son, rules over Israel 3 years, until c 1276 BC.  After Abimelech dies, Tolá of Issachár judges Israel 23 years (Jg.10:1-2), until c 1253 BC.  After Tola, Jaír the Gileadite judges Israel 22 years (Jg.10:3-5), until c 1231 BC.

Jg.10:6-8 Israel does evil, so God gave them over to the Philistines and Ammonites for 18 years, from c 1231 BC – c 1213 BC.  Jg.11:8-11 Jephtháh the Gileadite warrior became Israel’s deliverer.  Jg.11:12-28 the king of Ammón wanted back old Amorite land east of the Jordan River, which Israel had taken possession of over 300 years previously.  It seems that land had belonged to the Ammonites before it became the Amorites’.  The Israelites had taken possession of that land from Sihón king of the Amorites at the end of the 40 years in the wilderness (again Nu.21:23-26 & De.3:12, also Jsh.12:1-2), c 1572 BC.

Jephthah’s messengers said to the king of Ammon in Jg.11:26-27, “While Israel lived in Heshbon and in Aroer and in the towns that are on the banks of the Arnón [LXX Jordan], 300 years, why didn’t you recover them within that time? I therefore have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by warring against me.”  However, 340 years had elapsed from c 1572 BC to the oppression of c 1231 BC.

Matthew Poole Commentary Jg.11:26 “300 years; not precisely, but about that time.”  ESV Study Bible “300 years’ may be a round number giving an approximate date.”

Also, some judgeships possibly had overlapped since Joshua divided the Promised Land of Canaan, or were concurrent in different tribal areas of the Land.

Jg.12:7 having ended the Ammonite war in c 1213 BC, Jephthah judged Israel 6 years, until c 1207 BC.

Jg.12:8-10 Ibzán of Bethlehem succeeds Jephthah as judge, for 7 years, until c 1200 BC.  After Ibzan, Elón the Zebulunite judges Israel 10 years (Jg.12:11-12), until c 1190 BC.  Then Abdón judges Israel 8 years (Jg.12:13-15), until c 1182 BC.

Jg.13:1 “Israel again did evil, so the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines 40 years.”  Actually, the Philistines warred against Israel on & off for hundreds of years (2Ki.18:1 even 8 years in King Hezekiah’s day).  This 40-year period of Philistine oppression was from c 1182 BC – c 1142 BC.

Jg.13–16 is the account of Samson fighting against the Philistines during this time.  Jg.16:30-31 Samson sacrifices his life, having judged Israel for 20 years.  This ended Philistine oppression temporarily.

Jg.15:20 “He [Samson] judged Israel 20 years in the days of the Philistines.”  It is thought by some that Samson’s heroic judgeship was during the latter 20 years, c 1162 BC – c 1142 BC, of that 40-year Philistine oppression.  Anstey op. cit., p.18 “The judgeship of Samson, 20 years, is included in the 40 years of the 6^th servitude under the Philistines.”

James Jordan Puzzling Out the Era of the Judges “The Philistine oppression lasted 40 years (Jg.13:1). Samson was born about this time. Samson judged for 20 years, and in his death killed all five Philistine kings as well as a large number of the Philistine nobility and priesthood (Jg.15:20; 16:27). It is unlikely, if not impossible, in the light of Nu.1:3, that Samson began judging before he was 20. Thus, his 40 years seem to be the same as those of the Philistine oppression.”  Samson died at age 40, c 1142 BC.

{{Sidelight: Jg.17–21 these ending chapters of Judges are a flashback to events which occurred earlier in the book, but weren’t inserted then (to not interrupt the timeline).  Henry Commentary Jg.17:1 “What is related in…the rest of the chapters to the end of this book, was done soon after the death of Joshua.”  Pulpit Commentary “Two detached histories [Jg.17–21], which fill up the rest of the book…are long prior to Samson.”  Josephus op. cit. 5:2-3 places them before Othniel’s early judgeship of Jg.3.}}

Again, it is possible that some judgeships were contemporaneous, or they began within the years listed as foreign servitude (such as Samson’s judgeship).

Generally the book of Judges was a period of less restraining authority.  The final verse in the book is Jg.21:25. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  The syndrome was ‘I did it my way’, not God’s way.  Israelites didn’t want to be governed by the Lord or His laws.  It was a time when self-will ruled, for the most part.  But Pr.28:26 says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool”.  Benson Commentary Jg.21:25 “There was no supreme governor, such as Moses and Joshua were…none that had power sufficient to punish public wrongs…and thereby check the progress of vice and profaneness, and keep the people in order. ”  Most didn’t have the Holy Spirit.  Wrong covetousness was the norm.  This is a lesson we can glean from the book of Judges.

1Sm.4:15-18 Eli judges Israel for 40 years til age 98, c 1142 BC – c 1102 BC.  Samuel is judge after Eli.

Recap: The exodus from Egypt was c 1612 BC.  After 40 years of wilderness wandering under Moses, the Israelites entered the Promised Land under Joshua c 1572 BC.  After Joshua’s wars of conquest, the Land was divided to the tribes of Israel by lot c 1566 BC.  That was approximately 450 years after the birth of Isaac in c 2017 BC, and 464 years before the time Samuel succeeds Eli as judge c 1102 BC.

My other topics in the timeline are “Chronology: Samuel to Rehoboam”, “Chronology: Abraham to the Exodus”, “Chronology: Septuagint versus Masoretic Text”.

 

War & Killing and the Bible Christian (2)

We began looking at war from the Old Testament in “War & Killing and the Bible Christian (1)”.  That should be read first, before this Part (2).  Our foundational verses from (1) won’t be repeated here.

In Part 1, the difference between killing and murder was noted.  Killing an individual as capital punishment for a capital crime is justified, scripturally.  Killing as punishment isn’t murder.  On a larger scale, killing in war is warranted or vindicated…when it’s done in self-defense or to ‘end gross violation of human rights’ or cruel oppression.  If so justified, it’s a ‘Just War’.  It isn’t unlawful murder.  And a nation which refuses to defend itself against undue attack would be negligent in its duty to its citizenry.

In this Part 2, we’ll look at war primarily from New Testament (NT) verses, and more recently.  The NT doesn’t directly address the subject of war.  But it does affirm that government (govt) institutions are from God.  Anarchy isn’t God’s method.  Also see the topic “Governmental Loyalty for Christians”.

Ac.22:24-29 the apostle Paul, a Roman citizen, resisted illegal mistreatment.  He didn’t misconstrue “turn the other cheek”.  Jews wanted to kill him.  Paul asserted his rights.  Ac.23:20-33 then two centurions with 200 soldiers protected Paul from Jews in Jerusalem, and brought him safely to governor Felix in Caesárea for a hearing.  A standing army (or a militia) or police force can be used to protect citizens.

Jesus said in Mt.5:39, “Don’t resist evil; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”.  Individuals aren’t to take the law into their own hands.  But if we can defend our family from an intruder (Ex.22:2), Jesus didn’t say to turn our family’s cheek so they submit to possibly being murdered!

Continuing in Mt.5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy’. But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  Le.19:18 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Pharisee oral law added a racist clause about hating enemies (perhaps stretching De.23:3-6).  In the Lk.10:29-37 parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus explained to the Jewish lawyer who his neighbor is.  Jews and Samaritans were historical enemies.  God didn’t authorize personal vengeance, Ro.12:18-19.  Individuals aren’t to perpetrate racial fighting or wage war.

Lk.3:14 John baptized Jewish soldiers (of Herod?).  He told them not to extort from anyone by violence, don’t make false accusations, and be content with their wages or rations.  Don’t attempt to unlawfully increase them.  Don’t abuse others.  Lk.7:1-10 is the account of the faithful Roman (gentile) centurion, a leader of 100 men.  Also the Ac.10 centurion Cornelius became the first gentile to receive the Holy Spirit.

The NT doesn’t say whether or not those believing centurions changed jobs after conversion.  The Roman military was tied to false Roman religion.  Depending on seniority, the centurion class paralleled the modern rank of major to one-star general (ref historian Colin Wells).  Roman officers were responsible for persecutions & torture.  It seems doubtful that a converted Christian centurion or Roman soldier would want to serve amidst heathen religious rites, or would still persecute & torture fellow Christians.

As a man, the only ones Jesus used physical force against were the moneychangers or usurers (Mt.21:12-13, Jn.2:14-16).  Jesus the man was nonviolent and innocent of wrongdoing (Jn.19:4).  As a lamb, He didn’t resist being taken into custody, Lk.22:47-54.  (Police today can use deadly force against a person, innocent or guilty, who resists arrest and assaults the officer.)  Is.53:5-8 “The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, He didn’t open His mouth.”  Jesus, unlike us, was to be captured and crucified to die for our sins (1Jn.3:5).  If Jesus’ ruling Kingdom was of this world, then His servants would fight to protect Him from the Jews (Jn.18:36).  But it wasn’t of this world.

Yet Jesus the now glorified Lamb fights with and defeats those who wage war against Him!  Re.17:14 “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them because He is King of kings and Lord of lords.”  The just King vanquishes His enemies.  Re.19:11-16 “In righteousness He judges and wages war.”  Jesus wars to avenge and save the righteous; He sentences and punishes the wicked.  God is the Giver of life.  He can take life, as He chooses.

But the King of kings doesn’t authorize all aggressor nations of the world to selfishly conquer and steal land or goods from other nations.  Aggressors murder civilians too!  Also in Re.13:10, “He who kills with the sword must be killed by the sword”.  What goes around, comes around.  God is just.  Jesus said to His disciple Peter in Mt.26:52, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword”.  (Jesus must die.)  No individual vengeance.  God will take vengeance.  He authorized law courts and govt (e.g. Ge.9:5-6, De.17:8-11) to maintain law & order and to wield His judgment.

Allan Turner The Christian & War “Should justice be sacrificed on the altar of ‘peace at any price’?”  Pacifism sees war as immoral and should be abolished.  But absolute pacifism itself can be immoral!

Capital punishment and warfare in self-defense kills, but isn’t murder.  Sometimes it’s unjust to refrain from using force; it’s a nation’s duty to protect its citizens.  Having a police force that’s committed to public protection, and to discourage criminality in the streets, isn’t evil.  It’s to maintain law & order.  The person who shoots at police may be killed.  That isn’t murder.  The policeman on duty isn’t pacifist.

War has been called a ‘necessary evil’.  Yet the initial sin that leads to war is the evil first cause.  Ja.4:1 “From where come wars and fightings among you? Don’t they come from cravings that war within you?”  Somewhere sin or greed occurred which can escalate into war.  Should Christians participate in war?

Christ didn’t allow His people ancient Israel to engage in alliances with other nations as “lovers”.  Ho.8:9-10 “Ephráim has hired lovers. Even though they hire allies among the nations, they will begin to waste away.”  Forming political alliances was rebellion against God.  Is.30:1-3 “Woe to the rebellious children’, declares the Lord, ‘Who make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, to add sin to sin.”  Is.36:5-6 also.  2Ch.16:7-10 King Asa of Judah foolishly trusted his alliance with Syria, rather than trusting God.  Ezk.16:2, 33-39 of Judah’s disloyal lovers.  (2Ch.20:35-37 Jehoshaphát’s alliance was bad.)  Ezk.23:1-35 Israel & Judah played the harlot with other nations.  They yoked themselves to the heathen.  Christ sent them both into captivity!  Yokes with unbelievers are unequal, and have ended badly.  Like an ox yoked to a donkey, it doesn’t work.  Paul wrote in 2Co.6:14-15, “Don’t be unequally yoked to unbelievers”.

Our USA Constitution is dated “in the Year of Our Lord 1787” (ref it’s Article VII).  Some historians say this indicates the majority of its signers were Christians.  Jesus Christ is Lord!

Prior to the 1890s, the USA was a non-interventionist nation.  George Washington’s Farewell Address of 1796 expressed our policy of non-interventionism.  In Thomas Jefferson’s 1801 inaugural address, “Essential principles of our government…peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none”.  The USA would engage in trade with other nations, but wouldn’t interfere in other nations’ wars.  The Constitution is non-interventionist, but isn’t isolationist.  Pr.26:17 is a general principle…don’t meddle with strife not belonging to you.  Be non-interventionist.

Paul wrote in 2Co.10:3-4, “Though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare aren’t of the flesh.”  Matthew Poole Commentary 2Co.10:3 “The men of the world war for their honour and glory, or for revenge and satisfaction of their lusts, or for the enlarging of their territories and dominions; but we do not thus war after the flesh.”  Rather, the Christian is to put on the defensive spiritual armor of God (Ep.6:12-17).  The only offensive weapon is the figurative sword of the Spirit, the word of God.  Onward Christian Soldiers (1871) “Like a mighty army, moves the Church of God.”  That doesn’t refer to carnal warfare.

Whereas God will judge carnal wars of selfish or covetous imperialists (Hab.2:8-12).

Should a Christian support a wrong or evil war effort?  Paul wrote in Ep.5:11, “Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness”.  Ellicott Commentary Ep.5:11 “Keep no terms with them.”  McLaren’s Expositions “Notice the plain Christian duty of abstinence.”  Paul also wrote in 1Ti.5:22, “Do not share in the sins of others; keep yourself pure”.  Barnes Notes “In no way are we to participate in the sins of other people.”  Don’t participate on the side of evil in war either.  Pastor Chad Wagner “No government has the right to make its citizens kill other people who didn’t attack them.”  We can object or avoid war.

It would be sin for a Christian to defile his conscience (e.g. Ac.24:16, Ti.1:15).  “A conscientious objector is an ‘individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service.” (Wikipedia)  Based on scripture…a citizen’s conscience may not allow him to participate in a war of aggression or imperialism.  But it may allow him to fight in a war of self-defense.  God is the only true Lawgiver and Judge (Ja.4:12).  If there’s a conflict between obeying God and obeying human government, Peter said God is to be obeyed rather than men (Ac.5:29).  Obedience to God would have precedence over an ungodly military duty.  We don’t worship a human govt, be it democratic or dictatorial.  Noncombatant service may or may not be a conscience issue.

Do our leaders submit to God’s principles and to our Constitution?  If a govt cannot be trusted to tell the truth about the need to go to war, can an honest man fight for an untrustworthy govt policy?  We’re to conscientiously try to determine the justness of our govt’s laws & policy, based on God’s right principles.

Jesus said in Mt.5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers”.  When ancient Israel approached an enemy city, they were first to offer it terms of peace (De.20:10-11).  Justice and righteousness result in peace (Is.32:16-18).  A fruit of God’s Spirit is peace (Ga.5:22).

Opinions vary about the justness of USA govt decisions to join in modern wars.  We abandoned neutrality in 1917 to enter WW1.  We entered WW2 after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  Statistics show that unemployment was even higher in 1939 than in 1931.  It’s said that in 1941 President FDR was looking for a way to get into WW2 (war preparations hiring lowers unemployment).  He allowed the Japanese oil supply to be cut off.  Did this goad Japan into an act of aggression?  Japan retaliated by attacking Pearl Harbor.

James Perloff Pearl Harbor: Hawaii Was Surprised; FDR Was Not “Comprehensive research has shown not only that Washington knew in advance of the attack, but that it deliberately withheld its foreknowledge from our commanders in Hawaii in the hope that the ‘surprise’ attack would catapult the U.S. into World War II. Oliver Lyttleton, British Minister of Production, stated in 1944: ‘Japan was provoked into attacking America at Pearl Harbor. It is a travesty of history to say that America was forced into the war’. A pre-war Gallup poll showed 88 percent of Americans opposed U.S. involvement in the European war.”  What were the real reasons for our entry?  Later Japan was willing to make peace before we dropped atom bombs.  General Eisenhower opposed using the bomb…150,000 civilians died tragically!

The USA govt viewed the war in Vietnam as a means of preventing the spread of Communism.  Was our involvement in Vietnam a war of aggression to help France re-conquer Vietnam?  It’s said the early Tonkin Gulf incident was a phantom to boost public support for the war.  This long war lasted 15 years (1959-1975)…and we didn’t win!  Our economy was experiencing recession from 1957–1961; and a war can alleviate recession.  During the war years, citizens increasingly objected to us being in Vietnam.  By the year 2000, a Gallup poll indicated that 69% of citizens thought our involvement in the war had been a mistake.

“Money makes the world go ’round.”  The USA & Federal Reserve has so wanted the U.S. dollar to remain the world’s reserve currency!  But Iraq’s Saddam Hussein wanted to trade oil for euros, not petrodollars.  Some say this was a significant reason for our going to war with Iraq.  Libya’s Gaddafi wanted a gold–backed currency behind Libyan oil trade.  This too could’ve hurt the dollar.  Saddam and Gaddafi were eliminated, whatever the real reasons.  Conspiracy theorists say evil secret groups plan wars.

Rogue nations which forbid usury & derivatives are holdouts from USA & world banker organizations, and are taken down (militarily)…Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan (Iran in future?).  North Korea and Cuba are also holdouts.  Of note, Christ forbad usury among ancient Israelites (ref De.23:19, Ne.5:7, Ps.15:5).  see “Money (2) – Biblical Honest Weights, Usury”.

Allan Turner op. cit. “The prudent soldier who fights for what he believes in, but later discovers that the real reason for the war was obscured by lies…is not guilty!”  The media may present conflicting info regarding war issues.  Real reasons for going to war can be difficult to sort out.  Young Christians of military age aren’t statesmen who may know what’s going on behind the scenes.  Dedicated young men have been wounded or gave their lives in war to support a cause they believed in.  They’re to be respected.  I’m for being rightly patriotic to our country, while not engaging in misguided patriotism to wrong principles!

Modern America elects interventionist presidents (whereas our founders were non-interventionist).  The USA tries to force usurious secular Western values on non-Western nations!  We give foreign aid to nations who are each other’s enemies.  And we have favorites.  That causes much resentment internationally.  There are even nations which hate the USA who gives them aid!  As ancient Israel and its “lovers”, being unequally yoked to heathen or anti-Christ nations has led to dangerous problems.

Was the American Revolution a violation of God’s principles?  Some historians think the American Revolution was a war of self-defense.  (Ne.4:7-21 reflects self-defense.)  That Britain had attacked America, not vice-versa?  The American colonists’ formal appeals for peaceful reconciliation were met with militarism, violations of British Common Law.  The colonists didn’t want anarchy.  Colonial charters established self-rule under the British monarchy.  They resisted British Parliament (“taxation without representation”) as being a seeming invader, but not initially in revolution.  The Revolution was a response to the: 1770 Boston Massacre, 1774 Boston Tea Party & its aftermath, 1775 attacks on Concord & Lexington and the Williamsburg gunpowder incident.  Freedom from oppression won out!

Moving forward, in the American Civil War of the 1860s, there were Christians from the North fighting against other Christians from the South…a great tragedy for our country!

In wars between peoples and nations today, there are Christian brothers fighting each other!  In the present day Syria civil war, Christians are fighting Christians.  Also Arab Christians in the Middle East fight Israeli Jewish Christians!  (On the other side of the coin, the Israeli govt wants Arab Christians in Israel to enlist in Israel’s military, the IDF).

Concluding, Paul wrote in 1Ti.2:2, “…That you may live a quiet and peaceable life”.  Supporting wars of aggression and selfish imperialism is wrong.  Again, peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Ga.5:22).  As the song goes, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me”.  The word of the Lord in Is.2:1-4, “They will turn their swords into plowshares. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.”  Eventually carnal warfare will be a thing of the past.  God’s lawful principles and peace will be known by all nations!  May the Lord hasten that day…Shalom!

War & Killing and the Bible Christian (1)

It’s been said, ‘War is hell!’  Yet human history is filled with wars.  But should Christians participate in military wars?  In this Part 1, we’ll survey war from the Old Testament (OT), and look to identify a right or just war.  Can a war be justified?  Are there times when it would be wrong or remiss not to war?

Paul wrote in Ro.12:18-19, “If possible, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.”  Peace is best!  Vengeance belongs to God.  Man isn’t to take personal vengeance or revenge.  In passages such as Ge.9:5-6 & De.17:8-11, we read where God authorized law courts and government (govt).  Govt should maintain law & order within society, and carry out God’s vengeance as needed.  see “Governmental Loyalty for Christians”.

God is the giver of life.  As the giver of life, God also has the right to take life.  Ja.4:12 “There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and to destroy.”  Is.33:22 the Lord is Judge, Lawgiver, King.  God is at the top of three functions of govt: judicial, legislative, executive.  The Lord is the Highest Authority.  Only God is completely just.  His laws & principles are the standard for implementing true justice.  Christians are to first obey God and His moral principles, Ac.5:29.

There’s a difference between killing and murder.  The Lord said in Ex.20:13, “You shall not murder”.  Murder is immoral, a crime.  An individual, of his own volition, doesn’t have the right to take the life of another.  Yet God authorized law courts.  Ge.9:5-6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.”  Also the Lord said to Israel in Ex.21:12, “He who strikes a man so that he dies, shall surely be put to death”.  Law courts duly exercise God’s vengeance via God’s principles, prescribing capital punishment even.  That’s killing, but it isn’t murder.  (Lesser crimes exact lesser punishments.)

What causes wars?  Ja.4:1 “From where come wars and fightings among you? Don’t they come from cravings that war within you?”  War can result from wrong coveting, wanting land & goods that others have.  Coveting violates the 10^th Commandment, De.5:21.  (see the topic “Coveting – Wrong and Right Desire”.)  Wars of aggression to control or steal from others are most often sin.  Killings (especially of civilians) by such aggressors are akin to murder.

War may also be a means of defense to protect a people from an aggressor nation or government bent on getting for itself (not giving or serving) or imperialism.

People who advocate nonviolence see war as immoral, that God doesn’t justify war.  Similar is pacifism, which sees the disadvantages of warfare as greater than the advantages.  Just War Theory says war is justified if it’s done in self-defense or ‘to end gross violations of human rights’, cruel oppression.  Waging a ‘just war’ kills, but it isn’t murder.

The account of the first war in the Bible is in Ge.14.  King Chedorláomer had conquered and exacted tribute from the kings of five city-states.  It seems he wanted to take from them, but without providing commensurate benefits for them.  The five rebelled from his yoke.  So Chedorlaomer, with three allied kings, made war against the five.  One of those attacked was the king of Sodom.  Abrám’s nephew Lot lived in Sodom, and was taken captive with others.  v.14-16 Abram assisted the five-king coalition.  He led 318 of his fighting men to defeat the four invading kings and rescued Lot.  People were killed.  We might say that the five city-states (with Abram) engaged in a just war to stop unjust oppression.

Later in Ex.1–14, God miraculously delivered the ancient Israelites from bondage in Egypt.  His plagues killed numerous Egyptians.  But it wasn’t murder.  It’s God’s right to judge and take life as He sees fit.  Ex.14:14-31 “The Lord will fight for you; you shall hold your peace.”  He led them through the Sea.

Ex.17:8-16 after the Israelites departed Egypt, the descendants of Amalék (Esau’s grandson) made an unprovoked attack on weak Israelite stragglers (De.25:17-19).  In self-defense, Joshua/Israel fought and defeated the Amalekites.  God also said for their memory to be blotted out, as just retribution.

Christ, the Rock of Israel (e.g. De.32:4, 18, 1Co.10:4), brought the Israelites to the Promised Land.  Ex.15:3 “The Lord is a man of war, the Lord is His name.”  Ps.24:8 “The Lord is mighty in battle.”  Christ was as a man in His just war, to carry-out His judgment against evildoers, as He determined.

God wanted wicked inhabitants of the Land destroyed (Ex.23:23).  How?  De.7:1-4 Israel’s army became Christ’s agent, administering His judgment genocide upon the corrupt “nations” who inhabited Canaan.  God determined that inhabitants of the 7 nations were so depraved, they would corrupt others.

Before they entered the Promised Land, the Israelites had wanted to pass through the land of Edom via the King’s Highway trade route (Nu.20:14-21).  The Edomite army blocked them.  The Moabites wanted Balaám to curse Israel (Nu.22:1-ff); they fought with Israel (Jsh.24:9).  The Philistines and Ammonites attacked Israel (Jg.10:7-9).  In self-defense, Israel later repelled the Ammonites (1Sa.11:1-11).  King Saul would war against Moab, Ammon, Edom, the Philistines (1Sa.14:47).

De.20 contains laws of warfare.  Christ allowed His people to fight in self-defense against enemies.  v.1-4 the Lord would fight for them.  v.5-8 classifies the men exempt from military service: he who has built a house but not yet occupied it; he who has planted but not yet eaten the fruit (not until the 5^th year, Le.19:23-25); he who is engaged but hasn’t yet married her; he who is afraid (fear can spread to others).

De.20:9-14 Israel was to first offer terms of peace.  War should be a last resort.  If the enemy accepts terms of peace, it may pay annual tribute to Israel (and learn about the true God as a side benefit).  But if terms of peace are refused and the enemy chooses to make war, then Israel was to strike the men.  Israel was to take civilian women & children, animals, and other booty as spoils.

De.20:15-18 the above conditions pertained to enemy peoples outside the Land of Canáan.  (Israel was to destroy inhabitants of the evil 7 “nations” of the Land.)  v.19-20 Israel wasn’t to cut down edible trees in enemy lands.  They were food for Israel’s soldiers.  Israel could construct siege works against enemy cities from inedible trees.

In Nu.31:25-47, the Lord gave instructions how spoils of war were to be divided (De.20:14).  Israelite soldiers and non-soldiers were to receive two equal shares of the booty from the whole taken by them.  The soldiers paid 0.2% (1/500) of their half to the Lord/priests.  The non-soldiers paid 2.0% (1/50) of their half to the Levite non-priests.  (Among the Levites, only the clan of Aaron were priests.)  So the soldiers retained more residual spoils than did the non-soldiers.  Soldiering can be high-risk!  The priests received 10% of the amount the other Levites received.  (also cf. Ge.14:18-20 where Abram gave Priest–King Melchisedek 10% of the war spoils.)  But Israel’s high priest wasn’t authorized to receive any women as spoils…unlike other priests, he must marry only virgin Israelitesses (Le.21:1, 7, 10, 14).

After Moses, in the days of Joshua, the Lord still fought for Israel.  Jsh.10:14, 25 “Joshua said, ‘Be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies.”  Jsh.23:3, 10 “The Lord our God has been fighting for you, just as He promised.”  But Israel didn’t really trust Christ to be with them and help fight their battles (De.1:26-36).  They would want a king to lead them in battle and make conquests (1Sa.8:10-12, 18-22).  So after the period of judges, God gave them King Saul.  David succeeded Saul.

God taught David to war (Ps.144:1-2, 18:34, 44:4-7).  He became a war hero (e.g. 1Sa.18:5-7).  David subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Edomites (2Sa.8:1-14), Ammonites (2Sa.12:26-31).  Those peoples were a clear and present danger.  They’d tried to take Land portions within the borders of Israel.

There’s a time for war and a time for peace (Ec.3:8).  A nation would be remiss if it failed to somehow try to defend its citizens from an attacking nation.  Pr.24:6 “By wise counsel you shall wage war.”

2Sa.2:17-23 Saul’s cousin, general Abner, killed Ásahel, warrior brother of David’s general Joáb, in self-defense.  2Sa.3:26-30 but then Joab wrongly took vengeance by murdering Abner.  Killing in self-defense differs from murder!  Ex.22:1-3 even at the family level, an intruder breaking & entering a home at night might be killed by the residents acting in self-defense.  The Hebrew term for murder (and manslaughter) is rawtsák, Strongs h7523.

Jg.19-20 Even a (lopsided) civil war in Israel was commanded against the obdurate tribe of Benjamin.  The Benjamites had refused to turn over for prosecution the murderers from Gibeáh of Benjamin.

King David said in 1Sa.17:47, “The battle is the Lord’s”.  Yet the Lord didn’t allow David to build God’s temple, because David had shed much blood (1Ch.22:7-9, 1Ki.5:3-5).  David’s son Solomon, a man of peace, was allowed to build the temple.  2Sa.10:15-19 David expanded his kingdom into Syria, beyond the borders of Israel.  De.17:15-17 Israel’s king wasn’t to have numerous horses, not for use as a conquering cavalry in wars of aggression.  (Yet see 1Ch.18:3-4 regarding David’s expansionism.)

Later the united monarchy of Israel divided into the kingdom of Israel in the north and the kingdom of Judah in the south.  During the monarchies of Israel and Judah, there was much needless war.  1Ki.14:30, 15:32 even war between Israel and Judah (continually).  2Ki.16:5-6 the first time the term “Jews” occurs in scripture, the Jews (the southern kingdom of Judah) are fighting against an alliance of Israel & Syria!  2Ch.16:1-14 King Asa of Judah would have wars, because he trusted in his own Syrian alliance, not God.

2Ch.17:1-2, 10 King Jehoshaphát fortified Judah for self-defense.  Other nations feared to invade Judah.  2Ch.20:1-30 when an attack did come, praise-singing to God was ordered…not fighting.  v.17 “You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord.”  Judah’s ready army stood still.  v.23 Judah’s attackers then destroyed each other!

Is.63:7-10 overall, Israel rebelled against God and vexed His Holy Spirit.  So instead of fighting for them, Christ became their enemy and fought against them.  Consequently, Israel was taken captive by Assyria (2Ki.17:23).  The allies/”lovers” in whom Judah trusted spurned Judah.  The Lord said in Je.30:12-14, “All your lovers have forsaken you, for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, because your iniquity is great”.  The Lord sent Judah into captivity to Babylon.  Je.27:6-13 God gave Nebuchadnézzar a kingdom.  Je.21:3-7 Judah and nations who resisted him would die via warfare & famine.

This ends our compacted survey of warfare in the OT.  God, who brought the Israelites into the Promised Land by force of arms…in time, removed disobedient Israel and the Jews from the Land by force of enemy arms.  Ex.15:6-7 “In the greatness of Your excellence, You overthrow those who rise up against Thee.”

War is a consequence of sin.  Fast forwarding to today…in wars between peoples and nations, there are Christian brothers fighting each other!  For example, in the present day Syria civil war, Christians are fighting Christians.  Also Arab Christians in the Middle East fight Israeli Jewish Christians!  What!?

We’ll look at war in the New Testament, and recently, in “War & Killing and the Bible Christian (2)”.