LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY

Reflection Paper on the Canaanite Nation

Submitted to Dr. Alvin Thompson

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of

OBST 515 B03

by

Laurie Pelosi

September 28, 2016

 Contents:

Introduction.1

Statement of the
Problem..............3

Problem of
Violence..4

Probable
Solution...5

Conclusion..6

Bibliography...7

ii
 Introduction

The Old Testament is filled with many crusades and blood shed but by far one of

the most vicious attacks is that of the Canaanite Nation led by the Israelites. Close

attention to detail of Scripture certainly leads credence that God above all favored the

Israelites as His very own children. However the genocide has been a problem for me

and many critics throughout history. In this regard I have struggled with the problem

and find that an answer is imperative to defend my faith.

The historical background through the books of the Pentateuch has made it clear

that God has chosen Israel to live and maintain the Promise Land. The questions of

inspiration can in part be answered by what the peoples of Isarael were charged to do,

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to

be a people for His own possession out of all the people who are on the face of the

earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6).

Ethically many Christians have issue with this divine battle. I acknowledge that

we have been given the opportunity to know God on a personal level. For this reason I

have learned that we are all His creatures and are thereby living on His terms.

__________________

1. Unless otherwise noted all biblical references are in the NIV Bible (London: Hodder &
Stoughton, 2000)
 1.

Statement of Problem

If indeed the Old Testament is a recorded part of history and remains trustworthy

to the word of God, then the criticism of God demanding genocide needs to be

reconciled. While reading scripture it appears evident enough that God is indeed calling

for Genocide. In Numbers 31:17 and Deuteronomy 20:1617 there is a compelling

argument that God is giving a command to act and have no mercy. If there is truth in

Scripture then one has to agree that the Israelites would have been cruel monsters if

genocide was done on their own accord, Calvin writes, it would have been barbarous

and atrocious cruelty had the Israelites gratified their own lust and rage in slaughtering

mothers and their children."1 Nevertheless, an otherwise "indiscriminate and promiscuous

slaughter" is not what it appears when it is done in accordance with the divine will. 2

Others conclude that the Israelites did not want any part of invasion but were

rather coerced into doing so, The Israelite people oppose the invasion, but Moses

threatens them with God's wrath.3 There is some credible evidence that suggests that

Moses perception was inaccurate, For example, the fact that Moses wrongly attributes to

Balaam the desire to harm the Israelites (Num. 22-24; 31.16; Deut. 23.5-6) signals Moses'

lack of omniscience, and perhaps a tendency to jump to conclusions. 4

_____________
2. R. Goetz, "Joshua, Calvin, And Genocide", Theology Today 32, no. 3 (1975): 263-274.
3. John J. Collins, "The God Of Joshua", Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament 28, no. 2
(2014): 212-228.
4. Howard J. Curzer, 2010. "Spies and lies: faithful, courageous Israelites and truthful spies." Journal
For The Study Of The Old Testament 35, no. 2: 187-195.

Problem of Violence

The Torah is specific in naming the Canaanites as a force of evil, the altering

views of the incident can never be certain but Yates describes the incident in a manner of

sovereignty, Yates writes, the God who commands Canaanite genocide in the OT is the

product of human misunderstanding on the part of Moses and Joshua, not divine

revelation and self-disclosure from God himself.5 Cowles's Christocentric hermeneutic

views, "the love of God revealed in Christ as the ultimate criterion of truth, makes it

impossible for him to accept that God could have sanctioned the slaughter of the

Canaanites: "If we believe that Jesus is truly 'the image of the invisible God' (Col 1-15),

then we must resist all efforts to defend Old Testament genocidal commands as reflective

of the will and character of God". 6

All wars have been subject to mans earthly sin therefore ethically God can judge

as well as redeem. The literature may represent God as merciless but nonetheless it is

part of our Bible and trying to put pieces into perspective will be an ongoing

development. This remains a war but no ordinary sanction of war, whether the

destruction was by God or a major earthquake, God still created this event to save

mankind.

_________________________
 5. Yates, Gary E. (Gary Eugene). 2004. "Show them no mercy: 4 views on God and Canaanite
genocide." The Westminster Theological Journal 66, no. 2: 430-433.

6. H. J. Curzer, "Spies And Lies: Faithful, Courageous Israelites And Truthful Spies", Journal for
the Study of the Old Testament 35, no. 2 (2010): 187-195.

Probable Solution

The act of violence in the Old Testament has not left me blindsided or on a

spiritual struggle in identifying my creator. I believe like any other plan all parties have

to be in agreement regulations to follow. Did God not punish the Israelites and banished

them to wilderness to wander for years. .

How can I as a Christian pastor begin to reconcile this violence of ethnic

cleansing? To begin this was written over 2000 years ago and was written as an ethical

guide. There are factors that we just do not know or understand. Not being of this

historical time leaves us with many questions. The most important question of all is

asked by Hubbard, Why were the Canaanites not simply moved or displaced rather than

annihilated the simple answer is the book of Joshua does not tell us. 7 There is no

answer because this engagement was more than a conquest; it is ultimately a story of

progression and compromises with the Israelites, because we have all sinned against God.

The conflict is and always has been nations that remain Godless and ignore divine

inspiration.

______________________
7. Hubbard, Robert L. "Only a distant memory: Old Testament allusions to Joshua's
days." Ex Auditu, 2000: 131-148.

Conclusion

For myself this book of Joshua seems to be very limited once the conquest was

achieved this ended that chapter. Deuteronomy brings both appeal to those who live a

Christian life, it tells us how to live morally and ethically, Deuteronomy is often seen to

advocate justice for the widow, orphan, alien and the poor (see Deut. 10:18; 14:29; 16:11,

14; 24:17-21; 26:12-13; 27:19).8 This account cannot be read as this occurred

yesterday, there are factors that God Himself was fulfilling a promise. The Canaanites

were offered redemption and chose a lifestyle with little regard for life and sustained no

basic morals.

________________

8. Pekka, Pitkanen, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde? Deuteronomy and the rights of
indigenous people, Political Theology 11. No.3, 2010: 399-409
.

Bennett, W. H. "The Book of Joshua and the Pentateuch." The Jewish Quarterly Review 10, no. 4
(1898): 649-53.

Bibliography

[2] R. Goetz, "Joshua, Calvin, And Genocide", Theology Today 32, no. 3 (1975):
263-274.

[3] John J. Collins, "The God of Joshua", Scandinavian Journal of the Old
Testament 28, no. 2 (2014): 212-228.

[4] Howard J. Curzer, 2010. "Spies and lies: faithful, courageous Israelites and
truthful spies." Journal For The Study Of The Old Testament 35, no. 2: 187.

[5] Yates, Gary E. (Gary Eugene). 2004. "Show them no mercy: 4 views on God and
Canaanite genocide." The Westminster Theological Journal 66, no. 2: 430.

[6] H. J. Curzer, "Spies And Lies: Faithful, Courageous Israelites And Truthful
Spies", Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 35, no. 2 (2010): 187
Collins, John J. "The God of Joshua". Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament 28, no. 2
(2014): 212-228. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed
September 19, 2016

Curzer, H. J. "Spies And Lies: Faithful, Courageous Israelites And Truthful

Spies". Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 35, no. 2 (2010): 187-195.
ATLA Religion Database with ALTA Serials, EBSCOhost (accessed September 26,
2016)

Goetz, Ronald G. (Ronald George). 1975. "Joshua, Calvin, and genocide." Theology Today 32,
no. 3: 263-274. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed
September 21, 2016

Hubbard, Robert L. 2000. "Only a distant memory: Old Testament allusions to Joshua's
days." Ex Auditu 16, 131-148. ATLASerials, Religion Collection,
EBSCOhost (accessed September 29, 2016).

enrichmentjournal.ag.org/201004/201004_138_Canannites.cfm

Yates, Gary E. (Gary Eugene). 2004. "Show them no mercy: 4 views on God and
Canaanite genocide." The Westminster Theological Journal 66, no. 2:430-
433. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed
September 21, 2016).

Thigpen, J Michael. 2006. "Lord of all the earth: Yahweh and Baal in Joshua 3." Trinity
Journal 27, no. 2: 245-254. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials,
EBSCOhost (accessed September 25, 2016).

Pitkanen, Pekka. 2010. "Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?: Deuteronomy and the rights of
indigenous peoples." Political Theology 11, no. 3: 399-409. ATLASerials,
Religion Collection, EBSCOhost (accessed September 21, 2016).