2 Samuel 8:2 ~ Yet another atrocity approved by God

[Richard Amiel McGough]

2 Samuel 8:1 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.

Think about this. David defeated the Moabites and then lined them up on the ground and killed them according to how happened to fall under a measuring line! How cruel is that? It sounds like something the Nazis would do for fun, like randomly lining up the Jews and then killing two out of three so the survivors could see the horror of it all.

And worse, God clearly approved of his behavior because the immediate context twice states that "the LORD gave David victory wherever he went."

[CWH]

[QUOTE]

2 Samuel 8:1 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines. 2 David also defeated the Moabites. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them off with a length of cord. Every two lengths of them were put to death, and the third length was allowed to live. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.

Think about this. David defeated the Moabites and then lined them up on the ground and killed them according to how happened to fall under a measuring line! How cruel is that? It sounds like something the Nazis would do for fun, like randomly lining up the Jews and then killing two out of three so the survivors could see the horror of it all.

I think the measuring to determined who will be killed is a tradition practiced in ancient wars, same as soldiers casting lots to determine who should die. It probably has numerology significance why not 1 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 instead of 2 out of 3. How about saying that the Americans dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for fun sparing no one alive?

And worse, God clearly approved of his behavior because the immediate context twice states that "the LORD gave David victory wherever he went."

Nothing mentioned in the passage that God clearly approved of David's behavior. It was a traditional ancient practice in war to intimidate the enemies as mentioned in some commentaries.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/comme...on:fixed;|nlst

God Blessings to all.

[Richard Amiel McGough]

I think the measuring to determined who will be killed is a tradition practiced in ancient wars, same as soldiers casting lots to determine who should die. It probably has numerology significance why not 1 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 instead of 2 out of 3. How about saying that the Americans dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for fun sparing no one alive?

Whether it was a common practice amongst those primitive and brutal people I know not, but I do know that it is wrong.

And though there are debates about the morality of dropping the atomic bombs on those two cities (I'm not convinced it was necessary to drop two), I don't know of anyone but you who would suggest it was done "for fun."

Nothing mentioned in the passage that God clearly approved of David's behavior. It was a traditional ancient practice in war to intimidate the enemies as mentioned in some commentaries.

http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/jamieson-fausset-brown/2-samuel/2-samuel-8.html#13385739786531&0|12/26/2012%2010:06:21%20PM|z-index:%201002;%20width:%20619px;%20height:%20570px ;%20margin-left:%20-309.5px;%20left:%2050%;%20top:%2070px;%20position: fixed;|nlst

God Blessings to all.

The text implies God's approval because it says that God helped David in all that he did. David was "God's man" and God spoke to him frequently, but he never reprimanded him for this action.

And thanks for the link. It partially answers your question about "why not 1 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 instead of 2 out of 3?".