The "Cultural Context" Excuse

[Whateverist]

Christians are left with two explanations that I can see:  either Jewish culture was barbaric because Yahweh was barbaric (and not omnibenevolent) or Yahweh wasn't powerful enough to set forth a more civilized group of people (and not omnipotent).  


(Oh, and of course, obvious option number three that no Christian will ever select:  the bible is not actually god's word.)

Choice number three is the only sensible choice but I think you're trying hard to meet your xtian debater half way.  Otherwise why frame the question in terms of God's intentionality or capacity?  Perhaps we need a choice #4 for the atheists: there is no god, we are simply moving from a state of gross barbarity to one that is much more subtle.