(November 14, 2017 at 4:12 pm)alpha male Wrote: Do you disagree that God sent Israel into Canaan in part in judgment of those people?
Yes, I disagree, on two counts. First of all, I believe that your god is a fictional being incapable of sending anyone anywhere. Secondly, I believe that the bad reputation of the Canaanite people -- The Phoenicians, in the northeast Mediterranean -- was largely fabricated to provide the pretext for an invasion.
Quote:Do you disagree that otherwise the law prohibited capturing people and putting them into slavery?
See above. The only "law" in effect seemed to be "Don't enslave people from your own tribe. Everyone else is fair game."
Quote:Do you disagree that the Babylonian captivity was a judgment on Israel?
Yes, I disagree. I think the so-called "judgment" was just an excuse the priests gave the people to explain their defeat and capture. They were overrun by superior forces and their god didn't bail them out; therefore, reasoned the priests, their god must be angry with them.
Just excuses for the inexcusable.