This is an important question because it has to do with reading the Bible properly. For example, it says in Exodus that “the Lord slew every first-born in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 12:29) and again, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Put your sword on your hip, … and slay your own kinsmen, your friends and neighbors!” (Ex. 32:27) and in Joshua, the Israelites “observed the ban by putting to the sword all living creatures in the city [of Jericho]: men and women, young and old…” (Jos. 6:21). Isn’t that enough to show that God kills people and is a vicious God?
The Bible IS the inspired Word of God, but it is written by the Israelites about the Israelites and their relationship with God as they understood it. So we need to read what happened within the context of their situation. In Egypt they were being persecuted as slaves and they were engaged in a war. When they were at the foot of Mt. Sinai they had just committed the sin of idolatry which divided them amongst themselves and against God. In Jericho, they were at war again. God was THEIR God against all the other gods, the Egyptians, the golden calf, and the Canaanites. They were struggling just to survive. This led to the interpretation that God killed on their behalf or ordered them to kill in order to live. God is against killing. Exodus also teaches, “Do not slay the innocent and the righteous” (Ex. 23:7). Read more about the fifth commandment in the Catechism, par. 2258-2267.
Know your faith. Live your faith. Teach your faith.
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