Why did God want to destroy nations around the Israelites?

There are many texts in the Old Testament, that refer to God commanding his people to annihilate and destroy some neighboring nations, tribes and communities. From our perspective, it seems ruthless and barbaric. But don’t forget, God’s laws are perfect. So this means, we have to dive in on why God wanted his people to destroy some nations. Including women and children. If we look at some of the backgrounds, we’ll find out that those nations were actually evil and practiced witchcraft and child sacrifice. 

When we watch movies today, we are so desensitised to it, that it doesn’t bother us, because in the end, we know it’s a movie. But if you were to find out a family in your neighborhood was kidnapping children (all ages) and using them for sacrifices for their own ritual, I have absolutely no doubt that you would do something about it. And that’s only morally correct to do so. 

Some of the nations in the past were Canaanites, the Ammonites, the Moabites and the Phoenicians (Carthaginians). Here’s a brief summary of each one.

In the Bible, there are references to several nations that engaged in practices considered abhorrent, including child sacrifices. Some of these nations mentioned in the Bible as practicing such rituals include:

1. **Canaanites**: The Canaanites were a group of ancient peoples who inhabited the region that is now modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and parts of neighboring countries. The Bible frequently mentions their practices of child sacrifices, specifically involving offerings to their god Baal and the goddess Moloch.

2. **Ammonites**: The Ammonites were another ancient people inhabiting the region east of the Jordan River, near present-day Jordan. They were also known to practice child sacrifices as part of their religious rituals.

3. **Moabites**: The Moabites were neighbors of the Israelites, located to the east of the Dead Sea, in modern-day Jordan. The Bible suggests that they too engaged in practices that included child sacrifices.

4. **Phoenicians (Carthaginians)**: While not directly mentioned in the Bible, the Phoenicians, who inhabited ancient Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon and parts of Syria), were connected to the city of Carthage in North Africa. Carthaginians are often associated with the practice of child sacrifices, particularly during times of crisis or in attempts to appease their deities.

So, with those mentioned above, in relation to child sacrifices (not also including other rituals they may have as well, that alone in my opinion, deserves death. But why the women and children you ask? When a man, woman and child grows up in this environment, what do you think happens to them? They are not only accustomed to it, but they will be practicing it as well in adulthood.

I remember watching the series “Vikings”. On Netflix. At the start, I already knew they could be brutal. But I didn’t know how bad it was. First, they were looking at conquering their neighboring nations and tribes. Because they were some of the first to build boats that could sail a great distance, they started attacking the shores of England, Scotland, Ireland and others. Often took them by surprise because they didn’t care about the sanctity of the church. They just saw, from their perspective, pagans to their own gods.

But the brutality of them was something I was very much in awe. Men, women, children, whoever was in their path, was either killed, raped or kidnapped, for their own gain. 

Then you had the way they treated someone that was a traitor within their own. I won’t name the specific torture they did, but it was absolutely gruesome. Simple reason I won’t name it, I know some readers may be very well easily disturbed. When I saw this, I was.

Then you had the open sexual relationships between the married and non married. Sacrifices going on. And while they were not explicitly worshipping the devil, they were worshipping other deities than God. Which by definition, is ungodly. 

And if the men and women participated in such rituals, what makes us think the children, growing up exposed to this, won’t also follow their parents line of thinking. 

This Viking show really opened my eyes to some of the rituals performed around the world to gain favor from their gods. So when this kind of brutality and evil exists, God only has one option. Especially since everyone of the day knew who the Israelites were. They were God’s people, and probably hated.

So my friends, I know there’s lots of brutality in the Old Testament. And God deals with those. But for us to think all the nations around the Israelites were saints, are truly not knowledgeable in history. Some of those nations were absolutely brutal and so anti God they would make some of our own wars look peaceful. 

Look at king Adoni Bezek. He was a king of the Canaanites for a while. He had the mission of cutting off the thumbs and big toes of the kings he defeated. This was for the purpose of rendering them harmless by not being able to hold a weapon, as well as not able to run away. No doubt he was a friend of no one, and had the fear of his enemies. They knew their fate if they did battle with him, and lost. 

This was brutal. Not only did you lose the fight, but if you survived, you are practically useless now. He left no regard for dignity of his foes.

It’s for reasons as listed above, God wanted to destroy some of the nations around.