Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible by John Haley

Author:John Haley [Haley, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whitaker House
Published: 2004-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

Enemies—treatment

Ammonites tortured.

And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon.

2 Samuel 12:31

And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes.

1 Chronicles 20:3

Cruelty prohibited.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 6:35–36

If our version of the text from Chronicles is correct, David merely punished the Ammonites for the terrible cruelties which at a previous period his fellow-countrymen had suffered at their hands.84 Henderson, referring to these cruelties, says: “The object of the Ammonites was to effect an utter extermination of the Israelites inhabiting the mountainous regions of Gilead, in order that they might extend their own territory in that direction.”

According to a Jewish tradition, David slew the Moabites,85 because they had treacherously murdered his parents, who had been confided to their care.86 Wahner, however, gives three explanations “according to which none of the vanquished Moabites were put to death.”87

The probability is that our version of both texts of the first series, as well as the original of the second of those texts, is incorrect. Dr. Davidson says: “According to the present reading of Samuel, the meaning could not be he put them to. Nor could it be he put them under, but only he put them among or between.”

Chandler,88 Dantz, and others, take the meaning to be that David enslaved the Ammonites, putting them to servile labor, in the midst of suitable implements—saws, harrows, axes, and the like. The word “vayyäsar,” “he sawed,” in Chronicles, may be a mere copyist’s blunder for “vayyäsem,” “he put,” as in Samuel. The latter word is found in seven of the mss. collated by Dr. Kennicott. The close resemblance of the two words, especially if the final letter, Mem, were imperfectly formed, accounts for the error of the transcriber.

We, therefore, submit that there is no evidence that David put the Ammonites to the torture. The meaning may be that, he put them to menial service, of the lowest and most laborious kind. If he killed any, it may have been, as Keil suggests, simply the “fighting men that were taken prisoners.”

Finally, these passages are mere history, and the sacred writer makes himself responsible for nothing more in the case than the simple accuracy of the narrative.

Baal’s prophets slain.

And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

1 Kings 18:40

Conciliatory measures enjoined.

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.

2 Timothy 2:25

These “prophets” were engaged in promoting treason and rebellion against the theocracy.

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