As someone who grew up in a Catholic/Christian family, where values such as compassion, love, and forgiveness are taught and practiced, it’s honestly really hard to read the Old Testament. I just read chapter Numbers 31, where the Lord apparently spoke to Moses and told him to avenge the Israelites by killing all Midianites. Yes, killing them all.
“The Lord said to Moses, “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.””
Numbers 31:1-2 NIV
And they did, all men.
“They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man.”
Numbers 31:7 NIV
Really?! I know this was a very different world they lived in. In today’s society, there’s not enough reason to kill a man, let alone every man. I mean, look at WW2, when the Jews were killed by Nazi Germany. And yet the Israelites, at some point, killed every Midianite man… because the Lord told them to.
It’s really difficult to read the Old Testament, but I’m doing it to understand history, the beliefs back then, and the shift of these in the New Testament. Have a look at these verses where one references the other:
“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”
Exodus 21:23-25 (Old Testament)
While in the New Testament…
He says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”
Matthew 5:38-39 (New Testament)
This reflects the emphasis on forgiveness and non-retaliation in the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament.
I just find the shift very interesting. As some religions today don’t have the New Testament, this explains why those religions still believe in killing and following an approach of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”. What caused the Lord to change?
If anyone has wise words about the big shift, please enlighten me.
Leave a Reply