If you've actually read the Old Testament,
Yeah, did that....
and haven't noticed the incitements to violence, then there's little I can say. And it wasn't, by any means, all defensive. A lot of it was, but those were in periods where Israel was the weaker party.
Hmmm, incitments? Really don't know what you are talking about. There are:
- Parts where they were instructed what to do. More often than not, they didn't do it. That is when things didn't go as well (less favor from God) and they became weak. They were stronger when more of the heavy lifting was done by God, and they behaved better. Not real often.
- Parts where what is related is *historical*. An account of what happened. This is perhaps what you refer to. But it is NOT instructional about what they should be doing (a commandment) but rather how things go, particularly when they did not obey These parts should not be taken as "thou shalts". Instead, it is the ongoing soap opera.
That is where this part comes from.
How about this bit: A prince wants to marry the daughter of a leading Israelite, and she's agreeable. They've had a bit of premarital sex. Her brothers trick all the males in town into getting circumcised on the same day, and while they're in recovery, the kill them all.*
And this:
Or the bit about killing everyone worshiping a golden calf after they think Moses has abandoned them?
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And the last part, prophecy. This is about 1/3 of the Bible. With this mixed in the already confusing mixture above, most folks really don't understand it. They don't know the purpose, the end game so to speak.
There are lots of others. (I *DON'T* have the Bible on my computer, so I'm not going to cite chapter and verse, or anything that doesn't come readily to mind.)
No, really everything falls pretty much in those three categories. You can however, look up whatever via a site like Biblegateway without installing anything. Or do it from a Linux box as I am now.
The christian testament *IS* less inciteful. Somehow, however, the christians have traditionally been more violent than the jews.
A jew is a jew by birth or by religion. One by birth is one regardless. A self proclaimed christian is not necessarily a real christian. Just because they say they are, and they believe they are, does not mean it is so. They must follow the teachings of Christ. Most of those who call themselves so, follow the teachings of some church. And that is entirely different.
So, a diversion. Solve this (easy) riddle. How can Israel fight Judah? Who is the Israel of today?
# 2 Kings 14:13
Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate--a section about six hundred feet long.