The Canaanite city of Sodom is destroyed by God
It is a command that led the leading atheist Richard Dawkins to claim that the God of the Old Testament was “a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser … a genocidal … megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully”.
For God had ordered the Israelites to slaughter the apparently sinful Canaanites, saying: “You shall not leave alive anything that breathes. But you shall utterly destroy them.” And, according to the Bible, they did just that.
However, a new genetic study has found that the Canaanites actually managed to survive this purge of their traditional homeland, passing on their DNA over the centuries to their numerous descendants in modern-day Lebanon.
Scientists managed to extract enough DNA from the remains of five people – found in the former Canaanite city state of Sidon and dated to about 3,700 years ago – to sequence their entire genome.
They then compared this to 99 modern Lebanese people and discovered they had inherited about 90 per cent of their genetic ancestry from their ancient forebears.
A paper about the study in the American Journal of Human Genetics said that there had been “uncertainties” about the fate of the Canaanites.
Categories: Atrocities, Bible, Eric bin Kisam, Science
The book of Judges contradicted the book of Joshua in this regard, so it’s not surprising that the Canaanites were not wiped out as the latter claimed. While the scientific evidence vindicates the book of Judges, and not Joshua, the Bible still loses.
@ QB
So flipping a coin
Heads we win
Tails they lose
Another conundrum.
Yes!
Biblical scholars and archaeologist of the Near East agree that there was no grand scale conquest of ancient Palestine in the late Bronze Age, as described in the book of Joshua. And this independently of the genetic work done on Sidon. So on this point there is no debate.
On the other hand, one should be careful not err, to the other side either. The book of Joshua says that the Israelites came only as far as Great Sidon and this in chase of an alliance of kings, not in an attempt to capture the city (11:8). Great Sidon is also identified as the Israelite border point in 19:28, meaning the Israelites did not cupture it.
In summary, this specific study on the genetic profile of the Sidonites has little to add concerning the reliability of the Bible or lack thereof. It is sad to find such an ill-informed view that “The Bible reports the destruction of the Canaanite cities and the annihilation of its people; if true, the Canaanites could not have directly contributed genetically to present-day populations”.
If no one claimed that Sidon and it’s people were annihilated by ancient Israelites, why, a priori, could they “not have directly contributed genetically to present-day populations”?
Joshua 11:8 states that the Israelites chased the kings to Greater Sidon and then then slaughtered everyone:
“And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.”
It’s hard to believe that they chased them all the way there, killed them all, but the city was not captured.
Also, Joshua 13:8 states that God Himself would drive out the Sidonians. This apparently did not happen either:
“All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.”
So, Sidon should have been captured. Of course, we don’t find out that it was not captured until the book of Judges:
“Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:
32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.” (Judges 1:31-32).
Another discrepancy is in the fate of Jericho. The book of Joshua states clearly that the city was burned to the ground and was never to be rebuilt (Joshua 6:24-26). But archaeological excavations have shown this did not happen in Joshua’s time.
There is something fishy about this artiocle dont know
Hello Marge. Anything in particular that you are suspicious about?
Idk just doesnt look right
Some Canaanites apparently left the land because they feared God. They then wandered back in to the promised land after Joshua had died.
”
Some Canaanites apparently left the land because they feared God.”
“apparently left the land” ?
quote :
. That command, as we have noted numerous times now, was to destroy totally the Canaanites (Deut. 7:2) and to leave none of them alive to breathe (Deut. 20:16; Josh. 10:40; Josh. 11:12-15)
yhwh said to totally WIPE THEM off. “apparently feared god” ?
their presence there means that they didn’t carry out what yhwh wanted them to carry out. similar to saul, he didn’t go all the way. disobedience.
Where does it say that some Canaanites left the land and then came back? Are you twisting your scripture again when it becomes inconvenient for you?
“. That command, as we have noted numerous times now, was to destroy totally the Canaanites (Deut. 7:2) and to leave none of them alive to breathe (Deut. 20:16; Josh. 10:40; Josh. 11:12-15)”
That’s true but it only applied to those who were inside the boundaries of the promised land.
There was no command to send expeditionary forces to go outside the land looking for any Canaanites and to hunt them down outside the holy land.
“Some Canaanites apparently left the land…”
7:22 Yahweh your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you. 23 But Yahweh your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed. 24 He will give their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven. No one will be able to stand up against you; you will destroy them.
But be assured today that Yahweh your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as Yahweh has promised you.
Deuteronomy 7:1 When Yahweh your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations–the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you–and when Yahweh your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
“larger and stronger than you”
“you must totally destroy them”
yhwh is a god of confusion :
Deuteronomy 7:22 Yahweh your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.
Deuteronomy 9:3 But be assured today that Yahweh your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as Yahweh has promised you
:::::
When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire. (Deuteronomy 7:1-5, NIV)
Deuteronomy 7:20 Moreover, Yahweh your God will send the hornet among them until even the survivors who hide from you have perished.
Exodus 23:20 “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 22 If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. 23 My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out [kachad]. Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. 25 Worship Yahweh your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span. 27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion [hamam] every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. 31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River. I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you.
Joshua 10:29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 Yahweh also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho. 31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 Yahweh handed Lachish over to Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army–until no survivors were left. 34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish. 36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it. 38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron. 40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Except that the book of Joshua states that the Israelites chased the Canaanites to Sidon and killed everyone.
Saul left the king alive and some of the animals.
Well, isn’t that nice of him?
D-do do not now how that story ended? 1 samuel 10 Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11 “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”
1 Samuel 15:32-33
Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him cheerfully, for he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.
Ouch!
Sidon was the northernmost boundary of the promised land. So that just supports what I have been saying, that the command to eliminate did not extend beyond the borders of the land.
Also Joshua left enclaves of these peoples, in obedience to God, to test the obedíence of the Israelites. The following generations were under obligation to complete the mission to cleanse the land. They didn’t get everything handed to them on a plate.
So it does not contradict the bible if the Canaanites survived outside the borders of Israel as was falsely claimed, in ignorance if we are generous, by the writer of this article.
You have not presented any evidence from your Bible that any Canaanites escaped the brutal purge ordered by the Biblical god. Sidon may have been the boundary, but as I said, the Canaanite kings were chased to that point and slaughtered. The Bible makes it clear that no one escaped. They were caught at the boundary and killed.
Joshua was commanded to kill every single soul within the territory. And God even said that he would drive out the Sidonians too, something that never happened. Long story short, the Bible has several inconsistencies which cannot be resolved.
The only ignorance is yours. You make assumptions and when pressed to prove them, you cannot.
“Sidon may have been the boundary, but as I said, the Canaanite kings were chased to that point and slaughtered.”
do not forget the following
seven nations larger and stronger than you—and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally
and those children too