Why genocide?

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don't know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it "really" means. Let's see where this takes us! 

Joshua 8

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Having learned from the setback at Ai in the previous chapter, Joshua (under the command of the LORD) uses trickery and overwhelming force to wipe out all the people of Ai.

Unlike Jericho, no divine "miracle" was employed. Like Jericho, Ai was a complete genocide. Unlike Jericho, however, the livestock was spared.

I don't know why the livestock wasn't spared in Jericho but was spared in Ai. Perhaps, just as a storyline, it's acknowledged that Israel needed livestock.

The genocide can't be justified if that's what this is really about. Old Testament Israel is the story of you and the call to obey your higher self, the Lord within you, and to turn away from idolatry. The extermination of idolatry, which the nations of Canaan represent, requires the killing of the idolaters. That is, the parts within yourself that are tempted to worship powers outside of yourself.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.

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