Tuesday, January 02, 2007

God slaughters 50,070 men

1 Samuel 6:19 Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.

Note: Some recent translations say 70 men instead of 50,070.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY

Many people believe that God really over-reacted here. However, rememember that His ways are not our ways.

4 comments:

Jeff Doles said...

The concerns you express here have been addressed and answered many times over the centuries in Bible commentaries.

You see, it is not enough to take a Scripture from its context and then expect that you have derived a literal interpretation. There are a number of considerations to be made, including the context of the surrounding verses, the historical and geographical context, and, in this case, the underlying issues of the Hebrew text itself.

As I said, you can find these issues addressed in many Bible commentaries, even online.

Roopster said...

Jeff,
Thanks for your comments. I do understand your reasoning and have read many of the Bible commentaries and used some of those arguments myself. Then one day I decided I no longer wanted to jump through so many hoops to explain things away. I'd just take things at face value and this is what this blog is about.
Paul

Anonymous said...

Everyone deserves death.

Whoever God shows grace to is His business. (He has opened the Door to grace for those who will enter).

You have missed the first point and then made yourself a judge of God.

All fear of God has left you.

Roopster said...

PDZ,
Did you miss something? Isn't that what I said? I quoted a verse and made a very simple comment. Why the judgement? I'm not sure that's exactly following the Word as you've judged my heart. Only God can do that. Hope all is well.
Paul