by ARIF HASAN
According to the Old Testament, God promised the Israelites the land between the Nile and the Euphrates. This land according to the Bible was inhabited by the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and occupied much of this
land. The Bible gives details of how it was occupied and how its cities were destroyed and plundered and their citizens massacred by the Israelites. There are remarkable similarities between what happened then and what is happening today in the Holy Land. So, it is interesting to note what the Bible has to say about the Israelite occupation of the Holy Land in about 1200 BC. There are hundreds of verses describing the destruction of the cities and the massacre of the inhabitants of the Holy Land, but I can only give a few for editorial reasons. The Bible from which these quotations are taken is the New International Version of the Philippines Bible Society,
Manila 1984, and the chapter and verse number precede the quotes.
In the Chapter on Exodus Moses speaks in the verse below.
3.8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey – the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
The Israelites sent spies into Palestine to ascertain conditions. The Chapter on Numbers gives their feedback and follow-up in the following verses.
13.27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.”
21.2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities”. 3 The LORD listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns.
But the Israelites also encountered resistance from Sihon, King of the Amorites, and from Og, King of Bashan. The Bible tells us how their towns were destroyed by the Israelites and all men,women and children were killed “leaving them no survivors”. The expansion continued as
described in the following verses in the Chapter on Numbers
31.10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils. Including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
31.14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army. 15 ”Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the meansof turning the Israelites away from the LORD. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who
has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.”
33.50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the LORD said to Moses, 51 ”Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans.
The Chapter on Deuteronomy has detailed descriptions regarding the occupation of Palestine and contains promises of victory that the LORD made to the Israelites encouraging them to continue with their expansion. Some relevant verses are given below.
1.6 The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.7 Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arbah, in the mountains, in the western foothills, in the Negev and along the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates. 8 See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore he would give to your fathers – to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – and to their descendants after them.”
9.1 Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. 2 The people are strong and tall – Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?” 3 But be assured today that the LORD 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 the LORD has promised you.
20.10 When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. 11 If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. 12 If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. 13 When the
LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. 14 As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves.
20.16 However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes.
The Chapter on Joshua describes the final occupation of the Holy Land and the destruction of its cities in the following verses.
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