I'm tiring of this whole discussion, did anyone actually read what was asked? All these questions came from a site called evilbible. This forum is not here to promote any site that is full of lies and blasphamy. I will revisit the questions, I will not post all the was stated in these "questions"
1) Murder, rape, and pillage at Jabesh-gilead (Judges 21:10-24 NLT)
You can look up the post , it said God approved of what happened. I see nowhere in that scripture that said, God condoned it, but I do see where the evil of men, did do that. If you read a little further verse 25 it states "In those days there was no king in Israel. Every man did the right in his own eyes." MKJV
Sounds sort of like today huh?
2) Murder, rape and pillage of the Midianites (Numbers 31:7-18 NLT)
Clearly Moses and God approves of rape of virgins.
No God clearly didn't approve of this, God did tell Moses to destroy the Midianites and verse 31:16 states that God was angry that they saved the women. Moses is who told them to take the virgins, the only thing else attributed to God in these verses is that they were to purify themselves according to the law.
The rest sounds to me like the religious leaders were making it up as they went.
3) More Murder Rape and Pillage (Deuteronomy 20:10-14)
What kind of God approves of murder, rape, and slavery?
This one is a hard question for me. Times were tough back then, and wars were fought as God worked out the history of His people. When tribes were destroyed (to make room for the jews) The children and women were left alone. I think that God took care of them by having the israelites provide for them, else what would happen to them? I'll tell you what, they would have starved because there was no food, shelters or providers left to care for them. I think there is an even better answer to this question, but I can't find it right now. I will have to dig a little to get this out.
4) Laws of Rape (Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NLT)
On first look it would appear they are talking rape, but it is consensual sex. Read verse 25, it is definately talking about rape, if rape is to be also applied to verse 28 why would'nt the author use the same words?
Also Exodus (22:16-17, "And if a man lures a virgin who is not promised, and lies with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.") gives witness to the the example in verse 28.
5) Death to the Rape Victim (Deuteronomy 22:23-24
The girl in this example is also not raped, it is consensual. Verses 25-26 will attest to this. Also the girl wouldn't be called evil if she hadn't participated in the sin.
6) David's Punishment - Polygamy, Rape, Baby Killing, and God's "Forgiveness" (2 Samuel 12:11-14)
David was punished for the evil he did, and he was punished all the days of his life. His child was struck ill, the innocent child is God's, I'm sure God has/will take good care of him. Who are we to question God taking the child from David?
7) Rape of Female Captives (Deuteronomy 21:10-14)
Once again God approves of forcible rape.
There is nothing forceable here. If you are a women back thousands of years ago and the men of your family were killed, you wouldn't be able to survive on your own. If a member of the conquering army wanted you as a wife, provisions were made that you would live with the man (no sex) for a month and then if you were not compatible then you were free to leave. The man had no claim to you at all verse 14
8] Rape and the Spoils of War (Judges 5:30)
Has nothing to do with God saying to do this, the mother of Sisera was asking using a bit of sarcasm. v28-29
9) Sex Slaves (Exodus 21:7-11)
The poster EB writer in this instance likes to call the maiden a "sex slave" She was sold as a maid or maidservant, probably not willfully on her part. But if the master becomes engaged to her. After this if he changes his mind then he will set her free, if she becomes engaged to his son then he will treat her as a daughter.
10) God Assists Rape and Plunder (Zechariah 14:1-2)
God didn't assist anything. God let the people know what judgement was awaiting them because of what they did. Could God have stopped it? Sure, but they reaped what they sowed. And the evil of mankind did the rest.
A person could go into much more detail over these things, I won't. I have no need to question God in these matters as I know who my God is and trust his wisdom to work things out for the good. Ray has said pay attention to the words, that is what I tried to do (and I could be wrong.) I'm no teacher and don't claim to be, but questions are being raised that in my opinion is not even a question. The language and understanding from then to now is probably the only thing that causes any of us to stop and scratch our heads. And to give the EB folks any credence is a total waste of time IMO.
And I agree that we should not be judging the poster over this, they are obviously struggling now, but that is of God and nobody here can fix that.
I really want this thread to end now. These are tough questions to be answered but I'm not sure we are able to answer them all in this age. And we can only give our opinions anyway, I for one don't trust mine completely, but my spirit isn't fighting me on this either.
Blessings
Craig