Massacre
Summary
The sudden and widespread killing of people, occurring in Scripture both as divine judgment upon wicked nations and as acts of human cruelty.
☩Divine Commands
Moses authorized Israel to utterly destroy certain cities in warfare: 'When the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword... But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth' (Deuteronomy 20:13, 16). These commands pertained specifically to the Canaanite nations whose wickedness had reached full measure.
☩Conquest of Canaan
During the conquest, Israel destroyed the inhabitants of Heshbon (Deuteronomy 2:34), Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:6), Ai (Joshua 8:24-26), Hazor (Joshua 11:11-12), and the cities of seven kings (Joshua 10:28-40). The Midianites were slain after leading Israel into idolatry (Numbers 31:7-8). These judgments executed God's sentence upon nations deeply corrupted by sin.
☩Later Massacres
Elijah ordered the prophets of Baal killed after the confrontation on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:40). Jehu massacred the worshipers of Baal (2 Kings 10:18-28), the sons of Ahab (2 Kings 10:1-8), and executed judgment on the house of Ahab. Athaliah attempted to destroy the royal seed of David (2 Kings 11:1). Menahem massacred the inhabitants of Tiphsah with shocking brutality (2 Kings 15:16). Amaziah killed ten thousand Edomites (2 Kings 14:7).
☩Planned Genocide
Haman's decree to destroy all Jews throughout the Persian Empire represents one of Scripture's most chilling examples of planned massacre (Esther 3:1ff). Only through Esther's courageous intervention and God's providence was this genocide averted, resulting instead in the Jews' deliverance and the establishment of the Feast of Purim.
