Why did the Jewish God slaughter innocent babies?

[aris2chat]

there is a rational reason for the first born deaths beside god, but for people in that age the idea of god was more compelling.

 

[irosie91]

I don't understand why so many here keep repeating "Killed children" or even "slaughtered children". "slaughter" refers to a violent death----like butchering or some kind of execution. Generally "death by God" in the bible means death by sickness. "first born" is a social status---very important in ancient times---it does not mean INFANT. Prince Charles of England is a "first born"----that's why he gets to be king. The situation described in
the bible----is far more likely supposed to refer to some kind of epidemic than daggers raining down on infants from the clouds. Maybe it was ebola virus-----or measles.

" First born" in no way excludes infants and toddlers.

Rationalize it any way you like to ease your cognitive dissonance:

Any story about a God who kills children who cannot understand the consequences of disbelief or belief, is a story about a murderous God.

No one said that it didn't include infants and toddlers, Loki.

Good. Then you're of the clear understanding that this God of yours is a murderer of infants and toddlers.

We're just clarifying that it was the decision of the parents who rejected the God of the Hebrews and His warning not to touch his people or harm them (curse them). People are free to reject God and his commands but they have to understand there are "consequences".

Rationalize it any way you like to ease your cognitive dissonance:

Any story about a God who kills children who cannot understand the consequences of disbelief or belief, is a story about a murderous God.

still depends on how you define "murder" ------"heavenly decreed death" is not called
"murder" in biblical parlance (ie Hebrew)---it can be a penalty not only on an individual but even on a society. Group
responsibility is a real issue in Judaism. Deaths within a society can be construed as a consequence of sin.

Petitio principii.

TOUCHE'

 

[Picaro]

As sad as it might seem to us today, that was a practice in the ancient world.
Kings killed all the children of his predecessor and their relatives to prevent any other claims to his throne. It was part of the reason for Moses being in the basket. It was why Herod kill the children to prevent the 'king of the jews' from taking his throne, as well as other potential rivals. Ottoman rulers usually killed any rivals including brothers and their children.

In the animal kingdom Lion males that take over a pride do the same, they kill all male cubs that are not his.

When you read history or the bible, you need to put it in context not think in modern therms.

The Middle East was a violent place, with empires expanding and collapsing relatively all the time. It wasn't the type of existential environment that a Ghandi or modern middle class hippies and faux 'progressives' would have lasted an entire day in.

 

[aris2chat]

As sad as it might seem to us today, that was a practice in the ancient world.
Kings killed all the children of his predecessor and their relatives to prevent any other claims to his throne. It was part of the reason for Moses being in the basket. It was why Herod kill the children to prevent the 'king of the jews' from taking his throne, as well as other potential rivals. Ottoman rulers usually killed any rivals including brothers and their children.

In the animal kingdom Lion males that take over a pride do the same, they kill all male cubs that are not his.

When you read history or the bible, you need to put it in context not think in modern therms.

The Middle East was a violent place, with empires expanding and collapsing relatively all the time. It wasn't the type of existential environment that a Ghandi or modern middle class hippies and faux 'progressives' would have lasted an entire day in.

Ghandi was killed because of religious strife. He was killed by a hindu. Ghandi was eventual party to the split and mass transfers of populations between India and Pakistan.

 

[OohPooPahDoo]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

The Christian God kills most babies before they reach the 2nd trimester.

 

[irosie91]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

The Christian God kills most babies before they reach the 2nd trimester.

Most persons not associated with medical sciences do not know.

 

[aris2chat]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

The Christian God kills most babies before they reach the 2nd trimester.

Most persons not associated with medical sciences do not know.

............and till recently, all those babies not baptized were not allowed into heaven, or so the churches said.

 

[irosie91]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

The Christian God kills most babies before they reach the 2nd trimester.

Most persons not associated with medical sciences do not know.

............and till recently, all those babies not baptized were not allowed into heaven, or so the churches said.

limbo is not so bad-----just very boring. ----but not quite as BORING as the CELESTIAL ROSE-----some of the best people are in
limbo----and the babies also have each other----MILLIONS OF PLAYMATES

 

[Picaro]

Ghandi was killed because of religious strife. He was killed by a hindu. Ghandi was eventual party to the split and mass transfers of populations between India and Pakistan.

True, but the point is he was only successful as a 'pacifist' because of the British Empire and made famous by a free press, and protected by English laws in his civil disobedience campaign, both in Africa and India..

He was also a racist, among other things, but yes he was killed by his own, and not some 'evil imperialist', nor was he particularly admirable as a 'humanitarian' when faced with having to exercise his own political power.

 

[Linkiloo]

If you have an issue with the death of first borns, you must have an issue with death by illness (assuming God is omnipotent). Is that an issue for you too Loki? Are all deaths of children an issue for you?

 

[aris2chat]

Ghandi was killed because of religious strife. He was killed by a hindu. Ghandi was eventual party to the split and mass transfers of populations between India and Pakistan.

True, but the point is he was only successful as a 'pacifist' because of the British Empire and made famous by a free press, and protected by English laws in his civil disobedience campaign, both in Africa and India..

He was also a racist, among other things, but yes he was killed by his own, and not some 'evil imperialist', nor was he particularly admirable as a 'humanitarian' when faced with having to exercise his own political power.

true, he began his carrier as a lawyer in africa but had a contempt for tribal blacks that raised cattle to buy wives and ran around naked......and he ran around in just a loin cloth he made himself and had a practice of sleeping with younger naked women, not his wife.

 

[LOki]

If you have an issue with the death of first borns, ...

I don't have any issues with the death of first borns.

...you must have an issue with death by illness (assuming God is omnipotent).

Your faulty conclusion doesn't even follow from your faulty premise.

Is that an issue for you too Loki?

Nope.

Are all deaths of children an issue for you?

Nope.

I take issue with murder.

I take issue with the glorification of the murder of children.

 

[xdangerousxdavex]

What's that? An attempt to discredit Jews and Israel because their God had done something bad long time ago what is written in the holy scriptures the source of which had been lost forever? It's an insanity.

 

[Daniyel]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

I didn't quite follow the entire posts but just in case you did not receive the answer for your questions I'll answer for you.
Your questions imply that you did not quite understood the Bible,
Pharoah advisers (were also sorcerers - or so claimed "Khartumim" is the Egyptian name(Coptic)) and they foreseen that the Hebrews leader would be born from among them and would free the sons of Jacob from Egypt, so they (According to Talmudic sources - Bil'am) advised Pharoah to throw every newborn male Hebrew baby - not Egyptian - to the river.
Then Moses was born but his sister (Miryam) saved him by building a small box and hiding him in the river, so if he will cry the Egyptians won't suspect, the tides driven the box to the palace - where Pharoah's daughter - Bithiah saved him - Moses was raised in Pharoah's palace.
Moving on to the 10th plague it was every elder son firstborn - not necessarily babies or at least female babies - but excluding Pharoah that was the elder brother that did not die basically all the plagues are against the exact cruelty of the Egyptians (keep in mind a 400 years slavery is.. cruel);
Plagues of Egypt - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
But where did you got any impression that God is not punishing for evil deeds? evil deeds are punished by (mostly) hell for clearing the soul and only past that the redeemed soul gets to go to paradise, and so we hear from Pharoah again where God was merciful on Pharoah(the one God harden his heart) that wasn't cruel like the rest of the Egyptians to the Hebrew slaves, according to Talmudic sources - Did Pharaoh die in the Red Sea - Passover
So in the end God knows what we don't, same questions were asked about the Holocaust and other great tragedies, but only God may answer.

 

[Coyote]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

Funny thing that. He's also socking as the Christian God and the Muslim God.

What is it with deities and anger management issues? And they still amass all these followers!

 

[irosie91]

The Jewish God killed all of the first born of Egypt to punish the Pharoah for enslaving the Israelites.
Some of these were innocent babies, no more than a year old.
How can a loving God do this?
Was there no better punishment? In all of his grace and wisdom, baby murder was the most appropriate punishment?
Why not just kill the Pharoah?
Why do Jews follow such a bloody and aggressive God???

Funny thing that. He's also socking as the Christian God and the Muslim God.

What is it with deities and anger management issues? And they still amass all these followers!

I will help you coyote-----good friend that you are. In ancient times death by sickness was seen as DEATH BY HEAVENLY DECREE------in fact it is so seen
in jewish jurisprudence------there are many sins described as "deserving of death" but contrary to that which you have been taught----that "death" comes
from Heaven-----not execution in LOTS OF CASES. The death of the first born story is absolutely consistent with------an epidemic of measles in Egypt-----or maybe small pox-----or cholera