"How should the Edomites be treated?" (Alleged Contradiction #E5210)
Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.
Deuteronomy 23:7
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father … He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.
II Kings 14:3, 7
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
Ezekiel 25:13
The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.
Obadiah 1
Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.
Obadiah 8-9
Response
These verses do not contradict for a few reasons:
-
Timing
A lot of time elapsed between Deuteronomy 23:7 and the other verses. Things can certainly change between those two times, including the relationships between these nations.
– - Israel’s Judgment
There are many verses speaking of God’s judgment on Israel, even though Israel was God’s chosen people. God could certainly judge Edom for disobedience as well. God blesses for obedience and disciplines for disobedience, whether it is the nation of Israel or Edom.
– - Anti-prejudice
God is telling Israel not to be prejudiced against the Edomite just because he is an Edomite, nor the Egyptian just because he is an Egyptian. However, obviously if the nation of Edom sinned against God, God could judge them as a nation.
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