After nearly 4,000 years of off and on violence and warfare in the over 4,000 years of Bible narrative, we have to recognise that both activities are the norm for the people of the Bible and for humanity as a whole, throughout our short time on the planet.
"There are around a hundred Old Testament passages where the use of force is commanded. Around one third of the psalms reference warfare." Andrew Ollerton: 'God's Book', p 89, pub 2025
The Bible's 4,000 years is of the children of Abram/Abraham falling out big time in battling it out over one patch of land. The two warring factions are - the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel on the one side; and, Abram's first born, Ishmael on the other. Ishmael is recognised even by the descendants of the second born, Isaac, as being the father of the Muslims.
To the Jews was added, 2,000 years ago, the followers of the Way of Jesus or Christians. So we have the Judeo/Christian world today holding sway over the Middle East, although the Arabs/Muslims are the more dominant faith.
Yet, despite the clear example and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth which was followed by 95% of the early Christians until 300 CE, violence and warfare are the norm, still today. And, especially between Jews and Muslims in that tiny corner of the Middle East known as Israel since 1948.
The Bible is not meant to be the way that warfare must be carried out, as dear Bibi Netanyahu so fondly asserts. The Bible is used to justify disproportionate and indiscriminate slaughter of wholly innocent non-combatants in Gaza and the West Bank. Since, the 28 February 2026, Iranians and Lebanese in even greater numbers. I'm thinking of Amalek and Jericho inspiring friend Bibi.
For me, after, 78 years of being preached at by my dad and now my wife, I really do feel all this makes a complete mockery of morality. It simply isn't good enough.
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