In the context of the Bible, the concept of exterminating often refers to the complete destruction or removal of a people, group, or entity, typically as an act of divine judgment or as a command from God. This theme is prevalent in various narratives throughout the Old Testament, where God commands the Israelites to exterminate certain nations or peoples as they enter the Promised Land.

Divine Judgment and Commands

One of the most notable instances of extermination is found in the book of Joshua, where God commands the Israelites to conquer and destroy the inhabitants of Canaan. This command is rooted in divine judgment against the Canaanites for their idolatry and wickedness. In Joshua 6:21 , the Israelites are instructed to destroy the city of Jericho: "They devoted the city to the LORD and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys."

The extermination of the Amalekites is another significant example. In 1 Samuel 15:3 , God commands King Saul: "Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys." This command was given as a response to the Amalekites' previous aggression against Israel.

Theological Implications

The concept of extermination in the Bible raises important theological questions about God's justice, mercy, and the nature of divine judgment. From a conservative Christian perspective, these acts are seen as expressions of God's holiness and justice. The extermination of certain peoples is understood as a necessary measure to prevent the spread of sin and idolatry, which could corrupt the Israelites and hinder God's redemptive plan for humanity.

Moral and Ethical Considerations

The extermination commands in the Old Testament are often challenging for modern readers, raising moral and ethical concerns. However, within a conservative framework, these actions are viewed as specific to the historical and covenantal context of ancient Israel. They are not seen as prescriptive for contemporary Christian practice but rather as descriptive of God's dealings with humanity in a particular time and place.

Symbolic and Eschatological Interpretations

In addition to their historical context, some theologians interpret these extermination narratives symbolically or eschatologically. They may be seen as foreshadowing the ultimate defeat of evil and the establishment of God's kingdom. In the New Testament, the final extermination of evil is depicted in the book of Revelation, where God triumphs over sin and death, bringing about a new creation.

Conclusion

The theme of exterminating in the Bible is complex and multifaceted, encompassing divine judgment, moral considerations, and eschatological hope. It reflects the seriousness with which God views sin and the lengths to which He will go to preserve His covenant people and fulfill His redemptive purposes.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Exterminate.

Preface
... Thus, though an exterminating war was carried on against these earlier Reformers,
we find that two centuries after the events related in the stories that follow ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bevan/three friends of god/preface.htm

Meditation vi. The Last Pasch.
... He then spoke to the disciples, and told them, among other things, that the
exterminating angel would pass by, that they would adore in that room without fear ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/meditation vi the last pasch.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Man to Kill his Wife if She be ...
... Accordingly, he who presides over the latter kind of community, a king for instance,
can punish an individual both by correcting and by exterminating him, for ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 21.htm

The War in Heaven.
... in the furthest island of the Pacific; rendering to each man according to his works,
rewarding the good, punishing the bad, and exterminating evildoers, even ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon xxi the war in.htm

Jews.
... Princes and people, Pagans, Mahometans, and Christians, disagreeing in so many things,
have united in the design of exterminating this fugitive and wretched ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/jews.htm

Lorimer -- the Fall of Satan
... discipline. Both of these rulers were too self-satisfied to be reproved,
and God's exterminating indignation overtook them. Like ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/lorimer the fall of.htm

Of Civil Government.
... All we wish to be understood at present is, that it is perfect barbarism to think
of exterminating it, its use among men being not less than that of bread and ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of civil government.htm

Jeremy Taylor -- Christ's Advent to Judgment
... Fearful it was when God destroyed at once twenty-three thousand for fornication,
and an exterminating angel in one night killed one hundred and eighty-five ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/jeremy taylor christs advent.htm

Twenty Third Sunday after Trinity Enemies of the Cross of Christ ...
... of them, they who lead honorable lives, are naturally in their hearts enemies to
Christ, and devote their intellectual powers to exterminating God's people. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty third sunday after trinity.htm

Christ is Glorious --Let us Make Him Known
... In modern times we find in Madagascar, after years of exterminating persecution,
the Church of God rises from her ashes, like the phoenix from the flames. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/christ is gloriouslet us make.htm

Exterminating (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Exterminate. Multi-Version
Concordance Exterminating (1 Occurrence). Joshua 11:20 ...
/e/exterminating.htm - 7k

Extermination (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of exterminating; total destruction; eradication; excision; as,
the extermination of inhabitants or tribes, of error or vice, or of weeds from ...
/e/extermination.htm - 8k

Exterminated (8 Occurrences)

/e/exterminated.htm - 9k

Omri (16 Occurrences)
... While Omri was thus engaged, Zimri, another officer of Elah's army, conspired against
the king, whom he assassinated in a drunken debauch, exterminating at the ...
/o/omri.htm - 20k

Anathema (6 Occurrences)
... Any object so devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed (Numbers 18:14; Leviticus
27:28, 29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with the word. ...
/a/anathema.htm - 13k

Accursed (26 Occurrences)
... which would, if spared, corrupt or contaminate the religious life of Israel, with
the further idea of destroying (things) or exterminating (persons) as the ...
/a/accursed.htm - 18k

Exterminating: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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