We’re told that Joab slaughtered Avner at the city gate.
There’s some interesting symbolism here we’d be remiss to overlook.
In the ancient Middle East, the city gate often doubled as an outdoor courtroom where the elders tried cases and decisions were handed down.
So, in Joab’s mind, this justified the revenge he took on Avner – because this killing occured at the place of justice.
However, from a Torah perspective, was Joab’s killing of Avner lawful?
The answer is NO.
This was cold-blooded vengeance…
And it was wrong.
The Torah says…
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay.
In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near
and their doom rushes upon them.”
-Deuteronomy 32:35
The New Testament reiterates this point and quotes the same Torah passage in the Book of Romans.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written:
‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,‘
says the Lord.”
-Romans 12:19
This is one of many instances where we’ll see the Torah misused and abused to accommodate the selfish tendencies of men.
The truth is the ancient Israelites often rationalized their sinful behavior to make it fit their Middle Eastern traditions.
Just as the gentile church does today!
Christians often ascribe a Scriptural-based name or take Bible verses completely out of context in their attempt to make wrong behavior seem right.
The hypocrisy of praying over unclean foods the Messiah would have never eaten is a perfect example of this.
The Torah makes it clear that killing an opponent in battle is NOT a sin.
Peace protesters who hold up the 6th Commandment, which says “Thou Shall Not Kill,” as justification for NOT going to war, are taking Scripture completely out of context.
Again, no atonement is needed if one man kills another in battle – especially if that battle is a holy war.
This is a separate issue from the laws about the Blood Avenger and the established sanctuary cities.
Remember, sanctuary cities were only for those instances of accidental killings or what’s termed “negligent homicide.”
They had nothing to do with our modern ideas of manslaughter.
Ya feeling me here?
Sanctuary cities weren’t created to protect murderers whose intention was to kill others…
And they weren’t for soldiers who killed enemy soldiers in battle either.
When Yo’av’s brother Asahel chased after Avner, he had every intention of killing him.
Avner even warned Asahel to stop, knowing the young lad would lose his life if he kept up his attack.
But Asahel wouldn’t stop.
So Avner had no choice but to kill Asahel.
This was pure self-defense.
Avner may not be the most likable character in the Bible, but his killing of Asahel was perfectly justified.
It was Yo’av who was incorrect by thinking Avner had killed his brother wrongfully and thus deserved revenge – as if he needed to flee to some sanctuary city.
No, Yo’av was in the WRONG from a Torah perspective.
This brings us to our takeaway for today.
When we read these stories, it should be pretty clear what’s right and wrong – IF we know the Torah.
The problem is most folks don’t know the Torah.
That’s why I feel so sorry for the Christians.
They have been robbed by unlawful church doctrines that say, “Jesus did away with the Law.”
I don’t know this from first-hand experience…
But I’ve heard, some churches even warn new believers against reading the Old Testament, saying it might shake their faith.
Can you believe this demonic deception being foisted upon them?
They’re being told not to read God’s Holy Word?!?!?!
The very same Word that Paul said was “God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
Remember Paul wasn’t talking about some New Testament here – because it didn’t even exist at the time.
No wonder Christianity with its over 20,000 denominations is so freakin’ screwed up.
They say they believe the Bible word-for-word.
Yet they’ve thrown one-third of the Scriptures into the trash can.
And then they take it upon themselves to change God’s Law…
Like picking any day of the week to be the Shabbat just because it’s more convenient, as long as there’s one day of rest in the week.
Or how about the perverted worship of money?
Believing that God wants all believers to be filthy rich – and that if they’re not, there’s something wrong with their faith.
I could go on and on but I think you get the point.
The bottom line is that as followers of the Lord, we’re supposed to stand firm and not follow manmade traditions, customs, or holidays when they go against God’s Word.
We shouldn’t make excuses or accept them.
It ain’t always easy to do…
But that’s what we’re called to.
Later homies.
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