Since there is so much confusion in this area, I feel compelled to explain the differences between a true Biblical Holy War and the Jihad of the Muslims.
There are actually three main differences as follows…
FIRST, a true Biblical Holy War is initiated by the God of Israel Himself.
In contrast, in Islam, wars are initiated by men in the name of their God whom they call ALLAH.
SECOND, a true Biblical Holy War is a war the Lord actually fights Himself.
That’s right.
HASHEM is a warrior and He sets the battle strategy and outcome…not human generals or soldiers.
In this sense, one could correctly say the Ten Judgements of God against Pharaoh in Egypt were actually a HOLY War.
This was a case of the God of Israel waging war against the gods of Egypt.
THIRD, in a true Biblical Holy War, the “Law of HEREM” is in effect.
This is something no christian pastor in the world understands (at least I’ve never met one).
The “Law of HEREM” basically means the spoils of war belong to God alone.
The soldiers of Israel are NOT free to do whatever they want to with the enemies property.
After a HOLY War is finished, in most cases, the enemy’s property including the women and children must be destroyed.
Why?
Well it all goes back to what we studied in Leviticus concerning what happens to those things and people who contract God’s holiness but aren’t authorized to do so.
They are to be destroyed.
In addition, remember God is a spirit being.
So He could care less about acquiring gold or silver any other kind of earthly treasure.
Hence, the only way to devote the spoils of a Holy War to God is to offer it up to Him as a burnt offering…
…and again this is accomplished by destroying and burning everything up as a sacrifice to the Supreme General HASHEM.
However, understand, it is not always the case that the Lord will order the destruction of the enemy’s property in the aftermath of a holy war.
Recall after the destruction of Egypt, God ordered Israel to strip the Egyptians of all their gold and silver.
In that case, all of the gold and silver were used to build the Wilderness Tabernacle and its ritual instruments.
And later, we’ll see in some cases the Hebrew soldiers were allowed to take the captured virgin women as their wives.
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