Why Did Jehovah God Order That All Canaanites Be Annihilated?

By Dr. Shirley Cheng

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In the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures), why did Jehovah God order Israel to kill all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan?

Did Jehovah want the people of the land killed simply because they did not agree with Him or refused to worship Him? No, but rather, Jehovah repeatedly made known in the Old Testament why He ordered all Canaanites annihilated: it was because of how extremely evil they were. Moses said to the Israelites before they entered Canaan: "Don’t say in your heart, after Yahweh [Jehovah] your God has thrust them out from before you, saying, “For my righteousness Yahweh has brought me in to possess this land”; because Yahweh drives them out before you because of the wickedness of these nations. Not for your righteousness, or for the uprightness of your heart, do you go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Yahweh your God does drive them out from before you, and that he may establish the word which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Know therefore, that Yahweh your God doesn’t give you this good land to possess it for your righteousness; for you are a stiff-necked people." (Deuteronomy 9:4-6, WEB)

Jehovah waited hundreds of years until that day to order the annihilation of the Canaanites. More than 400 years earlier, Jehovah told Abraham (to whose descendents God promised to give the land of Canaan): "In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure." (Genesis 15:16, NIV) As you can see, Jehovah did not kill the Canaanites until their sins reached their full measure. We must remember that Jehovah does not enjoy killing people. Killing people is His last resort, after all other options have been exhausted. He kills people as the last form of judgement. He annihilate those who harm the society.

The annihilation of the Canaanites was like the great flood in Noah's days; it was purposed for the same reason--to remove evil people from Earth--but it was on a much smaller scale, as it concerned only one land as opposed to the entire world with the great flood. (Since the judgments during Noah's day and the annihilation of the Canaanites are purposed for the same reason, why do people question God's action regarding the Canaanites, but not God's action regarding the great flood, especially when the flood was a judgment that was carried out on the entire Earth, unlike the judgment on the Canaanites which was carried out on a small land?)

How evil were the Canaanites? Their evil acts included but were not limited to burning their children alive to sacrifice to their false gods, incest, bestiality, female and male prostitution, orgies, homosexuality, witchcraft, consulting mediums and fortune-tellers, adultery, murder, and rape, among others.

To those who criticize Jehovah of being unfair and unjust, please keep in mind of these points:

a) Jehovah is an absolute holy God who is always a lover of justice; whatever He does is righteous. No one, absolutely no one has to worry about God being unrighteous and unjust.

b) Jehovah NEVER harms a righteous person along with the unrighteous. Prior to destroying the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (which were in Canaan), Jehovah promised that He would not destroy the cities if there were ten righteous people (read Genesis 18:23-33). When there were less than ten, He destroyed the cities--but only after rescuing one man and his family first (read Genesis 19). Again, remember that Jehovah also did not order the annihilation of all Canaanites until the evil deeds of the people reached their maximum. Finally, let us not forget that prior to the great flood, Jehovah rescued the righteous Noah and his family. Indeed, God does not destroy the good with the bad. And prior to destruction, He gives many, many warnings, pleading the people to turn to Him and do good. Killing is God's last resort, so evildoers would not be able to continually harm others.

c) Jehovah is not vindictive, we must remember that. He does not enjoy judgement. But He has the responsibility to judge and control sin. Would a parent be a responsible parent if they do not discipline their children? Jehovah does not enjoy ending people's lives. Instead, He asks all people to do what is good and right. Note what He said: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn, turn from your evil ways. Again, when I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had taken by robbery, walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him: he has done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. Yet the children of your people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall even die therein. When the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. House of Israel, I will judge every one of you after his ways." (Ezekiel 33:11, 14-20, WEB)

d) Jehovah is focused on what is eternal, while we are more inclined to look at the present. When God sentenced people to death, that doesn't necessarily mean eternal death, for He can resurrect them (raise them from the dead), and this is exactly what He will do on Judgment Day--all those who have ever died, both the righteous and the unrighteous, will be resurrected. All will be judged and be given a final chance to live. Those who still want to do evil will die for a second time, and this time, they will never be resurrected again. Jehovah gives many chances to sinners; that's why He sent Jesus to die for us--Jesus is the only way to eternal life.

e) Jehovah is the Creator of all and the Life-Giver of all. If He wills, He can destroy the entire universe in a split second, and absolutely no one has the right to protest a single word! He gave us life as He willed, and He can take our lives away anytime if He chooses. How could we, the created, dare question Him and criticize Him? Jehovah does NOT owe us anything. Conversely, we owe Him everything!

f) Finally, the Bible tells us that "the wages of sin is death" and that every person is a sinner (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10-12) and that "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21, WEB). Therefore, since the penalty of sin is death and since that every person is a sinner, God has the authority to carry out the full penalty on each and every person anytime. However, Jehovah doesn't! Not only does He not carry out His judgement on us when we deserve it, He let His dearest Son Jesus die for us so our sins could be forgiven and so that we could receive eternal life! (John 3:16)

Jehovah will carry out the final destruction of all evil people in the future to leave only the righteous behind. Since the beginning of humanity, He has given us countless warnings and pleas to repent and turn to Him. The Bible says, "He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8, WEB) Is Jehovah asking too much from us? Is this the request of a cruel and ruthless God? Would you listen to His plea, and return His love for you? Then put your trust in His only Son, Jesus our Messiah, and love this holy Father-Son team!