CRIMINALS OF THE BIBLE

1
CRIMINALS OF THE BIBLE
2
WAR CRIMES
SAUL DAVID
3
PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

• Saul Doeg the Edomite
• Ahimelech
• David King Achish

4
I Samuel 2216-19
1Sa 2216 And the king said, "You shall surely
die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's
house!" 17 Then the king said to the guards who
stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of
the LORD, because their hand also is with David,
and because they knew when he fled and did not
tell it to me." But the servants of the king
would not lift their hands to strike the priests
of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, "You
turn and kill the priests!" So Doeg the Edomite
turned and struck the priests, and killed on that
day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod. 19
Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with
the edge of the sword, both men and women,
children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys
and sheep-with the edge of the sword.
5
SEEDS TO THE CRIME
Saul

• Jealousy Insecurity
• Severe Mental Instability
• Paranoia
• Abandonment of Faith

6
I Samuel 278-12
8 And David and his men went up and raided the
Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. For
those nations were the inhabitants of the land
from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as
the land of Egypt. 9 Whenever David attacked the
land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but
took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the
camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to
Achish. 10 Then Achish would say, "Where have
you made a raid today?" And David would say,
"Against the southern area of Judah, or against
the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or
against the southern area of the Kenites."
7
I Samuel 278-12
11 David would save neither man nor woman alive,
to bring news to Gath, saying, "Lest they should
inform on us, saying, 'Thus David did.'" And thus
was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the
country of the Philistines. 12 So Achish
believed David, saying, "He has made his people
Israel utterly abhor him therefore he will be my
servant forever."
8
SEEDS TO THE CRIME
David

• Sense of self-preservation
• Lying

9
LEGAL SYSTEM IN EFFECT
Were war crimes a crime
During the Patriarchal Age?
Under Mosaic law?
In the First Century?
Are war crimes a sin?
10
PUNISHMENT
Saul

• Loss of kingdom and life

11
PUNISHMENT
David

• No punishment shown

12
THE CRIME NOW
Began in US following the Civil War
William Calley Vietnam War
Abu Ghraib Prison - Iraq
13
LESSONS FOR US
Timeless horrors of war
Dangers of unchecked power in hands of leaders
Gods Forgiveness