WHY CHARAM WARFARE?

PMW 2024-005 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This is one of the most difficult passages in Scripture for the world to accept. It calls for the absolute extermination of the Canaanites (which is pursued in Joshua, e.g., Josh. 10:40).

This is not the destruction of a hapless people who happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Rather God’s wrath is to be executed upon the Canaanites for much the same reasons it was exacted against the entire world in Noah’s day (Gen. 6:5–7, 11–13; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5) and upon Sodom and Gomorrah in Abraham’s day (Gen. 19:13–15, 24–25; cp. Jer. 23:14; Lam. 4:6; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 7). That is, this is special charam [Heb., “ban, devoted to destruction”] warfare legislation which calls for the absolute destruction of the Canaanites.

This special warfare was necessary due to the culture-wide (Gen. 15:16; Lev. 18:24–28) and infectious nature (vv. 4, 16, 25; cp. Num. 25:1–3) of Canaan’s sins. Therefore, Israel must rid the land of its evil people who worshiped false gods and committed horrendous atrocities (Lev. 18:21; 20:5, 23; Deut. 9:5; 18:12; 2 Kgs. 16:3; 21:6; 23:10; 2 Chron. 33:6; Eze. 16:21; 20:31; 23:37; Jer. 7:31; 19:5; 32:35; Isa. 30:33; 57:9). The Canaanites were not engaged in occasional sin, but were committed to practiced, cultural abominations. The entire culture had descended to a mature expression of debasement (Gen. 15:16).

It was also necessary for the greater good for the world. Through Israel, God was bringing the Redeemer into the world (Matt. 1:1; Gal. 4:4) and must be provided a land and be protected from destruction. The genealogies in Genesis 5 and chapters 10–11 link Abraham to Adam, thereby tracing the redemptive seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15) from Adam through Noah to Abraham. This catastrophic removal of evil opposition to God was also establishing a place for his law’s righteousness to shine to the world (Deut. 4:6; Isa. 2:2–4; 49:6).

Furthermore, this charam warfare was limited to a particular enemy: the Canaanites in the Promised Land (20:15–17). It is not a common feature of Israelite warfare (cp. 20:10–11). Therefore, it was not built upon a general principle of destruction and cruelty. It was a surgical removal of a particularly nefarious cancer.

Charam warfare also served as a warning of God’s wrath. This led some to acknowledge the true God and others to turn from their warring ways. Rahab turned to God in faith (Josh. 2; see note at Josh 2:9–11). And due to their fear of God through charam war (Josh. 9:3, 24), the Gibeonites turned from their destructive ways and sought peace within Israel (see Josh. 9:19–20 Note). That others did not do so is due to their hardness of heart (Josh. 11:20).

Revelation, God and Man
(24 mp3 lectures by Ken Gentry)
Formal college course on the doctrines of revelation, God, and man.Opens with introduction to the study of systematic theology. Excellent material for personal study or group Bible study. Strongly Reformed and covenantal in orientation.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com