Why did God punish the Israelites for showing mercy?

God requires obedience. Would have you preferred the Nazis to have won the war and only left white blonde people to roam the world??? No they needed to be punished. God was with the Israelites His chosen people and He demanded they do everything He commanded. The tribes to be destroyed did not know or have God and the damage they would do to the future generations needed to be stopped. Something like that anyway. (this was when God was bringing His nation out of slavery and He needed them to be strong and Spirit filled in order to do the many things He commanded in His name). Do you not know to kill in war is not a sin and to defend yourselves from innihilation is a worthy thing

Well, you could have the working out of this scenario so very combined up. God failed to punish the Egyptians for training slavery, to start with. That is no longer even shut. You could want to read that account once more closely and notice exactly why God did what he did to the Egyptians. For the reason that, if Pharaoh had allow them to go the first time Moses asked, then not one of the plagues would have even passed off, slavery or no slavery. Additionally, God made it clear simply precisely how a slave was to be dealt with when owned with the aid of an Israelite. There were very strict rules so that every one slaves have been handled with dignity and recognize... And let go after 7 years. Also, slavery as was once practiced via the Jews at the moment was very much like employed laboring is practiced at present. It wasn't the slavery that we equate with horrible therapy of at present. And, if we consider the occasions and the tradition it is very convenient to understand that the striking of any one of disciplining of any one with a flexible rod or stick was very customary, simply not to the point of loss of life. Of path, all such discipline needed to be implemented with righteousness in intellect and excellent reasons, because the legislation additionally dictates, in order to right any rebelliousness. Many people wish to take one Bible verse and say it approach some thing it doesn't. Figuring out the culture and the whole which means of terms without doubt helps.

1) "slay" isn't the must accurate translation...the Hebrew word's true meaning has never been figured out exactly....it means something like: "make not be here anymore, by non-violently exterminating them"... winch, as you can tell....um, makes no scence

2) it was a city called Gibeon....

the city sent messengers to make a peace agreement with the Israelites, but told them that there city was far far away....so the Israelites agreed. eventually, they came upon Gibeon, only to find out IT was the city they had made a treaty with. Joshua (the Israelite leader) decided to honer the deal, instead of "non-violently exterminating the city"

God rebuked (not "punished" exactly) them for not being wiser and getting tricked by Gibeon...not for the lack of "non-violently extermination"

THE END.....(I recently taught this story to a Sunday School class of K-3ed graders)

For not doing as God commanded, the Israelites are still battling them today. It appears in the Word of God he was so mad at them he wanted to wipe them out and start all over with Moses.

Besides it was not mercy they were showing but Greed and lust for the women.

That never happened.

And Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, "I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." (1 Samuel 15:1-3 ESV)

The Amakelities were not a peaceful tribe.

They did not obey God's words. God was trying to protect them and guide them. He knew other nations followed other Gods, worshipped idols and had lustful hearts. He knew the Israelites had to destroy them in order not to be tempted. They didn't listen.

God looks into the future to see what they would do. I remember reading that Haman came from one of those people God told the Jews to kill. It turns out he almost destroyed the entire nation. If not for divine providence, and Ester being queen and persuading the Kind to lift the decree to spare all the Jews, they would have been all killed at the hands of Haman.

Wrong. You refer to Saul. He was ordered to destroy a people that were ANYTHING but peaceful but he saw that they had some awesome livestock so he kept it to use as sacrifice and he kept the King alive as well.

You may also be referring to Achan who looted a conquered city despite God's strict command not to plunder anything. He took clothes and money.

wow did you ever butcher that story!! the lord told the israelites to kill all in the tribe, leave none alive. but they didn't do exactly what the lord said, so he was upset with there disobedience.

God commanded them to destroy them