Spoils
Were the Israelites suppose to take spoils?
Generally it can appear that they were allowed to take spoils of their enemies in war. But in certain situations it was not always allowed.
Sometimes they were instructed to completely destroy a city and touch nothing that could be taken as a spoils
We see that in the destruction of Jericho and also the Amalekites, who were some of those who licked blood.
The Israelites were often acting as instrument of judgment and righteousness as in the case of the Amalekites (Exodus 17:14–16 or in Deuteronomy 25:17–19). Everything was to be "devoted to destruction" (1 Samuel 15:2–3); no spoils were to remain and nothing was to be taken.
1 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee [to be] king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
The phrase "and utterly destroy" is translated from וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ wəhaḥăramtem with the root word being חָרַם charam consisting of the letters ChetReishMem[1] which is first defined as to ban, devote or even split as in divide. Nowhere else do we find the word וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ wəhaḥăramtem (VavHeyChetReishMemTavMem).
There is a similar word ( הֶחֱרַמְתֶּ֖ם heḥĕramtem HeyChetReishMemTavMem) used in Joshua 2:10[2] by Rehab because of the deeds of Israel that drew her to respect, trust, and protect men of Israel.
When the took over Canaan, the Israelites were permitted to take spoils from the Canaanites. But the nature of the conflict in Canaan was much different. Understanding the Peaceful invasion of Canaan may be of value in reaching an understanding of spoils.
When Jesus condemned because the Pharisees had neglected the "weightier matters[3] that Moses had taught about from the beginning.
- ↑ 02763 ^םרח^ charam \@khaw-ram’\@ a primitive root ChetReishMem; v; AV-destroy 34, utterly 10, devote 2, accursed 1, consecrate 1, forfeited 1, flat nose 1, utterly to make away 1, slay 1; 52 and is also a noun 02764 ^םרח^ cherem
- 1) to ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction, exterminate
- 1a) (Hiphil)
- 1a1) to prohibit (for common use), ban
- 1a2) to consecrate, devote, dedicate for destruction
- 1a3) to exterminate, completely destroy
- 1b) (Hophal)
- 1b1) to be put under the ban, be devoted to destruction
- 1b2) to be devoted, be forfeited
- 1b3) to be completely destroyed
- 1a) (Hiphil)
- 2) to split, slit, mutilate (a part of the body)
- 2a) (Qal) to mutilate
- 2b) (Hiphil) to divide
- ח Chet The Life Force - Dynamic nature of - cause and effect - give life and live.[fence, thread, hedge, chamber...cycle] (Numeric value: 8)
- ר Reish Process of Clarification The "head" or "beginning". Life's revelation. [Head... Person head highest] (Numeric value: 200)
- מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
- 1) to ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction, exterminate
- ↑ Jos 2:10 "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed."
- ↑ Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.