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Today Dr. Jacobs takes a look at the challenge of genocide in the Old Testament, particularly the commanded extermination of the Amalekites and Canaanites. We’ll critique divine command theory from a realist metaphysical framework and explores how Eastern patristic theology understood divine providence, justice, and redemption in relation to these narratives. Dr. Jacobs will dig into cultural practices of ancient Near Eastern peoples, the distinction between race-based genocide and practice-based judgment, and how concepts like Christ's descent into Hades inform a coherent theological reading of these difficult passages.

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00:00:00 Intro

00:00:19 Series context & the question

00:05:27 Divine Command Theory is not the answer

00:38:13 A thought experiment about evil

00:41:05 Cultural examples: Game of Thrones & black death

00:47:40 Lord of the Rings & the Orcs

00:51:48 Understanding the Amalekites

00:56:20 What Genocide really means

01:05:40 A horror movie scenario

01:13:02 The story of Saul & Samuel

01:17:34 The story of Jonah

01:26:08 Christ's descent and redemption

01:31:38 Death as gift and mercy

01:35:08 The broader narrative context

01:39:03 Addressing the epistemological worry

When God Commands Death | Can Genocide Be Justified?