Numbers 31 contains one of the most difficult passages in the entire Old Testament. How could a holy and loving God command the destruction of the Midianites?

In this episode, Lance Smith examines the historical and biblical context behind this challenging chapter, tracing the story back to Israel's rebellion at Baal Peor in Numbers 25. Along the way, he addresses common skeptical objections, explores what respected Christian scholars have said about the passage, and explains why Scripture presents these events as a unique act of divine judgment rather than arbitrary violence.

If you've ever struggled with Numbers 31, or wondered how Christians should respond to questions about it, this episode offers a thoughtful, biblical perspective while ultimately pointing to God's justice, mercy, and redemption through Jesus Christ.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas Howe. The Big Book of Bible Difficulties. Baker Books, 1992. Available at: https://a.co/d/7shn4hI
2. “Why did God command the Israelites to completely destroy the Midianites in Numbers 31:17?” GotQuestions.org. Available at: https://www.gotquestions.org/Numbers-31-17-Midianites.html
3. Guzik, David. “Numbers 31 – Vengeance on Midian.” Enduring Word Bible Commentary. Available at: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/numbers-31/
4. “Numbers 31 Commentary.” Precept Austin (includes material from Gleason Archer). Available at: https://www.preceptaustin.org/numbers-31-commentary
5. “The Killings of Numbers 31.” Apologetics Press. Available at: https://apologeticspress.org/the-killings-of-numbers-31-763/
6. Engheta, Matthew. “Did God Command Genocide in Numbers 31?” Reasonable Apologetics (Medium). Available at: https://medium.com/reasonable-apologetics/did-god-command-genocide-in-numbers-31-984e715df861
7. “What about God’s cruelty against the Midianites?” Christian Think Tank. Available at: https://www.christian-thinktank.com/midian.html
8. Dawkins, Richard. The Root of All Evil? (Channel 4 documentary, 2006). Widely available on video platforms.
9. Hitchens, Christopher. God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (2007); also 2007 debate with Al Sharpton.
10. Andrews, Seth. Deconverted: A Journey from Religion to Reason (2012); also content on The Thinking Atheist channel.

Episode 272 examines the difficult charge that the Bible endorses slavery by distinguishing ancient biblical servitude from modern chattel slavery, reviewing key Old and New Testament passages, and noting protections and limits found in Scripture.

The episode also connects the biblical trajectory toward human dignity with the church’s role in opposing historical and contemporary forms of slavery, including human trafficking and forced labor.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/slavery.html
2. Apologetics Canada. Does the Bible Endorse Slavery? YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qemsox_PlCo
3. CARM. Does the Bible Approve of Slavery? https://carm.org/does-the-bible-approve-of-slavery
4. Global Slavery Index 2023. Walk Free Foundation. https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
5. Mako A. Nagasawa. Slavery in the Bible and Slavery Today. New Humanity Institute. http://www.newhumanityinstitute.org/pdfs/article-slavery-in-the-bible.pdf
6. Midtown Columbia. Does God Condone Slavery? https://midtowncolumbia.com/blog/does-god-condone-slavery
7. Gavin Ortlund. "Is the Bible Pro-Slavery?" The Gospel Coalition, July 2, 2024.
8. Skeptics Annotated Bible. Does God Approve of Slavery? https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/slavery.html
9. U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report (annual edition). https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/
10. United Nations and International Labour Organization. Global Estimates of Modern Slavery.
11. Human Rights Watch. Reports on slavery and human trafficking in Mauritania and Libya. https://www.hrw.org/
12. BBC News. Investigative reporting on slavery in Libya and Mauritania. https://www.bbc.com/
13. Hochschild, Adam. Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire's Slaves. Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
14. Copan, Paul. Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God. Baker Books, 2011.

In this episode, we continue through C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity with Book Two, Chapter Two — The Invasion.

Lewis takes on Dualism, the idea that two equal powers — one good and one evil — are locked in an eternal war. He argues that this view ultimately fails because evil is not an independent force. Evil is “spoiled goodness” — a parasite that must borrow its power from good in order to exist. This is why Christianity has always said the devil is a fallen angel.

Lewis then offers one of his most striking images:

“Enemy-occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful King has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”

This chapter challenges the comfortable, feel-good version of Christianity so common today. Lewis reminds us that real Christianity has both a heart and a head. It tells us we are loved, but it also tells us the truth about the war we’re in — and calls us to join the King in taking back enemy-occupied territory. And unlike every other rebellion in history, this one ends in victory, because the King has already conquered through His death and resurrection.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

1. Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. HarperOne, 2001. Available at: https://a.co/d/0eXcvERk