종교나 신념을 빌미로 행해지는 잔인성, 여호수아 10장(16절~43절)

여호수아가 이끈 이스라엘 군대는 가나안 땅의 남부 지역을 전멸하는 데 성공합니다. 그리고 이와 같은 승리는 오직 하나님의 도움으로 가능했다고 합니다. 그러나 맹목적 종교나 신념을 빌미로 집단적 광기를 벌이는 행태는 예나 지금이나 변함이 없는 것 같습니다.

 

다섯 왕들의 처단 과정

여호수아 10장은 기브온과 이스라엘의 연합으로 예루살렘 왕 아도니세덱 외 아모리족의 다섯 왕이 동맹을 맺고 기브온을 공격하는 내용으로 시작합니다. 기브온은 이스라엘에 도움을 요청하고 여호수아는 하나님의 약속을 믿고 군대를 이끌고 올라갑니다. 하나님은 여호수아를 도와 적군을 혼란에 빠뜨리고 하늘에서 우박을 내려 아모리 군대를 쳤습니다. 또한, 여호수아가 해와 달을 향해 명령하여 하루 종일 태양이 멈추는 기적이 일어나 이스라엘은 대승을 거둡니다. 

 

 

16 These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, "The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah." 18 And Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue you enemies; attack their rearguard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has givin them into your hand." 20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, 21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.

 

 

그렇게 전멸한 다섯 왕들은 막케다 동굴에 숨었습니다. 그러자 여호수아는 굴 입구에 큰 돌을 막아 가두고 잔당들을 끝까지 추적하여 무찌르라고 지시합니다. 그렇게 이스라엘 백성은 적을 섬멸한 후 무사히 진영으로 돌아왔습니다.

 

여호수아 10장 1절에서 15절 읽기

태양을 멈추게 한 전무후무한 기록 여호수아 10장

 

22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave." 23 And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, "Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings." Then they came near and put their feet on their neck. 25 And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight." 26 And afterwards Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. 27 But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw the into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the ave, which remain to this very day.

 

 

여호수아는 동굴에 갇힌 왕들을 잡아 그들의 목을 밟으라 지시합니다. 헤브론의 왕 호함, 예루살렘의 왕 아도니세덱, 야르뭇의 왕 비람, 라기스와 왕 야비아, 에글론의 왕 드빌 이 다섯 명의 왕은 기브온 공략에 실패한 후 전패, 그리고 장렬하게 전사하는 모습을 보이는 대신 쫄보처럼 동굴에 숨어들어 비굴한 모습을 보였습니다. 기브온과는 사뭇 다른 처사인 것 같습니다. 여호수아는 이들을 굴에서 끌어내 나무에 매달아 죽이고 해가 질 때쯤 시신을 내려 바로 그날 그 굴에 던져 놓고 입구를 돌로 막았습니다.

이렇게까지 잔인하게 왕들을 나무에 매달려 죽게 할 필요가 있었을까 싶은데요. 고대 사회는 이런 행위가 공개적 수치와 경고, 그리고 하나님께 저주받은 자란 인식을 주기 위함이라고 합니다. 

 

 막케다 왕까지 죽인 이유

 28 As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

 

 

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30 And the LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

 

  31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person it it, as he had done to Libnah.

  33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.

 

막케다 성은 다섯왕의 연합에는 포함되지 않았습니다. 그런데도 여호수아는 그들과 똑같은 방식으로 왕을 죽이고 성을 전멸했습니다. 그 이유는 다섯 왕이 막케다 동굴에 숨어들었기 때문입니다. 성경에는 막케다 왕이 숨겨준 것도 아닌데 말입니다. 이게 무슨 광기인지 모르겠네요. 자기들도 노예 생활을 해놓고 약자를 보호한다고 항상 떠벌리더니만 지들이 강자가 되니 그 어떤 왕들보다 잔인하게 구네요.

 

 이렇게 잔학한 전쟁을 하나님이 도왔다니

 

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.

 

  36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it 37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.

 

  38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it 39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.

 

 

 40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

 

막케다 성을 몰살하고 여호수아는 에글론 성읍을 공격하여 함락시키고 완전히 진멸합니다. 이어 헤브론과 드빌 성읍도 공격하였고 한 사람도 살려두지 않았습니다. 가데스바네아에서 가자까지 가나안 남부 지역을 점령하였습니다. 그리고 이 모든 승리는 이스라엘의 하나님 여호와께서 그들을 위해 싸웠기 때문에 가능했다고 합니다. 그냥 지들끼리 땅따먹기 싸움을 하나님 팔이로 제대로 둔갑시킨 것 같네요.