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Exodus 17:9-13 And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek...

avenge the Lord. It was God's quarrel, not their own, that they were now to take up. These people were idolaters, and had seduced the Israelites to practise the same abominations. Idolatry is an offence against God; and the civil power has no authority to meddle with what belongs to him, without especial directions, certified, as in this case, in the most unequivocal manner. Private revenge, ambition, or avarice were to have no place in this business: Jehovah is to be avenged; and through Him, the children of Israel, because they were nearly ruined by their idolatries. If Jehovah, instead of punishing sinners by earthquakes, pestilence, or famine, is please expressly to command any person or people to avenge his cause, this commission justified, nay sanctifies, war, massacre, or devastation. Though none at present shew such a commission, yet the Israelites could; and it is therefore absurd to censure Moses, Joshua, and Israel, for the dreadful slaughter made by them. God himself passed sentence of condemnation, and employed them merely as ministers of his vengeance; and unless it could be proved that the criminals did not deserve their doom, or that God had no right to punish his rebellious creatures, such objectors only shew their enmity to God by becoming the unsolicited advocates of his enemies.

Numbers 25:11, 13 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel...

Exodus 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD has sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword on you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when you are gathered together within your cities...

Judges 5:2, 23 Praise you the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves...

2 Kings 9:7 And you shall smite the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets...

2 Kings 10:30 And the LORD said to Jehu, Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes...

Jeremiah 46:10 For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour...

Jeremiah 50:28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God...