The Genocide Convention, the first human-rights treaty ever adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. The term “genocide” first originated in the 1940s as a combination of the root words genos (Greek for family, tribe, or race) and –cide (Latin for killing), and was coined to describe the atrocities suffered by such groups as the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and the Jews in Nazi Germany.

But many people believe this modern term should also be applied to God’s ancient command for the “complete destruction” of the people living in the land of Canaan during the Israelite conquest (Deut. 20). As Michael J. Kruger asks, “Is God guilty of genocide?”

Kruger helpfully explains that while the conquest of Canaan remains a “difficult and complex issue,” we must address the question as followers of Christ. “[I]f the conquest is seen within the context of the Christian worldview, rather than from outside it,” Kruger says, “the objections fade away.”