“David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired, he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king’s requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him.”
“This is barbaric!”, we might be quick to say. It is indeed awful to imagine. The tender-hearted shepherd boy is now a steel-eyed killer. But let’s not forget the context.
The Philistines oppressed the Israelites for years; it was their desire to wipe them out entirely. They were not interested in peaceful co-existence. They were a godless, cruel people.
David was a warrior, yes. But he was not a cold-blooded barbarian.
