The Pathway Machine

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In this response it is pointed out that burning people to death was not something the Law of Moses put forth as punishment for crimes. Burning was only done after the person had died, being an example of spiritual destruction. In the entire Bible there have only been a few cases where people were burned to death and those were by God directly. Most of the scriptures associated with burning people to death are either prophecies of destruction of Jerusalem, Babylon or other ancient cities, or are symbolic for eternal destruction.

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The Skeptic's Annotated Bible incorrectly concludes that "Some crimes are so heinous that the guilty must be burned to death." The Examples that are given are Leviticus 20:14; 21:9 / Genesis 38:24 and Joshua 7:15, 24-25.

The law stated that the death sentence was to be carried out by stoning (Leviticus 20:2, 27) unless there were a large number of people to be executed, and then a sword could be used. (Exodus 32:27 / 1 Kings 2:25, 31, 32-34) A spear, lance or arrow might have been used, though it was rare. (Numbers 25:7-8 / Exodus 19:13) Beheading was mentioned in the Bible but it would appear that the persons were already dead in those cases. (2 Samuel 20:21-22 / 2 Kings 10:6-8)

In more serious cases where the burning or hanging of a person is mentioned those persons are being burned or hanged after they have been stoned to death, though this isn't always clearly stated in the text it was the law. The person was first put to death for the crime and then either hung or burned as an example. (Joshua 7:25 / Numbers 25:4-5 / Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

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The SAB then correctly concludes that "Sometimes God burns people to death."

Not all of the verses given by the SAB are literal examples of God burning people to death. In the case of Leviticus 10:1-2 / Numbers 11:1; 16:35 / 2 Kings 1:10-12 they are. In the case of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) The Pentateuch and Haftorahs says: "The Rabbis connected the incident of Nadab and Abihu with this injunction against intoxicating liquors before officiating in the Sanctuary." (Edited by J. H. Hertz, London, 1972, p. 446) Immediately after this incident Jehovah instructed Aaron and his sons not to use intoxicating alcohol when serving in the tabernacle, which may have incited them to have overstepped their bounds in offering illegitimate fire. (Leviticus 10:9)

What is interesting about Numbers 11:1; 16:35 and even 2 Kings 1:10-12 is that even with God there among them, putting them to death by fire, they continued doing what was wrong in the eyes of Jehovah. It is not unreasonable to consider the possibility of God having put them to death before burning them in light of the aforementioned law of putting people to death before hanging or burning, as well as Jehovah finding sacrifices of people to fire detestable. (Jeremiah 7:31; 32:35) These examples were not, however, sacrifices of innocent people and the text doesn't clearly state them as having been put to death, so it is only a possibility.

"They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God . . . For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains. . . . They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust." - Deuteronomy 32:21-24

A proper translation of this verse wouldn't include the term "lowest hell" since the Hebrew word sheohl is used. These verses are heavy with figurative expressions that I wouldn't attribute to a literal burning of people. It would be more realistic to attribute the fire of mountains with volcanic activity and the quaking with earthquakes. Psalm 21:9 is also figurative and can't be specifically attributed to the literal burning of people to death. Fire is commonly used symbolically to signify destruction.

Isaiah 47:1-15 is a prophecy about the destruction of Babylon at the hands of the Medes and Persians beginning in 539 B.C.E. In verse 13-14 God mocks the astrologers who, nearly two hundred years later, wouldn't be able to see the handwriting on the wall. (Daniel 5:7-8)

Ezekiel 15:1-8 and Isaiah 24:6; 33:12 are prophecies of the destruction of Judah in 607 B.C.E.

"I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire." - Jeremiah 49:2

Critics have considered Jeremiah 49:2 as a failed prophecy because Amman remains standing. Ezekiel 25:4-5 said that it would be reduced to a stable for camels; occupied by Bedouins. What critics fail to appreciate is that nowhere did the Bible say that the desolation of ancient Ammon was meant to be permanent. In fact, Jeremiah's prophecy stated that the fortune of Ammon would be restored. (Jeremiah 49:6)

Jeremiah 49:2 was a prophecy fulfilled. The Biblical Archaeologist Reader stated: "Archaeological explorations have shown that sedentary occupation in the land of Ammon virtually ceased before the middle of the 6th century B.C. . . . the Bedouin hordes from the desert . . . brought to an end the semi-autonomous Ammonite state." - Vol. II, pp. 87, 88.

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The SAB next incorrectly concludes: "And God will burn most people forever in hell after they die."

Hell is a pagan teaching adopted by apostate Xianity, and not a Bible teaching.

When John 15:1-6 is compared to Ezekiel 15:1-8 mentioned earlier, it is pretty clear that they are talking about the same thing. Due to the familiarity of the vineyard these are figurative references usually contrasting the productive vine with the degenerative vine. The degenerative vine was removed and burned in the fire. Again, the theme of fire symbolically represents destruction and appears throughout the Bible. (Jeremiah 2:21 / Hosea 10:1-2)

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 14:10-12; 21:8 are all typical applications of fire being symbolic for eternal destruction.

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Finally, the SAB concludes What The Bible Says About Burning People To Death with this: "So remember to pray that God will burn your enemies to death."

Psalm 140:10 is talking about the wicked, especially the violent. The Psalmist knew that it was Jehovah's will that the unrepentant wicked be destroyed as if with fire. Not a literal fire, but a symbolic fire of destruction.