Problem: Originally, God promised to work through the priestly line of Aaron—Eli’s ancestor (Ex. 29:9; Num. 25:13). However, this passage appears to be stating that God is breaking a promise that he formerly made. God promises to kill Eli’s sons: Hophni and Phinehas (v.34). How does this harmonize with the fact that God cannot break a promise or lie to us (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2)?
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Problem: Hannah makes a vow to give her future baby to God if she becomes pregnant. Does God answer prayers based on vows like this?
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Problem: After Boaz lay down, the text says that Ruth “uncovered his feet and lay down” with him. Some critics argue that this is a way of saying that Ruth had sex with Boaz.
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Problem: Naomi tells Ruth, “[Boaz] is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers” (Ruth 2:20 ESV). What does she mean by Boaz being a “redeemer”?
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Problem: Why did the Israelites kill the people of Gilead? As with so many difficult issues concerning the word of God, context is hugely important. In Judges 19:22-30, the wicked men of Gibeah (a city in Israel of the tribe of Benjamin, 1 Sam 13:15) demanded sexual relations with the Levites who were staying at a house in that city. The owner of the house, to his utter shame, offered his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine. Both the man and the Levite should have defended the women even to their deaths, but they both failed miserably in their moral duty. Nevertheless, the men of the city took the concubine, sexually abused her all night, and then released her. She died at the door of the house in which the Levite rested.
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Problem: Suicide is clearly wrong. However, God blesses Samson for committing suicide in this passage by answering his prayer for supernatural strength.
Problem: The Bible teaches that believers should not marry non-believers (Ex. 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-4). However, this passage states that Samson’s marriage “was of the Lord” (Judg. 14:4). How can this be the case?
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From Numbers 6:1-21 we see that the Nazarite vow could be for either “a man or woman” (v.1). It included a number of things:
No grapes or raisins (v.3).
No cutting your hair (v.5). This was a symbol for their dedication (v.7).
No going near a dead body (v.6).
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Problem: The Bible denounces human sacrifice (Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; Deut. 12:31; 18:10). However, Jephthah kills his daughter on a burnt offering, and the NT praises him for it (Heb. 11:32)! Regarding this passage, atheist Richard Dawkins writes, “God was obviously looking forward to the promised burnt offering, and in the circumstances the daughter very decently agreed to be sacrificed.”[1] How can this be the case?
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