Mostly Harmful: 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Religion

Not long ago, I posted this list of Bible verses.
A Christian replied “NONE OF THOSE ARE IN THE BIBLE!”
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ex 22:18
lev 20:10
lev 24:14
zech 13:3
lev 20:27
det 20:16-17
Isiah 14:21
Lev 20:13
rom 1:21-32
2 chron 15:12-13
Lev 24:16
det 20:13
Num 1:48-51
Ex 31:15
dt 22:21
lev 20:9
lev 20:13
Num 25:1-9
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please with short explanation
* Kill non Hebrew
Here is the citation for Deuteronomy 20:16-17 from the New English Translation (NET):
As for the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive. Instead you must utterly annihilate them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—just as the Lord your God has commanded you .

* Kill Adulterers
Here is the citation for Leviticus 20:10 from the New English Translation (NET):
If a man commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.

*Kill Blasphemers
Here is the citation for Leviticus 24:14 from the New English Translation (NET):

“Bring the one who cursed outside the camp, and all who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the whole congregation is to stone him to death.

*Kill all males after winning Battles
Here is the citation for Deuteronomy 20:13 from the New English Translation (NET):
and the Lord your God delivers it over to you, you are to strike down all its males with the sword.
This verse is part of the broader laws concerning warfare given to the Israelites. It outlines the procedure for attacking cities that do not accept a peace offer (as described in the preceding verses), which includes the complete destruction of the male population.

*Kill any bride that is not a virgin
Here is the citation for Deuteronomy 22:21 from the New English Translation (NET):
the men of her city must bring the young woman to the door of her father’s house and stone her to death, because she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by behaving like a prostitute while living in her father’s house. In this way you will purge evil from among you.

*Kill men who have sex with men
Here is the citation for Leviticus 20:13 from the New English Translation (NET):
If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.

This verse is part of the Holiness Code, which contains laws regarding sexual conduct and other practices. It prescribes the death penalty for male same-sex intercourse, describing it as an "abomination" (תּוֹעֵבָה, to'eva), a term often used for practices considered ritually or morally detestable within the Israelite community.

Exodus 22:18
"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

Explanation: In the ancient Near East, witchcraft and sorcery were associated with idolatry and communication with evil spirits, which was a direct rebellion against God. This law set Israel apart from pagan nations who practiced these rituals. In its historical context, it was a civil statute to purge the community of what was seen as a spiritual capital offense.

Leviticus 20:10
"And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."

Explanation: This is part of the Holiness Code. Adultery was viewed not just as a personal sin, but as a serious crime against the social and covenantal order, destroying families and the community's integrity. The death penalty signified how seriously God viewed the breaking of the marriage covenant.

Leviticus 24:14
"Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him."

Explanation: This follows the story of a man who blasphemed the name of God. "Cursing" here refers to blasphemy. The laying on of hands symbolized the transfer of guilt back onto the offender, and stoning was the prescribed method of execution to purge the evil from the camp.

Zechariah 13:3
"And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth."

Explanation: This is a prophetic passage about a future time of cleansing for Israel. It illustrates the extreme measures that would be taken to eradicate false prophecy. It shows that even the closest family bonds would be secondary to loyalty to God's truth, emphasizing the seriousness of leading people astray.

Leviticus 20:27
"A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them."

Explanation: Similar to Exodus 22:18, this targets mediums and spiritists. "Familiar spirit" refers to consulting the dead. This was strictly forbidden because it sought power and knowledge outside of God, undermining trust in Him and often involving deceitful practices.

Deuteronomy 20:16-17
"But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee."

Explanation: These verses describe the law of herem (total destruction) regarding the inhabitants of Canaan. This was a specific, one-time judgment from God against nations known for extreme wickedness (including child sacrifice), and it was also to prevent Israel from being tempted to adopt their idolatrous practices.

Isaiah 14:21
"Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities."

Explanation: This is part of a "taunt song" against the King of Babylon. It is poetic prophecy declaring the complete end of the Babylonian dynasty. It reflects the principle that the legacy of a tyrannical, evil empire would be so thoroughly destroyed that even its descendants would not be able to rebuild it.

Leviticus 20:13
"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Explanation: This is a key verse in the Holiness Code defining sexual boundaries for the Israelite community. The term "abomination" (to'evah) indicates something deeply repugnant to God's designed order, specifically in the context of distinguishing Israel from the pagan fertility cults of Canaan.

Romans 1:21-32
(Summary) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God... Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness... For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections... And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind... Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Explanation: In this passage, Paul explains the theological progression of sin. He argues that humanity knew God through creation but rejected Him, turning to idolatry. As a result, God "gave them over" to the natural consequences of their choices, including sexual immorality and a debased mind. It describes the downward spiral of sin.

2 Chronicles 15:12-13
"And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman."

Explanation: This describes a covenant renewal under King Asa. The people voluntarily agreed to purge idolatry from the land. The death penalty here was a civil enforcement of the first two commandments, demonstrating their collective commitment to reform and return to God's laws.

Leviticus 24:16
"And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death."

Explanation: This reinforces the law regarding blasphemy. It emphasizes the universal application within Israel's borders (for both Israelite and foreigner) of the respect due to God's name. God's name represented His character and authority, so cursing it was considered a direct assault on the foundation of the nation.

Deuteronomy 20:13
"And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword."

Explanation: This is part of the rules for warfare against cities that were far away (outside of Canaan). It describes the harsh realities of ancient warfare, where the goal was to eliminate the military threat (the males) of a city that had refused to make peace. It differs from the total destruction commanded for Canaanite cities.

Numbers 1:48-51
"For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi... But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony... And the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death."

Explanation: The Levites were exempt from military service because they were set apart for the spiritual work of the Tabernacle. They were responsible for its transportation and guarding it. The warning that "the stranger" (non-Levite) who came near would be put to death was to maintain the holiness of God's dwelling place and prevent ritual contamination.

Exodus 31:15
"Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death."

Explanation: The Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic Covenant. Working on it was seen as breaking the covenant and showing contempt for God's provision and order. The death penalty signified the seriousness of violating this central commandment, as it was an act of public rebellion against God's established order.

Deuteronomy 22:21
"Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you."

Explanation: This deals with a case of pre-marital infidelity, specifically a woman who was found not to be a virgin on her wedding night. It was considered a grave dishonor to her father's house and a breach of the marriage contract. The law served to protect the institution of marriage and ensure sexual purity within the community.

Leviticus 20:9
"For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him."

Explanation: This law underscores the critical importance of the family unit and respect for parental authority in Israelite society. To "curse" a parent went beyond mere disrespect; it was a fundamental attack on the social order that upheld the covenant community.

Leviticus 20:13 (Duplicate)
(See explanation above)

Numbers 25:1-9
"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab... And he brought his brother unto the Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses... And when Phinehas... saw it, he rose up... and thrust both of them through... So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand."

Explanation: This narrative describes Israel's sin of idolatry and sexual immorality with the Moabites. God sent a plague as judgment. The priest Phinehas stopped the plague by executing an Israelite man and the Midianite woman, which zealously upheld God's honor and atoned for the people. This action was later commended by God.