I’m not convinced. Proselytization — and even forced conversion — seem to have been a less violent alternative to the previous human habit of killing all the adults and boys, taking the virgin girls as rape slaves, and eradicating the culture of “those other weirdos” when a military advantage can be had.
Moses was angry with the officers of the army [...] who returned from the battle. [...] “Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.” — Numbers 31:14,17-18
I’m not convinced. Proselytization — and even forced conversion — seem to have been a less violent alternative to the previous human habit of killing all the adults and boys, taking the virgin girls as rape slaves, and eradicating the culture of “those other weirdos” when a military advantage can be had.
Moses was angry with the officers of the army [...] who returned from the battle. [...] “Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.” — Numbers 31:14,17-18