Why Did God Kill The Canaanites?

It's been a while since I've posted. I've put some serious time and thought into a question I've had for a long time. I was always taught that God loves everyone. But I've had a growing discomfort with God's treatment of the Canaanites in the Old Testament. It was time to hit this issue head on. I ended up writing an essay on the subject. I've posted the essay online in hopes that it may help any others struggling with this issue. Below are the introductory paragraphs:

"In Deuteronomy 7, God commands his people Israel to annihilate the inhabitants of Canaan. After they enter the land, he says they “must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.” (Deuteronomy 7:2). This appears to contradict the loving merciful God who, as John says, is love (see 1 John 4:8, 16). How could this God command the killing of all these people? This portion of Scripture receives little or no voluntary attention because of its difficulty. For many of us, this is one of those quiet questions that festers in the back of our minds – conveniently forgotten until it’s forced upon us by our Bible-in-a-year reading plan.

This essay will attempt to answer the question of why a good God would command the killing of the Canaanites. Theologically, this is referred to as herem warfare; when God’s people totally destroy all living things – men, women, children, and animals – offering them as a sacrifice to God. The problem could be stated like this: If God is merciful and loving, how could he commission the killing of an entire people? To the modern reader, the command seems unfair, bigoted, and racist. Only a serious and thorough examination of the Scriptures can address this issue."

If you would like to read the full essay, click here.

What are your thoughts?