Read & explore together
The former inhabitants of the land exemplify gradual judgment
In this part of Wisdom of Solomon, the writer reflects on former inhabitants of the holy land and on God’s judgment. The passage is severe, but it especially highlights that judgment came gradually rather than all at once.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage comes from Wisdom of Solomon, a book in the Catholic additional books. It speaks to God about “the old inhabitants” of God’s holy land, naming their practices and then stressing both God’s justice and God’s choice to judge them little by little rather than immediately.
Wisdom of Solomon 12:3–11Main takeaway
This passage presents God’s judgment on grave evil as real, while also stressing that he acted gradually rather than without warning.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The passage names serious evilThe writer begins by identifying the “old inhabitants” of God’s holy land and describing why they were hated.
Explanation
The writer begins by identifying the “old inhabitants” of God’s holy land and describing why they were hated. Their deeds are called detestable works, including enchantments and unholy rites. The language is meant to show that the judgment discussed here concerns practices the passage presents as profoundly wicked.
02Violence against children is central to the chargeThe next lines become even more direct. The passage speaks of merciless slaughters of children, blood-filled sacrificial meals, and the murder of helpless babies.
Explanation
The next lines become even more direct. The passage speaks of merciless slaughters of children, blood-filled sacrificial meals, and the murder of helpless babies. It then says it was God’s counsel to destroy such people by the hands of the fathers, linking judgment to these named sins.
03The land and God’s servantsVerse 7 gives a stated purpose: the land, precious in God’s sight, might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants.
Explanation
Verse 7 gives a stated purpose: the land, precious in God’s sight, might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants. The focus here is not on expanding a story beyond the text, but on noting the passage’s own explanation for why removal and replacement are mentioned together.
04Judgment came little by littleThe striking turn comes with “Nevertheless”. God spared them “as men” and sent hornets as forerunners, causing them to perish little by little.
Explanation
The striking turn comes with “Nevertheless”. God spared them “as men” and sent hornets as forerunners, causing them to perish little by little. The text says this was not because God lacked power. Instead, gradual judgment gave a chance to repent, even though their evil is described in very strong terms.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions in this passage show why the former inhabitants are judged so severely?
Look closely at the specific practices named, especially the repeated references to unholy rites and the killing of children.
02What purpose does the passage give for removing these inhabitants from the land?
Focus on the statement about the land being precious to God and receiving a worthy colony of God’s servants.
03How does the passage describe the manner of God’s judgment?
Notice the repeated idea that they were judged little by little, and the explanation that this gave them a chance to repent.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Wisdom of Solomon 12:3–11
3For truly the old inhabitants of your holy land,
4hating them because they practiced detestable works of enchantments and unholy rites—
5merciless slaughters of children and sacrificial banquets of men’s flesh and of blood—
6allies in an impious fellowship, and murderers of their own helpless babes, it was your counsel to destroy by the hands of our fathers;
7that the land which in your sight is most precious of all might receive a worthy colony of God’s servants.
8Nevertheless you even spared these as men, and you sent hornets as forerunners of your army, to cause them to perish little by little.
9Not that you were unable to subdue the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle, or by terrible beasts or by a stern word to make away with them at once,
10but judging them little by little you gave them a chance to repent, not being ignorant that their nature by birth was evil, their wickedness inborn, and that their manner of thought would never be changed.
11For they were a cursed seed from the beginning. It wasn’t through fear of any that you left them unpunished for their sins.