Is it hypocritical for Jews to complain about being expelled from countries when the bible tells Jews to do the same to others?

Answer 1

Answer 1

You should appreciate the fact that the relevant biblical passages were written thousands of years ago, and a lot has changed since then. However, there is an element of truth in your accusation. The Old Testament (or Torah in Jewish terms) was not designed to promote the unity or equality of the human race, but rather, was written as a means of bolstering the tribes of Israel in their competition with other tribes of that time. In the modern world, priorities have changed, but the Torah hasn't. So, Judaism (not unlike other religions) can seem hypocritical. In practice, you take what you choose from religion, and you can use it for good purposes or bad.

Answer 2

There is a fundamental difference between the national situation as concerns the extermination of the seven nations (Amorites, Perizites, etc.) in Exodus 34:10-14 and conception of a multi-ethnic state with minorities in the Leviticus examples and the Exodus 22:21 quote below. The Bible actually discusses both.

The extermination of the non-Israelite groups in the Amorites etc. case is a national and religious struggle. The Israelites were not the only ethno-religious group in the Middle East. The Amorites etc. were all ethno-religious groups and there would be no way to accommodate them without there being a cultural battle for succession (which would turn violent and destructive). The best evidence for this is that during the chieftains period, when the Israelites were at their weakest, that they were attacked by the nations that they had not attempted to previously exterminate such as the Midianites, Ammonites, Moabites, and Arameans. The reason that these nations were not also targeted originally was that they did not control territories within the Land of Israel. Therefore in order to allow for an Israelite State to exist, they necessarily had to destroy the Amorites etc. States to prevent internal insurrections. Living on a specific piece of land was just as important to the Amorites etc. as it was for the Israelites, so negotiating for them to live outside of Israelite State like the Midianites etc. would not have been viable.

The Israelites were not the only group of people in the Ancient Period who realized this. The Assyrians committed numerous genocides and would often deport peoples from their areas of origin to other places outside of their holy areas and mixed with other national religions in order to break them. This succeeded and is the reason why numerous national religious groups, including the northern Israelite tribes no longer exist with a national consciousness. The Babylonians deported the elites of every group they conquered to Babylon in an attempt to end the national consciousness of the inhabitants. In contrast to these Empires, the Israelite State only targeted those groups that were existential threats.

The Leviticus quotes show that the Israelite society was not ethnically homogenous. The word "foreigner" or "stranger" doesn't refer to a tourist, but to a non-Israelite living in the Israelite State(s). This is indicated by the reference to Israelites being foreigners in Egypt even though they lived there for 430 years (according to the Biblical narrative) and that foreigners would provide sacrifices at the Israelite Temple (which they would only do if they lived there). These non-Israelite "foreigners" are called the "Garim B'tocham" (גרים בתוכם) or the "Strangers Among You". The Garim B'tocham were allowed to live in the Land of Israel, just like the non-Israelites outside of Israel were not targeted for removal: they presented no existential threat. There was no legitimate fear of war or insurrection. This is one of the many reasons why no Orthodox Rabbi has ever said that a genocide should be launched against the Druze, Bedouins, or Baha'i even though these people are Garim B'tocham in the Land of Israel. They pose no existential threat to the Jews.

The Jews outside of the Land of Israel did not represent the kind of existential threat to European, Islamic, and other States that the Amorites etc. represented to the Israelites within the Land of Israel. This is especially true since Jews were forbidden to carry firearms in nearly every major European and Islamic State prior to the Jewish Emancipation. Even when Jews were a significant percentage of the population such as 1938 Poland (Jews were roughly 10% of the population), there were no attempts at revolution, secession, or autonomy from within the Jewish community. Since they were not threatening the States in which they lived, there is no reason why they should not have been entitled to Garim B'tocham status to which they treated equally harmless non-Israelites in their lands.

Relevant Quotes:

Exodus 22:21: 21 "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.

Exodus 34:10-14: 10 Then the Lord said: "I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the Lord, will do for you. 11 Obey what I command you today. I will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 12 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. 13 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. 14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Leviticus 15:14: 14 For the generations to come, whenever a foreigner or anyone else living among you presents a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do.

Lev. 25:35: 35 "'If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you.