We’ll be primarily looking at Joshua 10:20-27

“So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and completely crushed the enemy. They totally wiped out the five armies except for a tiny remnant that managed to reach their fortified towns. Then the Israelites returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to speak even a word against Israel. Then Joshua said, “Remove the rocks covering the opening of the cave, and bring the five kings to me.” So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. When they brought them out, Joshua told the commanders of his army, “Come and put your feet on the kings’ necks.” And they did as they were told. “Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is going to do this to all of your enemies.” Then Joshua killed each of the five kings and impaled them on five sharpened poles, where they hung until evening. As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they covered the opening of the cave with a pile of large rocks, which remains to this very day.” – Joshua 10:20-27 NLT

One can say that impaling people on poles and completely eradicating whole people groups (Joshua 10:28-43 continues this genocide) could constitute one being called barbaric and malevolent. So is God really malevolent and barbaric? Let’s look at a commentary from Adam Clarke:

Verse 26. Smote – slew – and hanged them on five trees — Hanging alive seems a barbarous custom: among the Hebrews, criminals were first deprived of life; this was the debt required by justice: then they were hanged up, perhaps generally by the hands, not by the neck; this was done by way of example, to deter others from committing the crimes for which those had suffered: but they were never permitted to hang thus exposed all night, as this could have answered no purpose, either of justice or example, as they could not be seen in the night-season. One day also was deemed enough for their exposure, it being thought sufficient to show the public that justice had been executed; and to have exhibited them longer would have appeared to be a barbarous cruelty which attempted to extend punishment beyond the possible requisitions of justice. – Adam Clarke

Clarke references Deuteronomy 21:23 in his explanation. Deuteronomy 21:23 says,

“the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession.” – Deuteronomy 21:23 NLT

Adam Clarke explains in Adam Clarke’s Commentary of the Bible (see link below), that though these actions may seem barbaric, God has reasons above violence and bloodshed, and that is to teach people the consequences of sin and to bring justice. In all reality, God does respect his dead enemies as well. The Israelites don’t leave their enemies’ bodies hanging any longer than they have to because there would be no other reason than barbarism. So in all reality, Israel hanging people on poles doesn’t make them or God malevolent or barbaric.

With impaling people on poles in this context not being malevolent or barbaric, let’s move over to the question of why does God destroy almost all groups of people in the promised land? This destruction may seem malevolent or barbaric as well, but it does also serve a purpose. Here’s what the Bible has to say:

“You must completely destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the Lord your God has commanded you. This will prevent the people of the land from teaching you to imitate their detestable customs in the worship of their gods, which would cause you to sin deeply against the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 20:17-18 NLT

God has a clear purpose in protecting his people from evil and its influence on them. We can also gather from the nature of God and the clearness of Joshua 10:26 being about justice, that God is a god of justice and as such he is also bringing justice against their sins.

So putting it all together, was God being malevolent and barbaric in taking the promised land? I’d argue no. He was protecting his people, honoring his enemies, and using his enemies deaths in a way to teach about the consequences of sin.

So what can we learn from all of this? I want to share John 3:16:

““For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 NLT.

Our God is a god of sacrifice. He is caring, loving, and full of kindness. He is benevolent. The world will say that the God of the Old Testament is different from the God of the New Testament, but he is the same God and is completely consistent. The world will lie to you about this. Don’t fall it.

https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/acc/joshua-10.html#verse-26