According to “Samuel,” David took a census of the people. This excited the wrath of Jehovah, and as a punishment he allowed David to choose seven years of famine, a flight of three months from pursuing enemies, or three days of pestilence. David, having confidence in God, chose the three days of pestilence; and. thereupon, God, the compassionate, on account of the sin of David, killed seventy thousand innocent men.
Under the same circumstances, what would a devil have done?
–Robert Green Ingersoll, “About the Holy Bible” (1894)
D) All of the above.
Some of those Old Testament stories are brutal! What God allowed to happen to Job on a bet (a loyal subject!) is appalling. Whenever want to test my faith, I read that particular book.