Joshua, Judges

Some people have asserted that Joshua and Judges present two opposing views of Israel's migration into Canaan--that Joshua shows a peaceful takeover and intermingling and that Judges shows a complete millitary invasion coupled with genocide. Are these accurate descriptions? The two books are very different stylistically. Are they conflicting in narrative?

1st Samuel 5

The Philistines capture the Ark of God in battle and take it to the temple of their fish god Dagon. Next morning, Dagon (he's an idol) is face-down on the floor in front of the Ark. They put Dagon back up, and next morning he's face-down in front of the Ark again, but with hands and head broken off, lying in the doorway. Some kind of cosmic prank? Was God trying to make a point to these idol worshippers?

Acts 28

Paul was shipwrecked and bitten by a poisonous snake. The people on the island said he must be a murderer who was getting his dues. They waited for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw that he wasn't harmed, they changed their minds and decided he was a god.