Scripture Passage: Strategies for Reading Violence in the Bible

Isaiah 63: 1 "Who is this that comes from Edom, from Bozra in garments stained crimson?
Who is this so splendidly robed, marching in his great might?
"It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save."
2 "Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press?"
3 "I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me;
I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath;
Their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes.
4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come.
5 I looked but there was no helper; I stared, but there was no one to sustain me;
So my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me.
6 I trampled down peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."

Samuel 2:12-17

Abner son or Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. Joab son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool, while the other sat on the other side of the pool. Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men come forward and have a contest before us." Joab said, "Let them come forward." So they came forward and were counted as they passed by, twelve for Benjamin and Ishbaal son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. Each grasped his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his opponent's side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim [Field of Sword-edges], which is at Gibeon. The battle was very fierce that day; and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten by the servants of David.

Mark 13: 3-8

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?" Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, "I am he!" and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Revelation 6
1 Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, "Come!" 4 And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, "Come!" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, 6 and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!"
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I hear the voice of the fourth living creature call out, "Come!" 8 I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its riders' name was Death and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; 10 they cried out with a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?" 11 They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, and the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall onus and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"