PRISONERS OF WAR
Since ancient times, and even today, despite all international conventions and treaties, prisoners of war are subjected to cruel treatment.
The Assyrians put out the eyes of their prisoners, as did the Philistines (Judges 16:21) and the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:7). They were subjected to hard forced labor in a state of slavery (Judg. 16:21; Jos. 9:1-27; 2 Sam. 8:2).
Many of them were executed (Num. 31:7; Deut. 20:13 ff.; 2 Sam. 8:2; Jer. 52:10). Others were mutilated (Judg. 1:6). The wives and children of the defeated were part of the spoils of the victors.
However, the Law of Moses regulated the treatment of captive women, so that they would not be treated arbitrarily (Deut. 21:10-14).
Alexander the Great treated the inhabitants of Tire very harshly after their brave resistance, killing eight thousand of them, two thousand by crucifixion, and selling thirty thousand into slavery.
The Romans also carried out terrible massacres when they took cities that had opposed them. The cases could multiply, reaching our 20th century, with its cruel wars and mass killings.