That's may be the best way to summarised the OT....God killed them because they were evil and wicked people. Atheists keeping hubbing on "why God killed so many people in the OT" but they have asked 'why God kill this person even though his is righteous?' We see none .......God never punished righteous people (although He has tested them to prove their faithfulness.) God hates evil; God hates wickedness but His is patient. He does not react just like many of us when are being offended. Like many of us, when were are offended our first thought is to: Let me get you.....no exception...everyone of us has such thought in our mind. Can you imagine this is what God's thought too. None of us could be alive today! OT is a good reminder to us: Don't test God's patience. Don't assume that God is love, we can do what we want. God is love and yes, God is just and righteious. As a just and righteous God, He must administer the due justice including taking away people's lives...bad neews to many.....sorry....that's the way God is.