This the myriad forms of execution that can be found in the Bible are definitely morally troubling.  No matter how merciful and infrequent it may be claimed that these forms of torture and execution actually were, we are still faced with the difficult issue that we consider them to be morally repugnant today.  In addition, it is completely reasonable to consider them to be morally repugnant even in the time that they were practiced.  Just because our ancestors lived in a barbaric world doesn't mean that it was ever excusable for them to act like barbarians.

What I find to be the most compelling aspect of the Bible however is that it contains both the ugliness of immoral statutes such as these as well as morally uplifting statutes that are even progressive in our own time.  It is not a book that can solely be looked upon for moral guidance but neither can it be totally condemned for its lack either.  In many ways, the Bible is representative of the human condition.  We are capable of utter depravity, complete goodness, and everything in between.