The literal or none literal view is most of the time not relevant or significant anyway, it can still be very nasty and wrong even if taken metaphorically. "Dash the brains of your enemies children out against the rocks." is nasty, if they are literal children. But it is also nasty even if "children" are taken to mean the art, literature, law and culture of your enemies.

While at the same time the metaphorical view is the ultimate tool of the manipulator, enabling any view to be interpreted into the text, whatever the manipulator and narcissist wants, but then, still enabling them to claim the false authority that many believe the "holy" book has.