Wilful murder was distinguished from accidental homicide, and was invariably visited with capital punishment (Num. 35:16, 18, 21, 31; Lev. 24:17). This law in its principle is founded on the fact of man's having been made in the likeness of God (Gen. 9:5, 6; John 8:44; 1 John 3:12, 15). The Mosiac law prohibited any compensation for murder or the reprieve of the murderer (Ex. 21:12, 14; Deut. 19:11, 13; 2 Sam. 17:25; 20:10). Two witnesses were required in any capital case (Num. 35:19-30; Deut. 17:6-12). If the murderer could not be discovered, the city nearest the scene of the murder was required to make expiation for the crime committed (Deut. 21:1-9). These offences also were to be punished with death, (1) striking a parent; (2) cursing a parent; (3) kidnapping (Ex. 21:15-17; Deut. 27:16). The law of Moses, while it protected the accidental homicide, defined with additional strictness the crime of murder. It prohibited compensation or reprieve of the murderer, or his protection if he took refuge in the refuge city, or even at the altar of Jehovah. (Exodus 21:12,14; Leviticus 24:17,21; 1 Kings 2:5,6,31) The duty of executing punishment on the murderer is in the law expressly laid on the "revenger of blood;" but the question of guilt was to be previously decided by the Levitical tribunal. In regal times the duty of execution of justice on a murderer seems to have been assumed to some extent by the sovereign, as was also the privilege of pardon. (2 Samuel 13:39; 14:7,11; 1 Kings 2:34) It was lawful to kill a burglar taken at night in the act, but unlawful to do so after sunrise. (Exodus 22:2,3) Forbidden by Mosaic law -- Ex 20:13; De 5:17. Why forbidden by God -- Ge 9:6. The law made to restrain -- 1Ti 1:9. Described as killing With premeditation. -- Ex 21:14. From hatred. -- Nu 35:20,21; De 19:11. By lying in wait. -- Nu 35:20; De 19:11. By an instrument of iron. -- Nu 35:16. By the blow of a stone. -- Nu 35:17. By a hand weapon of wood. -- Nu 35:18. Killing a thief in the day, counted as -- Ex 22:3. Early introduction of -- Ge 4:8. Represented as a sin crying to heaven -- Ge 4:10; Heb 12:24; Re 6:10. The Jews often guilty of -- Isa 1:21. Persons guilty of Fearful and cowardly. -- Ge 4:14. Wanderers and vagabonds. -- Ge 4:14. Flee from God's presence. -- Ge 4:16. Not protected in refuge cities. -- De 19:11,12. Had no protection from altars. -- Ex 21:14. Not to be pitied or spared. -- De 19:13. Often committed by night -- Ne 6:10; Job 24:14. Imputed to the nearest city when the murderer was unknown -- De 21:1-3. Mode of clearing those suspected of -- De 21:3-9; Mt 27:24. To be proved by two witnesses at least -- Nu 35:30; De 19:11,15. Punishment for The curse of God. -- Ge 4:11. Death. -- Ge 9:5,6; Ex 21:12; Nu 35:16. Not to be commuted. -- Nu 35:32. Inflicted by the nearest of kin. -- Nu 35:19,21. Forbidden. -- Ge 9:6; Ex 20:13; De 5:17; Ro 13:9. Explained by Christ -- Mt 5:21,22. Hatred is -- 1Jo 3:15. Is a work for the flesh -- Ga 5:21. Comes from the heart -- Mt 15:19. Defiles the Hands. -- Isa 59:3. Person and garments. -- La 4:13,14. Land. -- Nu 35:33; Ps 106:38. Not concealed from God -- Isa 26:21; Jer 2:34. Cries for vengeance -- Ge 4:10. God Abominates. -- Pr 6:16,17. Makes inquisition for. -- Ps 9:12. Will avenge. -- De 32:43; 1Ki 21:19; Ho 1:4. Requires blood for. -- Ge 9:5; Nu 35:33; 1Ki 2:32. Rejects the prayers of those guilty of. -- Isa 1:15; 59:2,3. Curses those guilty of. -- Ge 4:11. The law made to restrain -- 1Ti 1:9. Saints Specially warned against. -- 1Pe 4:15. Deprecate the guilt of. -- Ps 51:14. Should warn others against. -- Ge 37:22; Jer 26:15. Connected with idolatry -- Eze 22:3,4; 2Ki 3:27. The wicked Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Devise. -- Ge 27:41; 37:18. Intent on. -- Jer 22:17. Lie in wait to commit. -- Ps 10:8-10. Swift to commit. -- Pr 1:16; Ro 3:15. Perpetrate. -- Job 24:14; Eze 22:3. Have hands full of. -- Isa 1:15. Encourage others to commit. -- 1Ki 21:8-10; Pr 1:11. Characteristic of the devil -- Joh 8:44. Punishment of -- Ge 4:12-15; 9:6; Nu 35:30; 2Ki 9:36,37; Jer 19:4-9. Punishment of, not commuted under the Law -- Nu 35:31. Of saints, specially avenged -- De 32:43; Mt 23:35; Re 18:20,24. Excludes from heaven -- Ga 5:21; Re 22:15. Exemplified Cain. -- Ge 4:8. Esau. -- Ge 27:41. Joseph's brethren. -- Ge 37:20. Pharaoh. -- Ex 1:22. Abimelech. -- Jdj 9:5. Men of Shechem. -- Jdj 9:24. Amalekite. -- 2Sa 1:16. Rechab. -- 2Sa 4:5-7. David. -- 2Sa 12:9. Absalom. -- 2Sa 13:29. Joab. -- 1Ki 2:31,32. Baasha. -- 1Ki 15:27. Zimri. -- 1Ki 16:10. Jezebel. -- 1Ki 21:10. Elders of Jezreel. -- 1Ki 21:13. Ahab. -- 1Ki 21:19. Hazael. -- 2Ki 8:12,15. Adrammelech, &c. -- 2Ki 19:37. Manasseh. -- 2Ki 21:16. Ishmael. -- Jer 41:7. Princes of Israel. -- Eze 11:6. People of Gilead. -- Ho 6:8. The Herods. -- Mt 2:16; 14:10; Ac 12:2. Herodias and her daughter. -- Mt 14:8-11. Chief priests. -- Mt 27:1. Judas. -- Mt 27:4. Barabbas. -- Mr 15:7. Jews -- Ac 7:52; 1Th 2:15.
Murder