In the first article we looked at Gen.9:5-6. In the second article we looked at Cain’s murder of Abel. In this article I want to set before you a series of verses with minor comments here and there.

Exod.20:13, “You shall not commit murder.”  This is the sixth commandment, and its primary emphasis is on premeditated murder. 

Exod.21:12, “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.” However, as  vs.13  makes clear, if the action is not premeditated, the death penalty does not apply.

“He shall surely be put to death” is emphatic and the literal rendering is, “executed he shall be executed”. This is God’s seriousness about the death penalty. This reminds us of what the LORD said to Adam in Gen.2:17, “you shall surely die” or “dying you shall die.”

Exod.21:14-16,  “If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.

¹⁵ “He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.

¹⁶ “He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death (lit. executed he shall be executed).”

The safest place of sanctuary for a Jew was laying hold of the horns of God’s altar. But God said that even His altar must not be a safe sanctuary for the murderer, so very wicked is the sin of murder. You must note also that God made kidnapping a serious capital crime and the punishment was the death penalty. Sadly, this is a punishment modern governments have rejected.

Deut.24:7,  “If a man is caught kidnapping any of his countrymen of the sons of Israel, and he deals with him violently or sells him, then that thief shall die; so you shall PURGE the evil from among you.” (cf. 1Tim.1:9-10).

Lev.24:17, 21,   “If a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death (lit. executed he shall be executed)….  the one who kills a man shall be put to death”.

Deut.19:11-13,  “But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and rises up against him and strikes him so that he dies, and he flees to one of these cities  (of refuge),  ¹² then the elders of his city shall send and take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.  ¹³ You shall not pity him, but you shall PURGE the blood of the innocent from Israel, that it may go well with you.”

As we have seen, murder pollutes the land. God had said the death penalty purges the blood of the murdered from the land and “that it may go well with you.”

“You shall not pity” the murderer. Prov.28:17 says, “A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood will be a fugitive until death; (now note), let no one support him.” Showing pity and support for a murderer are violations of God’s commands. 

Num.35 :30, 31, 33,  “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. ³¹ Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death (lit. executed he shall be executed)….  (Now note  vs.33  very carefully). So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood POLLUTES the land and no EXPIATION can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it.” Psa.106:38

Once again, we have the emphasis that the blood of murder pollutes the land, and expiation must be made for that pollution. But God has said that the only expiation is the blood of the murderer. Without expiation, and murdered blood constantly crying out to God for justice, it will not go well for the nation. When there is expiation through execution, as noted above, it will go well for the land. 

Deut.22:8,  “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it.” 

The point here is the moral importance and necessity of protecting life. If someone dies because of your willful carelessness, God says that you have “bloodguilt”, that is, you are guilty for their death. Ancient houses had flat roofs that were used for a variety of things. The owner of the house was responsible for putting in a parapet or guard rails to protect those who used the roof for any activity. If he failed to do so and a death occurred, he would bring upon himself “bloodguilt”. Road deaths that take place because of lawless and irresponsible driving bring “bloodguilt” before God. Medical carelessness and malpractice that result in death bring “bloodguilt” before God. Man may not judge you, but God will be waiting for you and your bloody hands in the final judgment.