Murder
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Wilful murder was distinguished from accidental homicide, and was invariably visited with capital punishment ( Numbers 35:16 Numbers 35:18 Numbers 35:21 Numbers 35:31 ; Leviticus 24:17 ). This law in its principle is founded on the fact of man's having been made in the likeness of God ( Genesis 9:5 Genesis 9:6 ; John 8:44 ; 1 John 3:12 1 John 3:15 ). The Mosiac law prohibited any compensation for murder or the reprieve of the murderer ( Exodus 21:12 Exodus 21:14 ; Deuteronomy 19:11 Deuteronomy 19:13 ; 2 Sam 17:25 ; 20:10 ). Two witnesses were required in any capital case ( Numbers 35:19-30 ; Deuteronomy 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 ( Deuteronomy 21:1-9 ). These offences also were to be punished with death, (1) striking a parent; (2) cursing a parent; (3) kidnapping ( Exodus 21:15-17 ; Deuteronomy 27:16 ).
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.
[N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
[T] indicates this entry was also found in Torrey's Topical Textbook
[B] indicates this entry was also found in Baker's Evangelical Dictionary
[S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary
Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. "Entry for Murder". "Easton's Bible Dictionary".