No Revenge Killing Cities of refuge were a measure of grace for the whole community. Numbers 35:9-15 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of ...
A Community Concern Justice is a community responsibility in the Law of God. Numbers 35:22-29 “But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though ...
No Rushing to Judgment Cities of refuge demonstrate the grace of God’s Law. Deuteronomy 19:1-10 “‘When the LORD your God cuts off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you dispossess them and dwell in their cities and in their houses, you shall set apart three cities for ...
Grace to Offenders God’s Law points the way to grace. Exodus 21:28-31 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to ...
Each His Own Guilt The Law of God is specific toward individual violators and violations. Deuteronomy 24:16 “‘Fathers shall not be put to death because of their children, nor shall children be put to death because of their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin.’” Under the Law of ...
Fear of Retribution The Law restrains the sinful actions of men. Leviticus 24:17-23 “Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal’s life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for ...
Protection of Women God’s Law operates to protect women against rape. Deuteronomy 22:25-27 “But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die. But you shall do nothing to ...
Reverence for Life Everyone is responsible to hold life sacred. Exodus 21:22-25 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay ...
Manslaughter Not all killing of another is murder. Exodus 21:12-14 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may ...
A Community Responsibility The death penalty was a community duty. Numbers 35:16-21 “But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he ...