You Shall Not Murder
The days are coming and going in warp speed as it’s already the end of the 11th month. I started some projects on my days off and the house is looking pretty much like squatters live here and it wears on my spirit. So I forced myself to spruce things up with some flowers as seen in the images above, and also to get my herb garden started along with germinating various seeds now. They will be for the vegetables I plan to plant this coming spring; YAHWEH willing. We have to say that now more than ever don’t we? James 4:13-15 says Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit”! 14: You don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. 15: Instead, you ought to say, “If YAHWEH wants it to happen, we will live” to do this or that. It is becoming more and more apparent these days who is in charge of this world, in comparison to who is truly in charge of our fate in this world and the next.
This week I am touching on the 6th Commandment, You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13 Do not murder (CJB), Deuteronomy 5:17 Do not murder. (CJB) Very simple right? I also have found that translations for example the KJV, which is the translation I grew up with states, “Thou shalt not kill”. All through my youth I would regurgitate a few commandments I knew for whatever reason and when restating this one I always used the word kill as depicted in this translation because it’s the only translation I knew. I never really read the Old Testament, so I was under the impression that there was no killing in the scriptures, and YAHWEH is a “God” of love anyways right? Interesting. Well let’s examine these two words murder and kill. In the Oxford Languages dictionary the definition of kill is “cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing).” In the same dictionary the word murder is defined as “the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.” It appears to me that the key words here are unlawful, premeditated and human being. While the beautiful CJB translation actually says “murder”, let’s further examine the root of the word “kill” used in the other translations like the Aramaic Peshitta as well as the KJV. Strong's H7523 shows the use of this word to be a verb self defined as kill and then murder; kill being what happens when one murders. OK,, so at the end of the day we are commanded to not premeditate the killing of another human being. Well how does this tie in with all the killing, premeditated or otherwise, that did actually take place in the Old Testament? Let’s take a look.
In the old testament the first killing was Cain murdering Abel and this was clear; no grey areas with this one. It is also a good example of what commandment 6 is all about. However, some areas that are not so clear cut, are areas regarding war. I remember the first war in the Old Testament the most. It is in Exodus 17:8 and the Israelites while at Rephidim were attacked from behind by the Amalekites and Moses told Joshua to get some men and set out the next morning to fight. Moses, along with Aaron and Hur went up to the top of a hill and Moses held his staff up above his head during the course of the fighting and with the staff raised, Joshua and the Israelites prevailed, but as Moses arms weakened and began to lower, the Amalekites began to win. So Aaron and Hur lifted up Moses arms with the staff in his hands, keeping them raised and the Israelites defeated the Amalekites. I won’t quote the entire story here, this summary is enough to make my point. However, I will add a link to it in the online CJB, I pray you read it and enjoy it as much as I do. Now, who were the Amalekites and why did they sneak up and perform an unprovoked attack on the Israelites? Jacob’s brother Esau had a son named Eliphaz. Eliphaz then had a son with his concubine Timna which they named Amalek. He is Jacob’s great nephew who was raised in a home which harbored a hatred for Jacob and that same hatred was passed to him. The Amalekites are his descendants and reading the books Jubilees and Jasher will help to provide a real understanding of the hatred Esau had for Jacob. The point here is this, because of the Amelekites transgressions against YAHWEH and turning to other els (gods), and their hatred of YAHWEH’S chosen people, this led them to attack Israel. YAHWEH did what He promised He would do, He fought for them. As long as the Israelites were obedient, and at that time they were, Joshua and his men braved the battle as commanded, and Moses kept the staff raised, YAHWEH then delivered the Amalekites into their hand. One might ask why did they have to do anything, why did Joshua and his army have to fight and why did Moses have to raise the staff? In my humble opinion, it is a depiction of the faith that YAHWEH’S people had in Him. This is a shining example of works being displayed in result of faith as they have always been, from the beginning. It is a great model for us to understand how we fearlessly trust in our ELOHIM today. OK, so then what does this have to do with the 6th Commandment? It all relates because I can’t count how many times people have told me that YAHWEH is an egotistical murderer because the OT is full of wars and how there are countless of times where He slew many. When I hear this, all I hear are the words of someone who 1. Possibly never truly read the OT 2. Someone who lacks spiritual understanding or 3. Does not realize that YAHWEH is not man. Job 9:32-33 says For he is not merely human like me; there is no answer that I could give him if we were to come together in court. 33: There is no arbitrator between us who could lay his hand on us both and Isaiah 55:8-9 says For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says YAHWEH. 9: As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways.
In the story above and like many stories of wars in the scriptures, YAHWEH fought for and protected His children which typically resulted in killing and anytime He would slay by famine, sword or pestilence, it was judgement; where the people were warned by prophets and given time to repent. It says in Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing in his presence; and He does as He pleases with the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can resist His hand or say to Him, What doest thou? What is the justice of man in comparison to the justice of The Creator of all? YAHWEH determines the standards and Levitical laws regarding killing. For example, Leviticus 24:17-21 Anyone who strikes another person and kills him must be put to death. 18: Anyone who strikes an animal and kills it is to make restitution, life for life. 19: If someone injures his neighbor, what he did is to be done to him — 20: break for break, eye for eye, tooth for tooth — whatever injury he has caused the other person is to be rendered to him in return. (Maftir) 21: He who kills an animal is to make restitution, but he who kills another person is to be put to death. I have to be honest, I didn’t really want to address this verse because it is pretty harsh, but it is in YAHWEH’S laws, related to the 6th commandment and should be addressed. I believe this verse involves killing with the intent to do so maliciously. Strongs references this particular use of the word kill as H5221 defining it as smite , slay, kill , beat , slaughter, stricken, and the verse alone suggests intentional killing. I welcome comments regarding this from anyone with a bigger scriptural brain to lend context 😊. However, when comparing this verse to Exodus 22:1-2 If a thief caught in the act of breaking in is beaten to death, it is not murder; 2: unless it happens after sunrise, in which case it is murder. This verse literally calls killing while the sun is up, murder. The distinction here is that in Leviticus those killings are murder because the assumption is that they involve intent. The slayings or killings in the wars of the Israelites where the enemy was delivered into their hands, YAHWEH won those wars for them in defense of His children; much like defending your family in the home at night as the Exodus verse above indicates. There were many other wars where the Israelites were defeated but clear disobedience to YAHWEH was involved, and the war used as a tool for YAHWEH to bring judgement in response to that disobedience or transgression. Nothing happens without the permission of our Creator. Lamenations 3:37-40 says Who can say something and have it happen without YAHWEH’S commanding it? 38: Don’t both bad things and good proceed from the mouth of The Most High? 39: Why should anyone alive complain, even a strong man, about the punishment for his sins? 40: Let us examine and test our ways and return to YAHWEH. (CJB)
In conclusion, we are not allowed to murder. We are not allowed to unlawfully premeditate or willfully kill another human being. This even extends to abortion for any readers wondering. This is such a controversial topic but the real argument lies with the question; when does life begin? When are we a human being? If we believe scripture there is no argument. Jeremiah 1:15 says Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I separated you for myself. (CJB) YAHWEH knew us before we were created in the womb. We existed even prior to conception so apparently we were a living being in the womb and to willfully, or premeditate the deletion of that being is murder. Therefore brethren, let’s not murder physically, mentally or spiritually and as well, let us not do anything that would cause us to want to. If we are in Covenant with YAHWEH and remain obedient to His laws and commandments; this will ensure that we do not. Let’s align ourselves with like minded believers and Colossians 3:16 Let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to ELOHIM in your hearts. Stay on this narrow path with me, I’ll scoot over and make room. 😁 You pray for me, and I will pray for you.
Shalom & Berekah!
Just a few supporting scriptures:
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such-and-such a city, stay there a year trading and make a profit”! 14: You don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow! For all you are is a mist that appears for a little while and then disappears. 15: Instead, you ought to say, “If YAHWEH wants it to happen, we will live” to do this or that. (CJB)
-James 4:13-15
Do not murder (CJB)
-Exodus 20:13
Do not murder. (CJB)
-Deuteronomy 5:17
-Exodus 17:8
For he is not merely human like me; there is no answer that I could give him if we were to come together in court. 33: There is no arbitrator between us who could lay his hand on us both (CJB)
-Job 9:32-33
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways, says YAHWEH. 9: As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways. (CJB)
-Isaiah 55:8-9
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reckoned as nothing in his presence; and He does as He pleases with the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can resist His hand or say to Him, What doest thou? (CJB)
-Daniel 4:35
Anyone who strikes another person and kills him must be put to death. 18: Anyone who strikes an animal and kills it is to make restitution, life for life. 19: If someone injures his neighbor, what he did is to be done to him — 20: break for break, eye for eye, tooth for tooth — whatever injury he has caused the other person is to be rendered to him in return. (Maftir) 21: He who kills an animal is to make restitution, but he who kills another person is to be put to death. (CJB)
-Leviticus 24:17-21
If a thief caught in the act of breaking in is beaten to death, it is not murder; 2: unless it happens after sunrise, in which case it is murder. This verse literally calls killing while the sun is up, murder. (CJB)
-Exodus 22:1-2
Who can say something and have it happen without YAHWEH’S commanding it? 38: Don’t both bad things and good proceed from the mouth of The Most High? 39: Why should anyone alive complain, even a strong man, about the punishment for his sins? 40: Let us examine and test our ways and return to YAHWEH. (CJB)
-Lamenations 3:37-40
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I separated you for myself. (CJB)
-Jeremiah 1:15
Let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to ELOHIM in your hearts.
-Colossians 3:16
But you are the one who took me from the womb, you made me trust when I was on my mother’s breasts. 11: Since my birth I’ve been thrown on you; you are my God from my mother’s womb. (CJB)
-Psalm 22:10-11
Yes, they shed innocent blood, the blood of their own sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to Kena‘an’s false gods, polluting the land with blood. (CJB)
-Psalm 106:38
But as for the cowardly, the untrustworthy, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those involved with the occult and with drugs, idol-worshippers, and all liars — their destiny is the lake burning with fire and sulfur, the second death. (CJB)
-Revelation 21:8
Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (CJB)
-Revelation 22:15