Murder

1. Terms:

mur'-der (haragh, "to smite," "destroy," "kill," "slay" (Ps 10:8; Hos 9:13 AV]), ratsach, "to dash to pieces," "kill," especially with premeditation (Num 35:16 and frequently; Ps 94:6; Jer 7:9; Hos 6:9); phoneus, "criminal homicide," from phoneuo, "to kill," "slay"; phonos, from pheno, has the same meaning; anthropoktonos, "manslayer," "murderer," is used to designate Satan (John 8:44) and him that hates his brother (1 John 3:15); a matricide is designated as metraloas (1 Tim 1:9); compare adelphokionos, "fratricidal" (The Wisdom of Solomon 10:3). The plural of phonos, "murders," occurs in Matt 15:19; Mark 7:21; Gal 5:21 the King James Version; Rev 9:21; compare 2 Macc 4:3,18; 12:6):

2. The Hebrew Law:

The Hebrew law recognized the distinction between willful murder and accidental or justifiable homicide (Num 25:16); but in legal language no verbal distinction is made. Murder was always subject to capital punishment (Lev 24:17; compare Gen 9:6). Even if the criminal sought the protection of the sanctuary, he was to be arrested before the altar, and to be punished (Exod 21:12; Exod 21:14; Lev 24:17; Lev 24:21; Num 35:16; Num 35:18; Num 35:21; Num 35:31). The Mishna says that a mortal blow intended for another than the victim is punishable with death; but such a provision is not found in the Law. No special mention is made of

(a) child murder;

(b) parricide; or

(c) taking life by poison;

but the intention of the law is clear with reference to all these eases (Exod 21:15; Exod 21:17; 1 Tim 1:9; Matt 15:4). No punishment is mentioned for attempted suicide (compare 1 Sam 31:4 f; 1 Kgs 16:18; Matt 27:5); yet Josephus says (BJ, III, viii, 5) that suicide was held criminal by the Jews (see also Exod 21:23). An animal known to be vicious must be confined, and if it caused the death of anyone, the animal was destroyed and the owner held guilty of murder (Exod 21:29; Exod 21:31). The executioner, according to the terms of the Law, was the "revenger of blood"; but the guilt must be previously determined by the Levitical tribunal. Strong protection was given by the requirement that at least two witnesses must concur in any capital question (Num 35:19-30; Deut 17:6-12; Deut 19:12; Deut 19:17). Under the monarchy the duty of executing justice on a murderer seems to have been assumed to some extent by the sovereign, who also had power to grant pardon (2 Sam 13:39; 2 Sam 14:7; 2 Sam 14:11; 1 Kgs 2:34).

See MANSLAYER.

Frank E. Hirsch