Topical Bible: Murder: The Jews often Guilty of

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Murder, the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another, is a grievous sin condemned throughout the Scriptures. The Bible provides numerous accounts and teachings regarding the act of murder, highlighting its severity and the consequences that follow. Within the context of the Jewish people, the Old Testament records several instances where individuals and groups were guilty of murder, reflecting the fallen nature of humanity and the need for divine redemption.

Biblical Instances of Murder Among the Jews:

1. Cain and Abel: The first recorded murder in the Bible is that of Abel by his brother Cain. Although this event predates the establishment of the Jewish nation, it sets a precedent for the sin of murder among humanity. Genesis 4:8 states, "Then Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let us go out to the field.' And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him."

2. Joseph's Brothers: The sons of Jacob, the patriarchs of the tribes of Israel, plotted to kill their brother Joseph out of jealousy. Although they ultimately sold him into slavery instead, their initial intent was murderous. Genesis 37:18-20 recounts, "Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. 'Here comes that dreamer!' they said to one another. 'Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.'"

3. King David and Uriah: King David, a man after God's own heart, fell into the sin of murder when he orchestrated the death of Uriah the Hittite to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:14-15 describes David's plan: "In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he instructed: 'Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle, then withdraw from him so that he will be struck down and killed.'"

4. Ahab and Naboth: King Ahab, influenced by his wife Jezebel, was guilty of murder when Naboth was falsely accused and executed to seize his vineyard. 1 Kings 21:13 records, "Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite Naboth, and they testified against him, saying, 'Naboth has cursed both God and the king!' So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death."

5. The Killing of the Prophets: Throughout Israel's history, many prophets sent by God were murdered by the people who rejected their messages. Jesus Himself lamented this in Matthew 23:37 : "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!"

The Law and Prophets on Murder:

The Mosaic Law explicitly condemns murder, as seen in the Ten Commandments: "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13). The law provided for cities of refuge to protect those who committed manslaughter unintentionally, distinguishing between accidental death and premeditated murder (Numbers 35:9-34).

The prophets consistently called the people of Israel to repentance for their sins, including acts of violence and murder. Isaiah 1:15-17 admonishes, "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow."

New Testament Perspective:

In the New Testament, Jesus expands on the commandment against murder, teaching that even harboring anger or hatred towards another is akin to murder in the heart. Matthew 5:21-22 states, "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Do not murder,' and 'Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment."

The apostle Paul reiterates the commandment in Romans 13:9 : "The commandments 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Throughout Scripture, the act of murder is consistently condemned, and the Jewish people, like all of humanity, are shown to be in need of the grace and redemption offered through faith in God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 1:21
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras ...
... avoiding to swear falsely, and to swear often and in ... breach of the sabbath by the
seditions Jews in an ... custom, to have reckoned this his barbarous murder as a ...
/.../chapter 22 the jews make.htm

If, Again, it is Certain that we are the Most Wicked of Men...
... what is the real character of the deed, how often, where, in ... who are daily wont,
though you know well enough what murder is, none ... See Answer to the Jews, cap. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter ii if again it.htm

John v. 6, 7
... when they have received kindness, have often repaid their ... so by this Jesus silenced
the Jews when they ... thou dost many things worse than murder, desiring that ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxvii john v 6.htm

Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him ...
... a punishment that the condemned person often died under ... the crucifixion of Jesus
as a murder, and therefore ... act perfectly familiar to the Jews (Deuteronomy 21:1 ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxi third stage of the.htm

Book 15 Footnotes
... adjoining city Bagdat has been and is often called by ... to others, so did the laws
of the Jews derive a ... represented as reproaching: Herod with the murder of her ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 15 footnotes.htm

Pontius Pilate
... him to escape from the responsibility of committing a judicial murder. ... Perhaps that
may satisfy these savage Jews. ... Men often died under this severe treatment. ...
/.../milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/pontius pilate.htm

Herod and Peter.
... God service." By the infatuated Jews, the murder of this ... In the first ages, the
Christians often held their ... The Jews believed, that every good man was attended ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiv herod and peter.htm

The Sentence which Condemned the Judges
... That Jews should be taken with such a sudden fit of ... impressions of the danger of
abetting a judicial murder. ... Popular heroes often win their reputation by very ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the sentence which condemned the.htm

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
... The murder of Abel was not punished solely on Cain ... of that day, who were mostly Jews,
that they ... particular generations, and on individuals; and often on those ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxix the sins of.htm

Of the Absence of any Discrepancies in the Accounts which the ...
... same time he has not told us how often he made ... released unto them him that for sedition
and murder was cast ... which I have now cited from John, the Jews seem to ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter viii of the absence of.htm