Why did God command us not to kill, and then turn around and tell us to kill?

Question

Lets start with the commandment:

Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13)

This is a simple commandment. Do not kill. But then..:

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. (Exodus 22:18)

Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. (Deuteronomy 17:5)

Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. (Isaiah 14:21)

And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10)

These are just a few examples. God commands Thou Shalt Not Kill, but then turns around and commands his followers to kill. Why would an all-loving, all-merciful god do this?

*curious atheist*

Answer 1

God, at the time of the Israelite nation, like any nation needed laws to live by. When all listened and obeyed them it was a time of great peace and prosperity for the nation. However, these people were imperfect people, and at times a law was broken. For example on morality, the broken family unit and trust that went along with it would work on degrading the nation of Israel that was God's chosen nation in which to bring forth the seed promised to Abraham - Jesus Christ. We just need to look around us today to see that really very few people care about God's moral laws and the world is in chaos. The Mosaic Law was put in force to keep the nation clean from the surrounding pagan nation. It was over time corrupted, however when Jesus was on earth he restated the divine standard to live by. At Matthew 26:52 Jesus said that if we live by the sword we will die by the sword. He also said his true disciples would be identified by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20) especially the love that would be among his true followers. God is a loving benevolent Father who loves his earthly children, however, like any caring parent he has limits to what he will tolerate and allow.

Answer 2

The examples you list are forms of capitol punishment dispensed by those in authority. They are not murder, which is what the commandment forbids. As C.S. Lewis said, not all killing is murder the way not all sex is adultry. God gives authorities the right to punish criminal behavior. He also does that in the New Testament in Romans 13. There is no contradiction unless you believe we should not have things like police and criminals should be able to do what they want without fear of punishment.



You should also do a study of the differences between the moral law and the civic and ceremonial laws specific to the Israelites if you believe the Bible is saying it is okay for you to slaughter your husband. I realize you are exaggerating for effect, but none of those types of commands apply to modern Christians.



In a nutshell, the moral law (10 commandments) applies to everyone in all times.



The civic laws were given to the Israelites specially to keep them a separate and distinct nation from the heathens around them in Canaan. It is interesting to study the culture and history of that area at that time. It enables one to better understand how these laws made the Israelites stand apart. God wanted them to be a pure nation because the Messiah was to come out of them. When he asked them not to do certain things or eat certain foods, it was because the heathen nations around them often implemented such things in their religious services. The Canaanites were not like the Eloi in the Time Machine just sitting around eating fruit. They were nasty people engaging in human sacrifice, bestiality and the like. God gave the Israelites such strict rules because he didn't want them to get caught up in such practices, and they often did.



The civic laws then ceased when Israel ceased to be a nation and broke God's covenant with them.



Meanwhile, the ceremonial laws ceased with the coming of Christ.



More information here:



http://www.wlsessays.net/subject/l/Law

Answer 3

Your argument seems to be against those very specific sects of Christianity that read the bible as flawless. While most Muslims read the Koran as such, very few sects of Christianity do. Even Evangelicals, as conservative as they are, don't read the bible in such a way. The truth of the matter, most Americans don't know the difference between a Fundamentalist (like the Scopes trial) and an Evangelical. General rule of thumb, Fundamentalists wear old fashioned clothing. I'm neither, but none the less, my sect doesn't read the bible as flawless. Merely inspired by God. (which is no small feat) So, issues of translation of human created languages, of God's using human minds to diseminate his Word, all can go into play why one part of the bible may say one thing and another seem to say another. Where God seems merciful, assume those prophets better understand God's message to them.

Answer 4

Thou shalt not murder.



It has to do with having a just reason or not having a just reason.



Edit:

"Okay, according to all of these answers, it's perfectly okay if I slaughter my husband if I see him with anyone else, and I can slaughter that person too?"



~Shinzy, are you serious? How could you reasonable conclude that from the answers given here. If you SEE your husband with ANYONE ELSE, you can slaughter them? This is not what people are saying. If there's a murder or a molester, they can be rightfully killed. The bible says there is a time for war. Certainly you can see the need for war from human history.

Answer 5

Two different words or thoughts in Hebrew- one is Thou shall not commit murder. The other is a legal term meaning capital punishment



The term "All Loving" is not a Biblical concept it is a secular concept not born out in the Bible.

Answer 6

Exodus 20:13 actually "You shall not murder". Christian "versions" of the Bible are not known for being reliable.

Answer 7

A more literal translation of Exodus 20:13 is "Thou shalt not *murder*". There is debate as to what exactly constitutes murder. I do agree that there are places where the Bible seems to contradict itself but this is not *technically* one of them.

Answer 8

The 10 Commandments were written by God Himself. The Jewish Law, which takes up much of Numbers, Leviticus and Deuteronomy, were written by man, not God.



There ya go.

Answer 9

All religions are IRRATIONAL ideas from beginning to end...

That is the main reason they are dangerous, they foster wars, sufferings, and acceptance to submission by the dominant classes.

Answer 10

The correct translation would be "You shall not commit murder"



Murder is defined as: "kill intentionally and with premeditation"



while kill means: "cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly"



Murder is a crime under God's law. But your examples would fit better under "execution"



Execution: "putting a condemned person to death"



Your welcome

Answer 11

It is more like saying do not kill unless a person does this and this and this and this, etc...

Answer 12

You know that's a pretty long book..maybe you should not jump to conclusions til you finish? There is this whole other section than the one that your reading from it's called the New Testament...maybe you should just start there.

Answer 13

The bible should be renamed the book of contradictions and paradoxes.

Answer 14

Apparently if "God" tells you to do it then it's justified.

Answer 15

WHEN GOD PUNISHES AND MAKES A DIFF DECISION THEN THEY WERE to listen but those legalistic days are gone so dont worry yourself...

Answer 16

You are the Judge and the Executioner... do not foist your decisions on God.

Answer 17

Jesus wrote the bible, dont question it or you're next. And gays. And non-believers.

Answer 18

there's murder kill and judgment kill