He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
Exodus 21:12 belongs to the additional judgments and precepts that Moses was instructed to write down as specific directions illustrating, applying, and amplifying the principles of the Ten Commandments. These added precepts were given so that the obligations of the Decalogue would be more fully understood and enforced and its sacredness guarded. Unlike the Ten Commandments, this judgment was not proclaimed directly to the people but was delivered privately to Moses for him to communicate to the people. This course was needed because the minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery, were not prepared to fully appreciate the far-reaching principles of God's ten precepts.
The verse establishes that deliberate, willful murder is punishable by death. Its protection of life includes the slave, so that a person is held accountable for killing a slave, whose life and person are protected. Its rule protects human life by ensuring that a willful murderer must not escape punishment even by fleeing to God's altar, since sparing a murderer endangers others. By contrast, a person who causes death unintentionally is instead provided a place of refuge.
The verse belongs to God's instruction given through Moses to regulate dealings with one another and guard against injustice, and it is to be studied and obeyed. It belongs to laws that plainly enjoin obedience to God's law, so that keeping the law in truth and righteousness requires obeying every command. It is one of the statutes and judgments given to Israel that were to be strictly obeyed, expressing impartial care for the people and the exalted nature of the requirements. It is one of the commandments given to Moses for the children of Israel to regulate their dealings with one another, and if all read these commandments carefully and obeyed them the condition of things now seen in the world would not exist.
Exodus 21:12 belongs to the additional judgments and precepts that Moses was instructed to write down as specific directions illustrating, applying, and amplifying the principles of the Ten Commandments. These added precepts were given so that the obligations of the Decalogue would be more fully understood and enforced and its sacredness guarded. Unlike the Ten Commandments, this judgment was not proclaimed directly to the people but was delivered privately to Moses for him to communicate to the people. This course was needed because the minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery, were not prepared to fully appreciate the far-reaching principles of God's ten precepts.
The verse establishes that deliberate, willful murder is punishable by death. Its protection of life includes the slave, so that a person is held accountable for killing a slave, whose life and person are protected. Its rule protects human life by ensuring that a willful murderer must not escape punishment even by fleeing to God's altar, since sparing a murderer endangers others. By contrast, a person who causes death unintentionally is instead provided a place of refuge.
The verse belongs to God's instruction given through Moses to regulate dealings with one another and guard against injustice, and it is to be studied and obeyed. It belongs to laws that plainly enjoin obedience to God's law, so that keeping the law in truth and righteousness requires obeying every command. It is one of the statutes and judgments given to Israel that were to be strictly obeyed, expressing impartial care for the people and the exalted nature of the requirements. It is one of the commandments given to Moses for the children of Israel to regulate their dealings with one another, and if all read these commandments carefully and obeyed them the condition of things now seen in the world would not exist.