Thematic Bible: Homicide


Thematic Bible



If a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor and slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar that he die.

For verily the blood of you, wherein your lives are, will I require: Even of the hand of all beasts will I require it, and of the hand of man and of the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man: so that he which sheddeth man's blood, shall have his blood shed by man again: for God made man after his own likeness.

"'If any man smite another with a weapon of iron that he die, then he is a murderer, and shall die for it. If he smite him with a throwing stone that he die therewith, then he shall die: For he is a murderer and shall be slain therefore. If he smite him with a hand weapon of wood that he die therewith, then he shall die: for he is a murderer and shall be slain therefore. read more.
The judge of blood shall slay the murderer, as soon as he findeth him. "'If he thrust him of hate, or hurl at him with laying of wait that he die, or smite him with his hand of envy that he die; he that smote him shall die, for he is a murderer. The justice of blood shall slay him as soon as he findeth him.

Whosoever slayeth, shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses. For one witness shall not answer against one person to put him to death. Moreover ye shall take none amends for the life of the murderer, which is worthy to die: But he shall be put to death. Also ye shall take none atonement for him that is fled to a free city, that he should come again and dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. read more.
"'And see that ye pollute not the land which ye are in, for blood defileth the land. And the land can none otherwise be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of it that shed it.

And Cain said unto the LORD, "My sin is greater, than that it may be forgiven. Behold, thou castest me out this day from off the face of the earth, and from thy sight must I hide myself, and I must be a vagabond and a renegade upon the earth: Moreover whosoever findeth me, will kill me." And the LORD said unto him, "Not so, but whosoever slayeth Cain shall be punished sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark upon Cain that no man that found him should kill him.

Now therefore my son hear my voice, make thee ready, and flee to Laban my brother at Haran: And tarry with him a while, until thy brother's fierceness be assuaged, and until thy brother's wrath turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him. Then will I send and fetch thee away from thence. Why should I lose you both in one day?"



But and if there be any man that hateth his neighbour and layeth await for him and riseth against him and smiteth him that he die, and fleeth unto any of these cities; Then let the elders of his city send and fetch him thence and deliver him into the hands of the justice of blood, and he shall die. Let thine eye have no pity on him, and so thou shalt put away innocent blood from Israel, and happy art thou.

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do wickedness in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be thy wife.' Thus sayeth the LORD, 'Behold, I will stir up evil against thee even of thine own house and will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, which shall sleep with them in the sight of the sun. read more.
And thou didst it secretly, yet will I do this thing before all Israel and in the open sunlight.'"


If a man lay not await, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will point thee a place whither he shall flee.

Then Moses severed three cities on the other side Jordan toward the sun rising, that he should flee thither which had killed his neighbour unawares and hated him not in time past, and therefore should flee unto one of the same cities and live: Bezer in the wilderness, even in the plain country, among the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead among the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan among the Manassites.

If an ox gore a man or a woman that they die, then the ox shall be stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten: and his master shall go quit. If the ox were wont to run at men in time past and it hath been told his master, and he hath not kept him, but that he hath killed a man or a woman: then the ox shall be stoned and his master shall die also. If he be set to a sum of money, then he shall give for the deliverance of his life, according to all that is put unto him. read more.
And whether he hath gored a son or a daughter, he shall be served after the same manner. But if it be a servant or a maid that the ox hath gored, then he shall give unto their master the sum of thirty sicles, and the ox shall be stoned.

ye shall build cities which shall be privileged towns for you: that he which slayeth a man unawares, may fly thither. And the cities shall be to flee from the executer of blood, that he which killed die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. And of these six free cities which ye shall give, read more.
three ye shall give on this side Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. And these six free cities shall be for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for him that dwelleth among you, that all they which kill any person unawares, may flee thither.

But and if he pushed him by chance and not of hate, or cast at him with any manner of thing and not of laying of wait, or cast any manner of stone at him that he die therewith, and saw him not, and he cast it upon him and he died, but was not his enemy, neither sought him any harm; then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the executer of blood in such cases. read more.
And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the judge of blood, and shall restore him again unto the franchised city whither he was fled. And he shall bide there unto the death of the high priest which was anointed with holy oil. "'But and if he came without the borders of his privileged city whither he was fled, if the blood avenger find him without the borders of his free town, he shall slay the murderer and be guiltless, because he should have bidden in his free town until the death of the high priest, and after the death of the high priest, he shall return again unto the land of his possession.

Also ye shall take none atonement for him that is fled to a free city, that he should come again and dwell in the land before the death of the high priest.

thou shalt appoint three cities in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it. Thou shalt prepare the way and divide the coasts of thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts that whosoever committeth murder may flee thither. And this is the cause of the slayer that shall flee thither and be saved: If he smite his neighbour ignorantly and hated him not in time past; read more.
as when a man goeth unto the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and as his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe, the head slippeth from the helve and smiteth his neighbour that he die; the same shall flee unto one of the same cities and be saved. Lest the executer of blood follow after the slayer while his heart is hot and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him, and yet there is no cause worthy of death in him, inasmuch as he hated not his neighbour in time past. Wherefore I command thee, saying, 'See that thou appoint out three cities.' And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coasts as he hath sworn unto thy fathers and give thee all the land which he said he would give unto thy fathers - so that thou keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, that thou love the LORD thy God and walk in his ways ever - then thou shalt add three cities more unto those three, that innocent blood be not shed in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, and so blood come upon thee.


And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall die for it: all the multitude shall stone him to death. And the stranger as well as the Israelite if he curse the name, shall die for it.'


Six days ye shall work, but the seventh day shall be unto you the holy Sabbath of the LORD's rest: so that whosoever doth any work therein, shall die.


as when a man goeth unto the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and as his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe, the head slippeth from the helve and smiteth his neighbour that he die; the same shall flee unto one of the same cities and be saved.

or cast any manner of stone at him that he die therewith, and saw him not, and he cast it upon him and he died, but was not his enemy, neither sought him any harm;


Then Joab went to the king, and said, "What hast thou done? See, Abner came unto thee, why hast thou sent him away, that he should escape quite? Thou mightest know Abner the son of Ner, that he came to flatter with thee, and to know thy conversation and behaviour, and to know all that thou doest." And when Joab was come out from the king, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah - unwitting to David. read more.
And when Abner was come again to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate, to speak with him guilefully, and there smote him under the short ribs that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

Moreover thou knowest how Joab the son of Zeruiah hath served me, and what he hath done to the two captains of the hosts of Israel - unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether - how he slew them and shed the blood of war in time of peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins and in his shoes that were on his feet.

And Joab said to Amasa, "Are all things in rest and peace my brother?" And Joab took Amasa by the chin with the right hand, as though he would have kissed him. And Amasa took no heed to the knife that was in Joab's hand, with which Joab smote him in the short ribs, and shed out his bowels to the ground and smote him but one stroke, and he died. And then Joab and Abishai his brother followed after Sheba the son of Bichri.


Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do wickedness in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

Wherefore on the morrow David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. And he wrote in the letter saying, "Put Uriah in the forefront of the battle where it is most strong, and come back from him that he may be smitten to death." And as Joab beseiged the city he assigned Uriah unto a place where he wist that strong men were. read more.
And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And there were certain overthrown of the people and of the servants of David - and Uriah the Hittite died also.

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; that my tongue may praise thy righteousness.


And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the judge of blood, and shall restore him again unto the franchised city whither he was fled. And he shall bide there unto the death of the high priest which was anointed with holy oil.

because he should have bidden in his free town until the death of the high priest, and after the death of the high priest, he shall return again unto the land of his possession.


And these six free cities shall be for the children of Israel and for the stranger and for him that dwelleth among you, that all they which kill any person unawares, may flee thither.

ye shall build cities which shall be privileged towns for you: that he which slayeth a man unawares, may fly thither.


The judge of blood shall slay the murderer, as soon as he findeth him.

if the blood avenger find him without the borders of his free town, he shall slay the murderer and be guiltless,


If a man lay not await, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will point thee a place whither he shall flee.

But and if he pushed him by chance and not of hate, or cast at him with any manner of thing and not of laying of wait,


and set two unthrifties before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'Thou didst curse both God and the king.' And upon that carry him out and stone him to death." And the elders and nobles of his city, which dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letter which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed fasting, and set Naboth on high among the people, read more.
and there came in two unthrifty persons and sat before him. And the two unthrifty persons witnessed against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth did curse God and the king." And upon that they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones to death. And then they sent to Jezebel saying, "Naboth is stoned to death." And when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Up, and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he denied to give thee for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead." And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. He stood up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. And the word of the LORD came unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying, "Up, and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth: for he is gone down thither, to take possession of it. And say unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: thou hast killed and thereto gotten possession.' And say moreover unto him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: in the place where dogs lapped the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lap even thy blood also.'" And Ahab said to Elijah, "Hast thou found me thine enemy at any time?" And he said, "Yea, because thou art utterly given to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will make clean riddance of thee, and will destroy unto Ahab all that pisseth against the wall, and if ought be prisoned or forsaken in Israel: and will make thine house, like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the angering wherewith thou hast angered and made Israel sin." And thereto against Jezebel came the word of the LORD, saying, "Dogs shall eat Jezebel, under the walls of Jezreel. And he that dieth of Ahab in the town, him shall dogs eat: and he that dieth in the fields, him shall the fowls of the air eat."

And as Elisha sat in his house and the elders with him, the king sent one from him. But yer the messenger came at him, he said to the elders, "See you not how the son of this murderer hath sent, to take off mine head? Be circumspect therefore when the messenger cometh, and shut the door, and thrust him back therewith: for the sound of his master's feet followeth him."


And as he was in his devotion kneeling in the house of Nisroch his God, Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword. And they escaped into the land of Ararat, and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

Afterward it chanced, as he prayed in the temple of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer, his own sons, slew him with the sword, and fled into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned after him.


And Jehu took a bow in his hand and smote Jehoram between the shoulders, that the arrow came out at his breast. And he fell down three fold in his chariot. Then he said to Bidkar, a lord of his, "Take and cast him in the plot of ground of Naboth the Jezreelite. For I remember as I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, how the LORD spake these words against him: 'I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and of his sons,' said the LORD, 'and I will quite him in this ground,' sayeth the LORD. Now therefore take him and cast him in the plot of ground according to the word of the LORD." read more.
And when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw that, he fled the way to the garden house. And Jehu followed after him and said, "Smite him also." And they smote him in his chariot at the going up to Gur by Ibleam; and he fled to Megiddo, and there died. And his servants carried him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David. Ahaziah reigned over Judah in the eleventh year of Jehoram son of Ahab. And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and starched her eyes and attired her head and looked out at a window. And as Jehu entered at the gate she said, "Had Zimri peace which slew his master?" And he lifted up his eyes to the window and said, "Who is of my side? Who?" And there looked out to him two or three lords that were chamberlains. And he said, "Throw her down." And they threw her down. And he sprinkled of her blood upon the walls and on the horses, and trod her under foot. And then when he was come in and had eaten and drunk, he said, "Go and visit, I pray you, yonder cursed creature; and bury her, for she is a king's daughter." And when they came to bury her, they found no more of her, than the skull and the two feet and the two hands. And they came again and told him. And he said, "It is the word of the LORD which he spake by the hand of his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'In the field of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the carcass of Jezebel shall be dung upon the earth, in the field of Jezreel, that men shall not say, this is Jezebel.'"

Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria - unto the elders that were lords of Jezreel, and to them that nursed up Ahab's children - saying, "Now at the coming of these letters to you, ye have with you your master's sons, and ye have with you chariots and horses, and a strong city and harness. Therefore choose the best, and him that most pleaseth you of your master's sons, and put him on his father's seat, and fight for your lord's house." read more.
And they were accordingly afraid, and said, "See, two kings were not able to stand before him: how shall we then stand?" And the governor of the king's house and of the city and of the elders and the nurses sent to Jehu, saying, "We are thy servants and will do all that thou shalt bid us. We will make no man king: but do thou what seemeth good in thine eyes." Then he wrote another letter to them saying, "If ye be mine and will obey my voice, then take the heads of your master's sons and come to me to Jezreel, by tomorrow this time." And the king's sons were seventy persons with the great men of the city which nourished them. And when the letter came to them, they took the king's children and slew them in number, seventy persons, and put their heads in coffins and sent them to him to Jezreel. And there came a messenger and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, "Let them put them on two heaps in the entering of the gate, till it be day." And in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the folk, "Ye be righteous: for see, I conspired against my master and slew him: But who slew these? Consider now how there is nothing of the LORD's word fallen to the earth, which he spake against the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that he spake to his servant Elijah." And so Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab, in Jezreel, and all that were great with him, and his companions and his priests, until he had left him nought remaining. And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. And as Jehu was come even to the house where the shepherds bind their sheep by the highway side, he met with the brethren of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and said "What are ye?" And they said, "The brethren of Ahaziah are we, and go to salute the children of the king and of the queen." And he said, "Take them alive." And they took them alive, and slew them at the well beside the house where the shepherds bind their sheep, in number forty two persons; that he left none of them. And when he was departed thence he met with Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming against him. And Jehu saluted him and said to him, "Is thine heart right, as mine heart is with thine?" And Jehonadab said, "Yea, that it is." "If it be, then give me thine hand." And he gave his hand, and the other took him up to him into the chariot, and said, "Go with me and see the zeal I have to the LORD," and made him ride with him in his chariot. And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped him out, according to the saying of the LORD which he spake to Elijah. After that, Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little: but Jehu shall serve him a good. Now, therefore, call unto me all the Prophets of Baal and all his servants and all his priests that none be lacking. For I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal: and if any be missed, he shall not live." But Jehu did it for a subtlety, to destroy the servants of Baal. Wherefore Jehu said, "Appoint a solemn feast for Baal." And they proclaimed it. Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel. And all the servants of Baal came, that there was not a man left behind that came not. And when they were come into the temple of Baal, the temple was full from one end to another. Then he said to the keeper of the vestry, bring forth garments for the servants of Baal. And he brought them out garments. And Jehu went with Jehonadab son of Rechab into the house of Baal: and said to the servants of Baal, "Search and look that there be none here with you of the servants of the LORD, but the servants of Baal only." And they went in, to offer sacrifice and burnt offerings. But Jehu appointed him four score men without, and said, "If any of the men that I shall bring unto your hands escape, he that letteth him go shall die for him." And as soon as he had made an end of offering of burnt sacrifice, he said to them of the guard and to the lords, "Go in and slay them, let none come out." And they smote them with the edge of the sword. And the guard and the lords cast them out, and went unto the city of the house of Baal,






And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them, that made insurrection: and in the insurrection, committed murder.


And thereto Manasseh shed innocent blood exceeding abundantly, in so much that he replenished Jerusalem in all corners, beside his sin wherewith he made Judah sin and to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

and for the innocent blood that he shed and filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, which the LORD would not forgive.


If a man lay not await, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will point thee a place whither he shall flee. If a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor and slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar that he die.


And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and slew all the males. And they slew the kings of Midian among other that were slain; Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba: five kings of Midian. And they slew Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.


But and if he pushed him by chance and not of hate, or cast at him with any manner of thing and not of laying of wait,


if the blood avenger find him without the borders of his free town, he shall slay the murderer and be guiltless,


And his own servants arose and wrought treason, and slew Jehoash in the house Millo, in the way down to Silla. Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him that he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the city of David. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.


And they went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew all his brethren, the sons of Jerubbaal, even seventy persons upon one stone. Notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal escaped, for he hid himself.

and ye are risen up against my father's house this day. And have slain his children, even seventy persons upon one stone and have made Abimelech - the son of his maidservant - king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your brother.

And thus all the wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren,


And Absalom said unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. Howbeit, Absalom hated Amnon because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it happened, two year after, that Absalom had a sheep shearing in Baal Hazor besides the tribe of Ephraim, and bade all the king's sons. And he came to the king and said, "Behold, thy servant hath a sheep shearing. Let the king and his servants come with thy servant." read more.
And the king said unto Absalom, "Oh nay my son let us not go every one of us that we be not chargeable unto thee." And Absalom lay sore upon him: howbeit, he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, "Then let my brother Amnon go with us." And the king answered, "What needeth it that he go with thee?" But Absalom made such insistence that he let Amnon go with him, and all the king's children. Then Absalom commanded his young men, saying, "Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine; and when I bid you smite Amnon, then kill him. Fear not, for it is I that bid you. Be bold therefore and play the lusty bloods." And the young men of Absalom served Amnon even as Absalom commanded them. And all the king's sons arose and took each man his mule and fled.


But Baasha the son of Ahijah of the house of Issachar conspired against him, and slew him at Gibbethon a city of the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel lay at siege before Gibbethon. And it was the third year of Asa king of Judah, when Baasha slew him, and reigned in his stead. And as soon as he was king, he slew all the house of Jeroboam and left him nought that breathed, until he had put him clean out, agreeing unto the saying of the LORD which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite,


And how much more ought I to deal with wicked men that have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? Now therefore think ye that I will not require his blood of your hands and take you from the earth?" And David commanded his young men, and they slew them and cut off their hands and their feet and hanged them up by the pole in Hebron. And they took the head of Ishbosheth and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.


And David called one of his young men, and said, "Go and run upon him." And he smote him that he died. Then said David unto him, "Thy blood upon thine own head; for thine own mouth hath testified against thee, saying, 'I have slain the LORD's anointed.'"


Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do wickedness in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword and hast taken his wife to thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me and taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be thy wife.'


And the king said, "Do even as he hath said: smite him and bury him, and take away the blood which Joab shed, causeless, from me and from the house of my father. And the LORD bring his blood upon his own head, for he smote two men righteouser and better than he, and slew them with the sword; my father unwitting: even Abner the son of Ner captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether captain of the host of Judah. And their blood return upon the head of Joab and on the head of his seed forever. And prosperity be unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his seat, of the LORD forever." read more.
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness.


If a thief be found breaking up and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him:


And the third day, when it was painful to them, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dina's brethren, took either of them his sword and went into the city boldly, and slew all that was male; and slew also Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dina their sister out of Shechem's house, and went their way. Then came the sons of Jacob upon the deed, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister: read more.
and took their sheep, oxen, asses and whatsoever was in the city and also in the fields. And all their goods, all their children and their wives took they captive, and made havoc of all that was in the houses. And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "Ye have troubled me, and made me stink unto the inhabiters of the land, both to the Canaanites and also unto the Perizzites. And I am few in number. Wherefore they shall gather themselves together against me and slay me, and so shall I and my house be destroyed." And they answered, "Should they deal with our sister as with an whore?"


But the men would not hearken to him. Nevertheless the man took his concubine and brought her out unto them, and they had to do with her, and entreated her shamefully, all the night even unto the morning. And when the day began to spring, they let her go. And then came the woman in the dawning of the day and fell down at the door of the man's house, where her lord was, and there she lay till day. And her lord arose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go his way. And behold, his concubine lay along before the door of the house, and her hand upon the threshold. read more.
And he said unto her, "Up, and let us be going." But she answered not. Then he took her up upon an ass and stood up and gat him unto his own home.


Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, "God do so to me and so thereto if Adonijah have not spoken this word against himself. Now therefore as surely as the LORD liveth which hath established me and set me on the seat of David my father, and which hath made me a house as he promised me, Adonijah shall die this day." And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and smote him that he died. read more.
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, "Get thee to Anathoth unto thine own fields, for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time kill thee, because thou hast borne the Ark of the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou sufferest with my father in all his afflictions." And so Solomon put away Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD: to fulfill the words of the LORD which he spake over the house of Eli in Shiloh. Then tidings came to Joab - for Joab had turned after Adonijah, but not after Absalom - whereupon he fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and caught handfast on the horns of the altar. And it was told king Solomon how that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD and stood by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada saying, "Go and smite him." And when Benaiah was come to the tabernacle of the LORD he said unto him, "Thus sayeth the king: 'Come out.'" And he said, "Nay: But I will die even here." And Benaiah brought the king word, saying, "Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me." And the king said, "Do even as he hath said: smite him and bury him, and take away the blood which Joab shed, causeless, from me and from the house of my father. And the LORD bring his blood upon his own head, for he smote two men righteouser and better than he, and slew them with the sword; my father unwitting: even Abner the son of Ner captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether captain of the host of Judah. And their blood return upon the head of Joab and on the head of his seed forever. And prosperity be unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his seat, of the LORD forever." And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and smote him and slew him and buried him in his own house in the wilderness. And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host, and put Zadok the priest in the room of Abiathar. Then the king sent and called Shimei, and said to him, "Build thee a house in Jerusalem and dwell there and see that thou go not once thence any whither. For be thou sure of it: the day thou goest out and passest over the river of Kidron, thou shalt die for it, and thy blood shall be on thine own head." And Shimei said unto the king, "It is well said: as my lord the king hath said, so will his servant do." And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many a day. And it chanced, at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And one told Shimei, saying, "See, thy servants be in Gath." And Shimei stood up and saddled his ass and gat him to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants, and came and brought them again from Gath. But it was told Solomon how that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and was come again. And the king sent and called Shimei and said unto him, "Did I not adjure thee by the LORD, and testified unto thee saying, 'Be sure whensoever thou goest out and walkest abroad any whither, thou shalt die for it?' And thou answeredst me, 'It is good tidings that I have heard.' Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I commanded thee?" And then the king said to Shimei, "Thou rememberest all the wickedness which thine heart knoweth that thou didst to David my father. The LORD therefore render again thy wickedness upon thine own head: and king Solomon be blessed, and the fear of the LORD be established before the LORD forever." And the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada: which went out and smote him that he died. And so was the kingdom settled in the hand of Solomon.


And his servant Zimri captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah drinking of strong drink, in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri came and smote him and killed him the twenty seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead. And as soon as he was king and sat his seat, he slew all the house of Baasha and left not a pisser against a wall. And thereto he slew all his kin and friends,


And there was three sons of Zeruiah there: Joab, Abishai and Asahel - which Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild roe - and followed after Abner and turned neither to the righthand nor to the left from Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, "Art thou Asahel?" And he said, "Yea." read more.
Then said Abner, "Turn thee either to the righthand or to the left and catch one of the young men and take thee his spoil." But Asahel would not depart from him. And Abner said again to Asahel, "Turn from me! Why wilt thou that I smite thee to the ground? For then how should I hold up my face before Joab thy brother?" Howbeit, he would in no wise depart. Then Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the short ribs, that the spear came out behind him: that he fell down in the same place and died there. And as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. But Joab and Abishai followed Abner till the sun went down. And when they were come to the hill Ammah that lieth before Giah in the way that goeth through the wilderness of Gibeon,


And now cursed be thou as pertaining to the earth, which opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood of thine hand. For when thou tillest the ground she shall henceforth not give her power unto thee. A vagabond and a renegade shalt thou be upon the earth." And Cain said unto the LORD, "My sin is greater, than that it may be forgiven. read more.
Behold, thou castest me out this day from off the face of the earth, and from thy sight must I hide myself, and I must be a vagabond and a renegade upon the earth: Moreover whosoever findeth me, will kill me." And the LORD said unto him, "Not so, but whosoever slayeth Cain shall be punished sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark upon Cain that no man that found him should kill him.


When they heard these things, their hearts clave asunder, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the holy ghost, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the righthand of God, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the righthand of God." read more.
Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and all ran upon him at once, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling on and saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit." And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. For they know not what they do." And when he had thus spoken he fell asleep.


Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of the children of Ammon, I will not spare them: because they ripped up the women great with child in Gilead, to make the borders of their lands the wider. Therefore I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah, that shall consume her palaces: with a great cry, in the day of battle, in tempest and in the day of storm. So that their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together,' sayeth the LORD."


Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, "All the men children that are born, cast into the river; and save the maid children alive."

"When ye midwife the women of the Hebrews and see in the birth time that it is a boy, kill it. But if it be a maid, let it live."


But in the seventh Month it happened, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, one of the king's blood, came with them that were greatest about the king, and ten men that were sworn with him: unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizphah, and ate there together. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, with those ten men that were sworn to him, start up, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword; and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor of the land. Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with Gedaliah at Mizphah, and all the Chaldeans that he found there waiting upon him. read more.
The next day after that he had slain Gedaliah - the matter was yet unknown - there came certain men from Shechem, from Shiloh and Samaria, to the number of eighty, which had shaven their beards, rent their clothes, and were all heavy, bringing meat offerings, and incense in their hands, to offer it in the house of the LORD. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth of Mizphah weeping, to meet them. Now when he met them, he said, "Go your way to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam." And when they came in the midst of the city, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, with them that were sworn unto him, slew them: even at the midst of the pit.


Then said Lamech unto his wives Adah and Zillah, "Hear my voice ye wives of Lamech, and hearken unto my words, for I have slain a man and wounded myself, and have slain a young man, and got myself stripes. For Cain shall be avenged sevenfold: but Lamech seventy times sevenfold."



When Herod had called for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded them to depart. And he descended from Jewry to Caesarea, and there abode.


Ehud made him a two-edged dagger of a span long, and girded it under his garment upon his right thigh; and brought the present unto Eglon the king of the Moabites. As for Eglon, he was a very fat man. And when he had delivered the present, he let the people go that had carried the present, read more.
and he himself turned back from the idols at Gilgal, and caused to say thus: "I have a secret thing to tell thee, O king." And the king commanded to keep silence, and all they that stood about him went out from him. And Ehud came in unto him in a summer parlor, of which he had several unto himself alone, and said, "I have a message unto thee from God." And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand and took the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly, so that the hilt went in also, and the fat closed upon the hilt: for he drew not the dagger out of his belly. And filthiness departed from him. But Ehud gat him out at the back door, and put to the door after him, and locked it.


{To the chanter, a Psalm of David, when the Prophet Nathan came unto him, after he was gone in to Bathsheba} Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me well from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. read more.
Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and clear when thou shalt judge. Behold, I was born in wickedness, and in sin hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou hast a pleasure in the truth, and hast showed me secret wisdom. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Oh let me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me. O give me the comfort of thy help again, and establish me with thy free spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, that sinners may be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; that my tongue may praise thy righteousness. Open my lips, O LORD, that my mouth may show thy praise. For if thou hadst pleasure in sacrifice, I would give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.



And other ten thousand the children of Judah took alive, and carried them unto the top of a rock and cast them down from the top of the rock that they all to burst:


And these sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went and came in the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, as he slept on a bed at noon. And behold, they came into the house as though they would have bought wheat, and smote him under the short ribs and fled. For they came into the house as he slept on his bed in his resting chamber, and smote him and slew him and beheaded him and took his head and gat them away through the wild fields all night. read more.
And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David, to Hebron and said to the king, "Behold there the head of Ishbosheth Saul's son, thine enemy, which sought thy soul. But the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his seed."


The same time, Menahem destroyed Tappuah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah - because they opened not to him - he smote, and rent all the women with child.


And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.


Whereupon they conspired against him and stoned him with stones, at the commandment of the king: even in the court of the house of the LORD.


And as soon as the kingdom was settled in his hand, he slew his servants that killed the king his father.


So the king of Babylon caused the children of Zedekiah and all the nobles of Judah be slain before his face at Riblah.


Then said David unto him, "Thy blood upon thine own head; for thine own mouth hath testified against thee, saying, 'I have slain the LORD's anointed.'"


And Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah, when she saw that her son was dead, she arose and slew all the seed of the king.


And when Jehoram was up upon the kingdom of his father and settled, he slew all his other brethren with the sword, and divers of the lords of Israel thereto.


And on the morrow he took a rough cloth and dipped it in the water and spread it on his face, and he died, and Hazael reigned in his stead.


So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had made for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.


Then Herod, perceiving that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, as many as were two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently searched out of the wise men.


And he looked round about: and when he saw that there was no man by, he slew the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.


Then Jael, Heber's wife, took a nail of the tent, and a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail thorough the temples of his head into the ground, as he slumbered being weary: And so he died.