Thematic Bible: Homicide


Thematic Bible



If a man schemes and kills a man deliberately remove him from my altar and put him to death. Verse ConceptsSanctity Of LifePresumptuous PlansDeath Penalty For Killing

I will require your lifeblood as an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. I will demand an accounting from each man for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man will have his blood shed by man. For man was made in the image of God.

If any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death. If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death. And if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death. read more.
The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him. If any of you kills someone you hate by shoving him or by deliberately throwing something at him, or if you beat your enemy to death with your bare hands, you must be put to death. You are a murderer. The relative who can avenge the death must kill you when he catches up with you, because you are a murderer.

Those accused of murder may be found guilty and put to death only on the evidence of two or more witnesses. The evidence of one witness is not sufficient to support an accusation of murder. Murderers must be put to death. They cannot escape this penalty by the payment of money. If they have fled to a city of refuge, do not allow them to make a payment in order to return home before the death of the High Priest. read more.
If you did this, you would defile the land where you are living. Murder defiles the land, and except by the death of the murderer there is no way to perform the ritual of purification for the land where someone has been murdered.

Cain said to Jehovah: My punishment is more than I can bear. You are driving me from the land today. I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless (homeless) wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me. Jehovah replied to him: If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over. Then Jehovah put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

Go quickly, my son. Run away to my brother Laban in Haran. Stay with him until your brother's anger cools down. When your brother's anger is gone and he has forgotten what you did to him, I will let you know. Then you may come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?



But if there is a man who hates his neighbor and lies in wait for him and murders him. If he flees to one of these cities, the elders of his city will send for him. They will take him from there and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood that he may die. Do not pity him. Purge the blood of the innocent from Israel that it may go well with you.

Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife! In every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriah's wife. I swear to you that I will cause someone from your own family to bring trouble to you. You will see it when I take your wives from you and give them to another man. He will have intercourse with them in broad daylight. read more.
You did this secretly. I will make this happen in broad daylight in front of all Israel.'

If you did not intend to kill someone and I, Jehovah, let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside. Verse ConceptsAltars, UsesDeath penaltyKillingMurderManslaughterAsylumAmbushUnintentional

Moses set aside three cities on the east side of the Jordan. Those who unintentionally killed someone whom they had never hated could flee to one of these cities and save their lives. The cities were Bezer on the desert plateau for the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.

If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall surely be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall go unpunished. If an ox was previously in the habit of goring and its owner has been warned, yet he does not confine it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. If a ransom is demanded of him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is demanded of him. read more.
Whether it gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule. If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them. These cities will be places of refuge from any relative who can avenge the death. So anyone accused of murder will not have to die until he has had a trial in front of the community. There will be six cities you select as places of refuge. read more.
Three will be on the east side of the Jordan River and three in Canaan. These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.

Should you accidentally kill someone who was not your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but did not mean to kill him. Or if you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you did not know the person was there, he was not your enemy, and you were not trying to harm him. Then the community must use these rules in order to decide if you are innocent or if the dead person's relative can avenge the death. read more.
If you are innocent, the community must protect you from that relative. They must take you back to the city of refuge you fled to. You must live there until the death of the chief priest who was anointed with the holy oil. But do not go outside the city of refuge you fled to. If the relative who can avenge the death finds you outside the city of refuge and kills you, the relative is not guilty of murder. Accused murderers must stay in their city of refuge until the death of the chief priest. They may go back to their own property only after his death.

If they have fled to a city of refuge, do not allow them to make a payment in order to return home before the death of the High Priest. Verse ConceptsDeath Of Office HoldersNot Redeemed

When all this is done, set aside three cities in the land that Jehovah your God gives you. Provide a route to each of these cities and divide the land that Jehovah your God gives you into three regions. When a person kills someone he may run to one of these cities. A person who unintentionally kills someone he never hated in the past may run to one of these cities to save his life. read more.
For example: when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies. He may flee to one of these cities and live. Otherwise the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in the heat of his anger. He may overtake him and because the way is long he may take his life. Even though he was not deserving of death, since he had not hated him previously. Hear my command: 'You must set aside three cities for yourself.' If Jehovah your God enlarges your territory, just as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land he promised to give your fathers. And if you carefully observe all this commandment I command you today, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in his ways always you shall add three more cities for yourself, besides these three. Innocent blood will not be shed in your land that Jehovah your God gives you as an inheritance. Blood guiltiness will not be on you.

However those who curse Jehovah's name must be put to death. The whole congregation must stone them to death. It makes no difference whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Whoever curses (abuses) Jehovah's name must die. Verse ConceptsDeath penaltyStrangersProfaning God's NameForeigners Included In The LawInstructions About StoningDeath Penalty For Heresy


You may work for six days. The seventh day is a holy day of worship (a Sabbath). It is a day when you do not work. It is dedicated to Jehovah. Whoever does any work on this day should be put to death. Verse ConceptsAbominationsRest, PhysicalSabbath, In OtWeeksThe Seventh Day Of The WeekSix DaysDay 7Doing One's WorkHoly TimesNo Work On Feast DaysRestWorking For GodWorking For The Lordworking

For example: when a man goes into the forest with his friend to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down the tree, and the iron head slips off the handle and strikes his friend so that he dies. He may flee to one of these cities and live. Verse ConceptsForestsToolsWoodCarpentry ToolsFelling TreesSharp ToolsIron Objects

Or if you drop a big stone, and someone is killed. However, you did not know the person was there, he was not your enemy, and you were not trying to harm him. Verse ConceptsBeing Struck With Stones

Joab went to the king and asked: What have you done? Abner came to see you. Why did you send him away? Surely you know that he came to deceive you. He came to find out everything you do and everywhere you go. Joab left David. Then he sent messengers to get Abner, and they brought him back from Sirah Well. David knew nothing about it. read more.
Abner arrived in Hebron. Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him. There he stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel.

Remember what Joab did to me by killing the two commanders of Israel's armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. You remember how he murdered them in time of peace. This was revenge for deaths they had caused in time of war. He killed innocent men. I bear the responsibility for what he did. I suffer the consequences. Verse ConceptsBeltsSandalsShedding

How are you, my brother? Joab asked Amasa. He took hold of Amasa's beard with his right hand to kiss him. Amasa was not on guard against the sword in Joab's left hand. Joab stabbed him in the stomach. Then he stabbed him in his intestines and they poured out on the ground. He died without being stabbed again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife! Verse ConceptsForgettingevil, believers' responses toSanctity Of LifeSuffering, Causes OfWord Of GodKilling Named IndividualsTransferring Wives

The next morning, David wrote a letter and told Uriah to deliver it to Joab. The letter said: Put Uriah on the front line where the fighting is the worst. Pull the troops back from him, so that he will be wounded and die. Joab carefully watched the city of Rabbah. He put Uriah in a place where he knew there were some of the enemy's best soldiers. read more.
The men of the city came out and fought Joab. Some of David's mercenaries fell and died. This included Uriah the Hittite.

Rescue (deliver) me from the bloodguilt of murder O God of my salvation. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness! Verse ConceptsTongueI Will Sing PraisesGuilt

If you are innocent, the community must protect you from that relative. They must take you back to the city of refuge you fled to. You must live there until the death of the chief priest who was anointed with the holy oil. Verse ConceptsRankManslaughterAnointing PriestsDeath Of Office Holders

Accused murderers must stay in their city of refuge until the death of the chief priest. They may go back to their own property only after his death. Verse ConceptsDeath Of Office HoldersPermission To Return Home

These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities. Verse ConceptsManslaughterStrangersAccidental KillingsForeigners Included In The LawUnintentionalAliens

select certain cities to be places of refuge. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may run to them. Verse ConceptsMurderRefugeManslaughterAccidental KillingsUnintentional

The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him. Verse ConceptsJudgement On MurderersDeath Of A Family MemberFamily Death

If the relative who can avenge the death finds you outside the city of refuge and kills you, the relative is not guilty of murder.

If you did not intend to kill someone and I, Jehovah, let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside. Verse ConceptsAltars, UsesDeath penaltyKillingMurderManslaughterAsylumAmbushUnintentional

Should you accidentally kill someone who was not your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but did not mean to kill him. Verse ConceptsLack Of Expectation

Get two good-for-nothing persons to come before him and give witness that he has been cursing God and the king. Then take him out and have him stoned to death. So the elders and nobles in authority in his town did as Jezebel said in the letter she sent them. They gave orders for a day of public sorrow and put Naboth at the head of the people. read more.
The two good-for-nothing persons came in and took their seats before him and gave witness against Naboth, in front of the people. They said: Naboth has been cursing God and the king. Then they took him outside the town and had him stoned to death. Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying: Naboth has been stoned and is dead. Jezebel, hearing that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, said to Ahab: Get up and take as your heritage the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he would not give you for money. Naboth is dead. When he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab went down to the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite to take it as his heritage. And the word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go to Ahab, king of Israel, in Samaria. He is in the garden of Naboth the Jezreelite. He went there to take it as his heritage. Say to him: 'Jehovah says: Have you put a man to death and taken his heritage?' Then say: 'Jehovah says: Your blood will become the drink of dogs! You will go to the same place where the dogs drink the blood of Naboth.' Ahab said to Elijah: Have you come face to face with me, O my enemy? Elijah said: I have come to you because you have given yourself up to do evil in the eyes of Jehovah. Jehovah says to you: I will bring disaster on you. I will do away with you and get rid of every male in your family, young and old alike. Your family will become like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. This is because you have stirred up my anger by leading Israel into sin. Concerning Jezebel, Jehovah says: Dogs will eat her body in the city of Jezreel. Dogs will eat your relatives dying in the city. Vultures will eat your dead relatives in the country.

He sent a messenger to get Elisha. Meanwhile Elisha was at home with some elders who were visiting him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders: That murderer is sending someone to kill me! When he gets here, shut the door. Do not let him come in. The king will follow him. Verse ConceptsMessengerRemoving HeadsShutting DoorsKilling ProphetsSkullsSoundThe Elders Gathered

While he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer assassinated him. They escaped to the land of Ararat. His son Esarhaddon succeeded him as king. Verse ConceptsChildren, Bad KidsReligionSwordsWicked Children, Examples OfDesecrationKilling KingsEscaping From PeopleForeign Kings

One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with the sword. They escaped to the land of Ararat. Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king. Verse ConceptsPagan GodsReligionKilling Kingsrejuvenation

Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted. read more.
When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.'

Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated: You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter, choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him. read more.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal.




Barabbas, a rebel and a murderer was available for this purpose. Verse ConceptsCriminalsImprisonmentsRebellion, Against Human AuthorityBarabbasJudged As Murderers

Even more, Manasseh killed many innocent men. He filled Jerusalem from one end to the other with blood. He also caused Judah to sin and do evil in the eyes of Jehovah. Verse ConceptsBlood, as basis of lifeInnocence, Teaching OnSanctity Of LifeSuffering, Causes OfUnfaithfulness, To GodInnocent BloodSheddingKilling The Innocent

and especially because of all the innocent people he killed. Jehovah would not forgive Manasseh for that. Verse ConceptsUnforgivenessSheddingGod Not ForgivingForgiveness Kjv

If you did not intend to kill someone and I, Jehovah, let it happen anyway, you may run for safety to a place that I have set aside. If a man schemes and kills a man deliberately remove him from my altar and put him to death.

They went to war against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses, and killed every man. Included in those killed were the five kings of Midian-Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. They also killed Balaam, son of Beor, in battle.

Should you accidentally kill someone who was not your enemy. Maybe you shoved him or threw something at him but did not mean to kill him. Verse ConceptsLack Of Expectation

If the relative who can avenge the death finds you outside the city of refuge and kills you, the relative is not guilty of murder.

His own officials plotted against him and killed him at the House of the Mound on the road that goes down to Silla. Jehoash's officials Jozacar, son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of Shomer, executed him. They buried him with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed. Verse ConceptsCriminalsThe Youngest ChildBeing Killed By A RockHiding From PeopleSole SurvivorsSeventiesKilling BrothersHalf brothersanniversary

Today you turned against my father's family. You killed his sons, seventy men on a single stone. And this because Abimelech, his son by his servant woman, is your relative, you have made him king of Shechem. Verse ConceptsConcubinesIngratitudeBeing Killed By A RockMaking KingsSeventiesKilling Brothers

Thus God paid Abimelech back for the crime that he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. Verse ConceptsAnger Of God, Examples OfSeventiesGod Has RequitedKilling BrothersHalf brothers

Absalom hated Amnon so much because he raped his sister Tamar. He would not speak to him anymore. Two years later Absalom had sheep sheared at Baal Hazor, near the town of Ephraim. He invited all the king's sons to be there. He went to King David and said: Your Majesty, I am having my sheep sheared. Will you and your officials take part in the festivities? read more.
The king answered: No, my son. It would be too much trouble for you if we all went. Absalom insisted, but the king would not give in. So he asked Absalom to leave. Absalom said: Will you at least let my brother Amnon come? Why should he? The king asked. Absalom insisted until David finally let Amnon and all his other sons go with Absalom. Absalom prepared a banquet fit for a king. Absalom gave an order to his servants: Watch now and when Amnon begins to feel good from drinking too much wine, I will tell you, Attack Amnon. Then kill him. Do not be afraid. I give this order. Be strong and courageous. Absalom's servants did to Amnon as Absalom ordered. Then all the king's sons got up, mounted their mules, and fled.

And Baasha, the son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, made a secret design against him, attacking him at Gibbethon, a town of the Philistines. Nadab and the armies of Israel were making war on Gibbethon. In the third year of the rule of Asa, king of Judah, Baasha put him to death, and became king in his place. When he became king, he sent destruction on all the offspring of Jeroboam. He killed every person of the family of Jeroboam according to the word of Jehovah as stated by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite.

How much more should I reward wicked men who kill an innocent man on his own bed in his home? Jehovah has rescued me from every trouble. I solemnly swear, as Jehovah lives, I will now seek revenge for his murder and rid the land of you. David gave the order for his soldiers to kill Rechab and Baanah and cut off their hands and feet. They killed them and hung their hands and feet near the pool in Hebron. They took Ishbosheth's head and buried it in Abner's tomb there at Hebron.

David called one of the young men and said: Execute him! So he struck him and he died. David said to him: Your blood is on your head. Your mouth has testified against you. For you admit that you killed Jehovah's anointed.

Why have you disobeyed my commands? Why did you do this evil thing? You had Uriah killed in battle! You let the Ammonites kill him. Then you took his wife! In every generation some of your descendants will die a violent death because you have disobeyed me and have taken Uriah's wife.

The king said: Do as he said. Kill him there and bury him in the earth. This will remove the guilt of his senseless murders from my father's family and me. Jehovah will punish Joab for those murders he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah. Jehovah will repay him for the blood Joab shed. The blood will fall on Joab and on his descendants as long as they live. Jehovah will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne. read more.
So Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah's presence and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness.

If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood guiltiness on his account. Verse ConceptsBeing Found OutGuiltFamily Deaththievesprocess

Three days later the men who had been circumcised were still weak from pain. So Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah's brothers, attacked with their swords and killed every man in town. They also killed Hamor and Shechem. Then they took Dinah and left. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain. They plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled. read more.
They took their flocks and their herds, their asses and whatever was in the city and in the field. They captured their wives and all their little ones. They took all the wealth that was in their houses. Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have brought trouble on me by making me loathsome to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Per'izzites. My numbers are few. If they gather themselves against me and attack my household I will be destroyed. They responded: Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?

The men would not listen to him. The Levite took his concubine and put her outside with them. They raped her and abused her all night long and did not stop until morning. At dawn the woman came and fell down at the door of the old man's house. She was still there when daylight came. When her master opened the door that morning to go on his way, he found his concubine lying in front of the house with her hands reaching for the door. read more.
He said: Get up and let us go. But there was no answer. Then he put her body across the donkey and started on his way home.

King Solomon took an oath by Jehovah, saying: May God's punishment be on me if Adonijah does not give payment for these words with his life. Now by the living God Jehovah who has given me my throne from David my father. He made me one of a line of kings. He gave me his word. Adonijah will be put to death this day. King Solomon sent Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada to attack and kill him. read more.
The king spoke to Abiathar the priest: Go to your fields at Anathoth. You deserve death. But I will not put you to death now, because you carried the Ark of Jehovah God before David my father. You were with him in all his troubles. Solomon did not allow Abiathar to be priest any longer. So the word of Jehovah came true concerning the sons of Eli in Shiloh. Joab received news of this for Joab had been one of Adonijah's supporters. He was not on Absalom's side. Then Joab went in flight to the Tent of Jehovah and put his hands on the corners of the altar. When King Solomon heard about this he sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada to kill him. Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah and told Joab: Come out. Joab said: No! Let me die here. So Benaiah returned to the king and gave him the answer Joab gave him. The king said: Do as he said. Kill him there and bury him in the earth. This will remove the guilt of his senseless murders from my father's family and me. Jehovah will punish Joab for those murders he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah. Jehovah will repay him for the blood Joab shed. The blood will fall on Joab and on his descendants as long as they live. Jehovah will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne. So Benaiah went to the Tent of Jehovah's presence and killed Joab. He was buried at his home in the wilderness. The king made Benaiah commander of the army in Joab's place and put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place. The king sent for Shimei and said to him: Build a house for yourself here in Jerusalem. Live in it and do not leave the city. If you ever leave and go beyond Kidron Brook, you will die and it will be your fault. As you say, Your Majesty, Shimei answered. I will do what you say. So he lived in Jerusalem a long time. Three years later, however, two of Shimei's slaves ran away to the king of Gath, Achish son of Maacah. When Shimei heard that they were in Gath, he saddled his donkey and went to King Achish in Gath, to find his slaves. He found them and brought them back home. When Solomon heard what Shimei did, he sent for him and said: I made you promise in Jehovah's name not to leave Jerusalem. I warned you that if you ever did, you would die. Did you not agree to it and say that you would obey me? Why did you break your promise and disobey my command? You know very well all the wrong that you did to my father David. Jehovah will punish you for it. But he will bless me, and he will make David's kingdom secure forever. The king gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He killed Shimei. Solomon was now in complete control.

His servant Zimri, commander of half his war-carriages made plans to kill him. He was in Tirzah, drinking hard at the house of Arza, controller of the king's house in Tirzah. Zimri attacked and killed him. It was the twenty-seventh year that Asa was king of Judah. Immediately after he became king and took his place on the throne of the kingdom, he put to death all the family of Baasha. Not one male child survived.

Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. So Asahel started chasing Abner. He ran straight for him. Abner looked behind and asked: Are you Asahel? He answered: I am. read more.
Abner said: Soldiers are all around us. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself. But Asahel refused to stop. Abner spoke again to Asahel: If you do not turn back, I will have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again. However, Asahel would not turn back. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still. Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. It was sun down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This hill is near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.

Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer (vagabond) on the earth. Cain said to Jehovah: My punishment is more than I can bear. read more.
You are driving me from the land today. I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless (homeless) wanderer on the earth. And whoever finds me will kill me. Jehovah replied to him: If anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over. Then Jehovah put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart. They gnashed their teeth at him. Being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. read more.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord. They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet. His name was Saul. They stoned Stephen. He called out: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them. After saying this he fell asleep in death.

Jehovah also said: For the many transgressions of the children of Ammon I will not withdraw the punishment. They have ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead, that they may enlarge their border. I will kindle a fire on the wall of Rabbah and devour its palaces. The battle cry in the day of battle will be heard and a storm in the day of the windstorm. Their king and his princes will go into captivity, said Jehovah.

Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: Every son who is born must be thrown into the Nile River. However, keep every daughter alive. Verse ConceptsCruelty, examples ofCommands, in OTKept Alive By MenDeath Of All MalesKilling IsraelitesThe King's Orders

He said: When you help the Hebrew women give birth on the birth stool, if it is a son you shall put him to death. If it is a daughter, then she shall live. Verse ConceptsInfantsSuffering, Nature OfInfanticideKept Alive By MenDeath Of All MalesBirthKilling Israelites

In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, a descendant of the royal family and of the king's officers went with ten men to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. They ate together at Mizpah. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him got up, drew their swords, and killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. So they assassinated the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah as well as the Babylonian soldiers that he found there. read more.
The day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew about it, Eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to Jehovah's Temple. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, left Mizpah to meet them. He was crying as he went. When he met them, he said to them: Come to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. When they came into the city, Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and his men slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.

Lamech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me. If Cain is avenged seven times, then Lamech seventy-seven times.


Herod had a thorough search made for him and could not find him. He cross examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Herod went from Judea to Caesarea to stay for a while. Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTNot FindingSeeking But Not Finding People

Ehud made himself a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long. He fastened it on his right side under his clothes. He took the gifts to Eglon, who was a very fat man. When Ehud gave him the gifts, he told the men who carried them to go back home. read more.
But Ehud turned back at the carved stones near Gilgal, went back to Eglon, and said: Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you. So the king ordered his servants: Leave us alone! Then they all went out. The king was sitting there alone in his cool room on the roof. Ehud went over to him and said: I have a message from God for you. The king stood up. With his left hand Ehud took the sword from his right side and plunged it into the king's belly. The whole sword went in, handle and all, and the fat covered it up. Ehud did not pull it out of the king's belly, and it stuck out behind, between his legs. Ehud went outside, closed the doors behind him, locked them.

([[Psalm of David] when the prophet Nathan came to him after David's adultery with Bathsheba:]) Have mercy on me, O God, in keeping with your loving-kindness. According to your unlimited compassion, wipe out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my perversity (iniquity) (guilt), and cleanse me from my sin. I admit my transgressions. My sin is always in front of me. read more.
I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil in your sight. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge. Indeed, I was born in perversity (mischief) (evil). I was a sinner when my mother conceived me. Yet, you desire truth from the secret person within me. Deep down inside me teach me wisdom. Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness. Let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face (turn away) from my sins, and wipe out (erase) all that I have done wrong. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast (dependable) spirit within me. Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and establish a willing spirit in me. I will teach your ways to transgressors, and sinners will turn to you. Rescue (deliver) me from the bloodguilt of murder O God of my salvation. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness! O Jehovah, open my lips (help me speak), and my mouth will speak your praise. You do not desire sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you. You are not pleased with burnt offerings. The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. O God, you do not despise a broken and sorrowful (contrite) heart.

The Judeans captured another ten thousand alive. They took them to the top of a cliff, and threw them off the top of the cliff so that they were dismembered. Verse ConceptsWarfare, Nature OfHorrors Of WarTens Of ThousandsTwelve Beings

Rechab and Baanah went to Ishbosheth's house at the noontime. It was a hot day, and he was resting. They came to the middle of the house pretending to get wheat. Once they were inside they stabbed Ishbosheth in the stomach and killed him. They cut off his head and took his head with them. They traveled by way of the Arabah all night. read more.
They took the head of Ishbosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, Here is the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. Jehovah has given my lord the king vengeance this day on Saul and his descendants.

Then Menahem sent destruction on the people of Tappuah and the nearby territory. He attacked it because they would not let him come in. He had all the pregnant women cut open. Verse ConceptsCruelty, examples ofPregnancyGashing BodiesHarming Pregnant Women

The servants of Amon conspired against him. They killed the king in his house. Verse ConceptsConspiraciesKilling KingsConspiracy

They plotted against Zechariah. Then they followed the king's order and stoned him to death in the courtyard of Jehovah's Temple. Verse ConceptsCourtyardMartyrdom Of The SaintsDeath penaltyTrapConspiracy

As soon as he firmly established the kingdom he immediately put to death those servants who had taken the life of his father, the king.

At Riblah he put Zedekiah's sons to death while Zedekiah was looking on, and he also had the officials of Judah executed. Verse ConceptsKilling Sons And Daughters

David said to him: Your blood is on your head. Your mouth has testified against you. For you admit that you killed Jehovah's anointed. Verse ConceptsBlood, Figurative UseHeadsThe Lord's AnointedKilling KingsWitness Against Oneselftraitors

King Ahaziah's mother Athaliah learned of her son's murder. She gave orders for all the members of the royal family to be killed. Verse ConceptsInsecurityMothers Of KingsKilling Whole FamiliesKilling Sons And DaughtersGrandmothers

Jehoram was in firm control of the kingdom. He had all his brothers killed, and also some Israelite officials. Verse ConceptsMurderPrinces

The following day Hazael took a blanket, soaked it in water, and smothered the king. Hazael succeeded Benhadad as king of Syria. Verse ConceptsMoist ThingsChokingKilling KingsCreatures Choked

So Haman was put to death by hanging him on the pillar he made for Mordecai. Then the king's rage subsided. Verse ConceptsPurimDeath Of The Wicked, Examples OfHangingAnger Subsiding


Moses looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand. Verse ConceptsSandInadequate BurialsUnseenLooking And SeeingSand And Gravel

Then Jael Heber's wife picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went to him while he was fast asleep and drove the peg into his temple and it went down into the ground. He was fast asleep and weary. So he died. Verse ConceptsTentsTirednessHammersNailsPegsSharp ToolsTired In FlightKilling Named Individuals