Murder

Wilful murder was distinguished from accidental homicide, and was invariably visited with capital punishment (Num. 35:16, 18, 21, 31; Lev. 24:17). This law in its principle is founded on the fact of man’s having been made in the likeness of God (Gen. 9:5, 6; John 8:44; 1 John 3:12, 15). The Mosiac law prohibited any compensation for murder or the reprieve of the murderer (Ex. 21:12, 14; Deut. 19:11, 13; 2 Sam. 17:25; 20:10). Two witnesses were required in any capital case (Num. 35:19-30; Deut. 17:6-12). If the murderer could not be discovered, the city nearest the scene of the murder was required to make expiation for the crime committed (Deut. 21:1-9). These offences also were to be punished with death, (1) striking a parent; (2) cursing a parent; (3) kidnapping (Ex. 21:15-17; Deut. 27:16).

The law of Moses, while it protected the accidental homicide, defined with additional strictness the crime of murder. It prohibited compensation or reprieve of the murderer, or his protection if he took refuge in the refuge city, or even at the altar of Jehovah. (Exodus 21:12,14; Leviticus 24:17,21; 1 Kings 2:5,6,31) The duty of executing punishment on the murderer is in the law expressly laid on the “revenger of blood;” but the question of guilt was to be previously decided by the Levitical tribunal. In regal times the duty of execution of justice on a murderer seems to have been assumed to some extent by the sovereign, as was also the privilege of pardon. (2 Samuel 13:39; 14:7,11; 1 Kings 2:34) It was lawful to kill a burglar taken at night in the act, but unlawful to do so after sunrise. (Exodus 22:2,3)

MUR'DER. The Jewish law calls a murderer one who slays another from enmity, hatred, or by lying in wait. Otherwise it is manslaughter, but the avenger of blood might kill the unintentional murderer if he overtook him before he reached the city of refuge. For intentional murder there was no pardon; the city of refuge, and even the altar, furnished no asylum, nor might money be taken in satisfaction. Ex 21:14, Ex 21:28-29; Num 35:30-32; 1 Kgs 2:5-6, 1 Kgs 2:28-34. It was one of the most odious and abominable crimes, Deut 19:13; John 21:9; Num 35:33-34, and was a subject of early and severe legislation. Gen 9:6. See Cities of Refuge. A remarkable regulation made it legal to kill a housebreaker taken at night in the act, but murder if killed during the day. Ex 22:2-3. For the punishment of murder see Punishments.

MUR'DER. The Jewish law calls a murderer one who slays another from enmity, hatred, or by lying in wait. Otherwise it is manslaughter, but the avenger of blood might kill the unintentional murderer if he overtook him before he reached the city of refuge. For intentional murder there was no pardon; the city of refuge, and even the altar, furnished no asylum, nor might money be taken in satisfaction. Ex 21:14, Ex 21:28-29; Num 35:30-32; 1 Kgs 2:5-6, 1 Kgs 2:28-34. It was one of the most odious and abominable crimes, Deut 19:13; John 21:9; Num 35:33-34, and was a subject of early and severe legislation. Gen 9:6. See Cities of Refuge. A remarkable regulation made it legal to kill a housebreaker taken at night in the act, but murder if killed during the day. Ex 22:2-3. For the punishment of murder see Punishments.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

The offense of killing a human being with malice prepense or aforethought, express or implied; intentional and unlawful homicide. "Mordre will out." Chaucer. The killing of their children had, in the account of God, the guilt of murder, as the offering them to idols had the guilt of idolatry. Locke. Slaughter grows murder when it goes too far. Dryden.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To kill with premediated malice; to kill (a human being) willfully, deliberately, and unlawfully. See Murder, n.

2. To destroy; to put an end to. [Canst thou] murder thy breath in middle of a word Shak.

3. To mutilate, spoil, or deform, as if with malice or cruelty; to mangle; as, to murder the king's English.

Synonyms: kill; assassinate; slay. See Kill.