Donna Williams Supporter

Dear Anonymous, please allow me to say, that God never contradicts Himself. Exodus 20:13 is a commandment, and Exodus 21:12, is the punishment for breaking the commandment. 

However, God is a Just Judge, in verses 13 & 14, we see where He is fair, and the judgment is conditional, based on the circumstances of the crime committed. 

For it is written in 21:13: "However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee." I believe this was called the city of refuge, or the place in this case could be the altar that is mentioned by God. In some instances in the Bible, it is described as the horn of the altar, where those fled to escape the judgment of God. 

21:14: "But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die".

God is righteous in all of His ways, and does not judge according to the outward appearance, but judges according to the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. See 1Samuel 16:7 and Hebrews 4:12.

I encourage you to read the previous, or the verses after for context and clarity. I believe this is the reason for misinterpretation of Scripture, and doctrinal differences in the body of Christ.

It is the will of God that we be united, and not divided in Christ.

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Reddit User Supporter Let the corpus of my replies speak for my beliefs

In our world, games have rules. We cannot sit down to a table, ask a friend to play a game, and then subsequently break every rule we agreed to peaceably keep by inviting that friend to play! 

The question is a non-sequitur. We cannot point to the justice of a murderer being put to death and say, surely a contradiction exists! See, the law of "thou shalt not kill!" has been transgressed! 

The law is, thou shalt not murder. For if it were just kill then we would have no right to make sacrifices or eat a steak dinner. But that is not at all what the law says. It is, thou shalt not murder. 

Genesis 9:5 states, "And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man." 

When we look at the laws given on Har Horev (Mt. Sinai), it is clear the meaning: it is that when the murderer is put to death, it is for their own actions that their life is forfeited. It is for our benefit, but we are enacting the will of G-d, our Creator, for only He has the right to take life and the majestic ability to give it.

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Shirley H Supporter Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

In this verse Exodus 20:13, the command does not forbid all killing. Remember God gave His o.k. for Israel to war with their enemies. War, equals " killing" for self- defense. See Exodus 22:2,3. Today based on Genesis 9:6 government is authorized to use capital punishment.

Specifically, it prohibits any unauthorized killing, whether or not premeditated. This includes suicide and abortion.

Murder is forbidden because every person is a unique image of God.

In Exodus 21:12, we are talking about homicide, intentional murder! The death penalty was prescribed for this type of death. 

There is accidental death. If that should occur, God provided places for refuge. A guilty party who involuntarily murdered (manslaughter) receives sanctuary.

See Numbers 35:9-34; Deuteronomy 4:41-43; and 19:1-13; Joshua 20:1-9.

But remember, no safety for guilt of any premeditated murder.

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