Avenger of Blood

How Nave’s arranged it

• PremosaicGenesis 9:5Genesis 9:6
• Cain fearsGenesis 4:14Genesis 4:15
• Lamech fearsGenesis 4:24
• Law concerning, set aside. by David2 Samuel 14:4–11
• See Homicide
• FIGURATIVE
• SCRIPTURES RELATING TOGenesis 9:5Genesis 9:6Numbers 35:19–29Deuteronomy 19:4–13Joshua 20:1–9

The passages, in Bible order (9)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 9 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 4:14

   Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:142 voices

   “Therefore, everyone who finds me will kill me. Since from the trembling of the body and the fury of the trembling one, or from the instability of the wanderer and fugitive, he understands him to be one who deserves to be killed. But God, not …

   “My iniquity is greater than that I may deserve pardon. Behold, you cast me out today from your presence, and I shall be hidden from your face and from the face of the earth, and I shall be a wanderer and a fugitive on the …

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2. Genesis 4:15

   “Not so!” replied the LORD. “If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold.” And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:152 voices

   “Indeed, it was not without reason that the mark was set upon Cain, that no one might kill him. Thus it was indicated that evil is not destroyed or removed from the earth. Cain was afraid that he might be killed, because he did not know how to flee. For evil is augmented and amassed by the practice of evil, and it exists without moderation or limit, fights through guile and deceit and is revealed by its deeds and by the blood of the slain, even as Cain also was revealed.

   “And the Lord said unto him,....

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3. Genesis 4:24

   If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 4:242 voices

   “Abel's was a more excellent sacrifice than Cain's; Cain's was only a sacrifice of acknowledgment offered to the Creator; the meat- offerings of the fruit of the ground were no more: but Abel brought a sacrifice of atonement, the blood whereof was shed in order to remission, thereby owning himself a sinner, deprecating God's wrath, and imploring his favour in a Mediator.

   Some suppose that Cain was slain by Lamech, and that he survived to this generation that he might suffer a longer punishment. But this is not the case. Lamech evidently committed two murders, from what he says himself, "I have slain a man and a young man," the man to his wounding, and the young man to his hurt. There is a difference between wounding and hurt. And there is a difference between a man and a young man. "If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold."

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4. Genesis 9:5

   And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

   ›Commentary on Genesis 9:52 voices

   “Indeed, I will require your blood, and the blood of your souls from all beasts, and from the hand of man (Gen. IX, 5). He compared it to bestial malice, or rather even accumulated the wickedness of man beyond the ferocity of beasts, by saying: From the hand of the brother of man. Indeed, beasts have nothing in common with us in nature, and they are not bound by any brotherly right. If they harm humans, they harm them as strangers.

   “And surely your blood of your lives will I require,....

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5. Genesis 9:6

   Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 9:62 voices

   “Whoso sheddeth man's blood . . . for in the image of God made he man--It is true that image has been injured by the fall, but it is not lost. In this view, a high value is attached to the life of every man, even the poorest and humblest, and an awful criminality is involved in the destruction of it.

   “Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God have I made man. Hence it is manifest that God, both before the transgression and long after its occurrence, gave to man the same honour and power and …

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6. Numbers 35:19–29

   The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him.

   ›Commentary on Numbers 35:19–292 voices

   “If he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, &c.--Various cases are here enumerated in which the Goel or avenger was at liberty to take the life of the murderer; and every one of them proves a premeditated purpose.

   “The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer,....

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7. Deuteronomy 19:4–13

   Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him:

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 19:4–132 voices

   “(3.) It is provided that, if an avenger of blood should be so unreasonable as to demand satisfaction for blood shed by accident only, then the city of refuge should protect the slayer. Sins of ignorance indeed do expose us to the wrath of God, but there is relief provided, if by faith and repentance we make use of it.

   “And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live,....

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8. Joshua 20:1–9

   Then the LORD said to Joshua,

   ›Commentary on Joshua 20:1–92 voices

   “Lastly, the people were accustomed to detest murder, since homicide, even when not culpable, was followed by exile from country and home, till the death of the high priest. For that temporary exile clearly showed how precious human blood is in the sight of God. Thus the law was just, equitable, and useful, as well in a public as in a private point of view.

   “The institution of the cities of refuge, together with the rules prescribed for the guidance of those who sought an asylum within their walls, was an important provision, tending to secure the ends of justice as well as of mercy.

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9. 2 Samuel 14:4–11

   When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!”

   ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 14:4–112 voices

   “And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman--The king was strongly attached to Absalom; and having now got over his sorrow for the violent death of Amnon, he was desirous of again enjoying the society of his favorite son, who had now been three long years absent.

   “And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king,.... Or after she had spoken to him, being introduced by Joab, as is probable; when she had saluted him with God save the king, or May the king live, or some such like expressions: she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance; to him as her king, in reverence of his majesty: and said, help, O king; signifying that she was in great distress, and came to him for assistance and deliverance.

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