A biblical perspective on ‘The death penalty’
A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE
THE DISCUSSION on capital punishment continues despite Jamaica’s cessation of hanging in 1988.
What does the Bible say? In Genesis 9:6 God’s warning to Adam was stern: “whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
It is clear the supreme value God placed on human life because man bears God’s image and likeness. The warning against murder was repeated in the 613 laws and ordinances given to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Bible. However, the death penalty was extended to a number of offences, including violation of the Sabbath (Numbers 15: 32-36), witchcraft (Leviticus 20:27), disrespect for parents (Leviticus 20:9), incest (Leviticus 20: 11-12), adultery (Leviticus 20:10) and homosexuality (Leviticus 20:10), among others.
DRACONIAN MEASURES
Many would find it severe and even reprehensible to punish with death some of those transgressions today, given the refinement of values since Old Testament times. But such was the Mosaic Law we use to justify perpetuation of the death penalty.
Those who support capital punishment also often refer to Exodus 21:23, “If there is serious injury, take life for life, eye for eye, foot for foot, hand for hand, burn for burn, bruise for bruise.” And, Leviticus 24:17, Exodus 21:12-14, and Numbers 35: 16-21, which state, in essence, that he who wilfully takes human life should surely be put to death. Lex Talionis is the principle on which our justice system is based: “Eye for an eye, life for life” et cetera. My understanding of this principle outlined in the law dictionary is that punishment should be aligned with the severity of the crime. Further, that the most severe punishment should be reserved for the most severe of crimes. Despite reliance on the Mosaic Law as the justification to take life for life, no similar punishment is accorded to any other offence. So for the crime of rape, the offender is not raped. If someone chops off another’s hand, the state does not chop off the offender’s hand. I would like to think that the literal acceptance of God’s principles (or command, if you will) should be consistent in all respects.
MARK ON CAIN
After the first murder recorded in Genesis 4:8, God put a mark on Cain and pronounced a special protection on his life (Genesis 4:15) “therefore whoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” Two other murderers Moses (Exodus 2:12) and David (2 Samuel 11:15-24) were spared.
In addition, there were several cities of refuge to which criminals, including murderers, could retreat, for atonement, and they would have been protected from capital punishment. The point is, there was no consistency in Jewish Law in punishing murder with death.