Gen. 9:6:

Prov. 28:17:

In studying civil law in light of biblical and natural law, I couldn't help but think of the above two verses in light of each other. Sticking to the sixth commandment for now, the former verse seems to point to death as the just civil penalty for breaking it, while the latter verse seems to take it in another direction--one which doesn't seem like it would be possible if the former verse were consistently implemented.

How do others here understand those two verses in light of each other, and how each relates to civil law?

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Chris


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Christopher Blum
Member of Trinity Presbyterian Church of Northern Kentucky (PCA) in Burlington, KY

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I see no inconsistency between the two verses, I guess I would explain it this way:

The "one burdened with the blood of another is a fugitive until death" (Prov. 28:7), that is, until he is apprehended by the civil majestrate. Then "shall his blood be shed" (Genesis 9:6). While he is a fugitive, no one should give him aid, or help him hide from the majestrate ("let no one help him" Prov. 28:7).

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Sterling Harmon
Coventry, CT
PCA
Deacon
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"Whatever is laudable in our works proceeds from the grace of God."
-- John Calvin, Institutes III:xv.3.

"Our Lord God must be a good man, to be fond of worthless fellows. I cannot like them, and yet I, myself, am one."
-- Martin Luther, Table Talk

I also see Solomon perhaps reflecting on the text of Gen 4:13-14.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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You're not burdened with the other's blood if it was taken legally.

If a thief has money taken from him by a court, the court is not stealing. In the same way, if the life of a man is forfeited by a court, the court is not committing murder, and thus is not burdened.

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Tim Vaughan, 48 years old, member Redeemer OPC, Santa Maria CA.