Friday, December 16, 2005

Murder in Hebrew

Some examples of murder are given in Numbers 35:16-18:

If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone
so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.
The English translation does not really capture the intensity of these words.
The Hebrew text uses less words, but they are often repeated for emphasis.
Hit with Iron, die die, murderer murderer, die die.
Hit with Stone, die die, murderer murderer, die die.
Wood in hand, die die, murderer murderer, die die.
The symetry between the punishment and the crime is obvious.

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