Considering ... some laws F/Sa 8/5-6

This week, we’re reading Numbers 30:2 through 36:13, the end of the Book of Numbers. In the combined reading, Moses describes the laws of oaths. The Israelites battle the Midianites. The tribes of Reuven (Ruben) and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel. The tribes of Reuven and Gad promise to help out the other tribes while not living in the land of Israel. God tells Moses exactly where each tribe will live. God clarifies the laws of murder. The daughters of Tz’lof’chad receive their inheritance. I’d like to clarify one or two things.

God said, “Moses, tell the people that in the promised land of Canaan, you shall make safe cities. These cities of refuge shall be a safe place for people who kill until that person has been judged innocent or guilty. There shall be six safe cities, three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan.”

Moses tells the people about God’s specific laws about murder. “If one murders out of hatred, the murderer shall be put to death. This murderer may only be punished by death if at least two witnesses can verify the murderer... No one may be killed on the words of only a single witness. If a murderer is to die then do so. Never accept a bribe to keep the murderer alive. If a death occurs without hatred or desire to hurt, then the killer will be taken to a safe city. If the killer leaves the safe city then that killer can be killed. This is the law of justice for all time in your land. God says not to turn the Promised Land into a place of sins and lies and injustice. Keep the promised land pure for God is watching the Children of Israel.”

After the giving of these laws on murder, the land inheritances of Tzelof’had’s daughters (remember last week when I talked about them? they asked to inherit what their father would have been given had he lived through the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and he didn’t leave sons) are clarified. Since God told Moses that if there are no male inheritors, land inheritance shall pass to the daughters. The tribal members were concerned about the transference of land when the daughters get married. Moses answered, “These daughters must marry someone in the family of their father’s tribe so that no inheritance shall pass from one tribe to another.”

The last words of the Book of Numbers are that these are some of the laws that the Lord commanded the Israelites, through Moses, on the steppes of Moab, at the Jordan (“across from”) Jericho.

Q/qs:
(1) What is difference between “thou shall not murder” and “thou shall not kill”? Consider, for instance, self-defense and eating meat.
(2) Why is it important always to have two witnesses before judging someone innocent or guilty of a sin?
(3) Do you believe that people who murder out of hatred should be put to death? Would you word it a different way (and if so, how?)? Why or why not?
(4) Do you think it was important to marry within their father’s tribe (for the five daughters of Tzelof’chad)?