Leviticus 24:17-22
24:17 a Because human life was patterned after the life of God himself (Gen 1:26 b, 27 c), murder was a blasphemous act. It required the same penalty as oral blasphemy (Gen 9:6 d). For a similar law and its qualifiers, see Exod 21:12-14 e.24:20 f eye for an eye: The legal principle involved is often called lex talionis (“law of retaliation”), which is that the penalty must fit the crime. When an injured party sought revenge on behalf of their kinsman (see Num 35:19-21 g), excessive revenge naturally ensued instead of appropriate justice. This provoked even greater retaliation, resulting in a cycle of increasing violence. Lex talionis served to regulate the prosecution of crimes (see also Lev 6:2-7 h; cp. Exod 21:24 i; Lev 24:20 j; Deut 19:21 k; Matt 5:28-39 l).
24:22 m Although foreigners were not citizens, they were human beings entitled to equal justice under the law (see 16:29 n, 31 o).
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