Definition of STATE: "a country's government and those government-controlled institutions that are responsible for its internal administration and its relationships with other countries."
Out of 8 definitions for the words STATE, the one above will be used when I refer to it in this article.
I grew up in an evangelical home that equated patriotism with godliness. I was told that God gave man human government and although not perfect, it is worthy of respect and submission as unto God. But let's take a closer look into biblical history to see if that's really accurate.
God's first representative on the planet was Adam. God did not create people en masse. His command to His first patriarch and family--"be fruitful and multiply"--relied on personal, responsible and growing relationships if they were to also, as God commanded, "replenish the earth AND subdue it." (Genesis 1:28)*.
A look into the census in the book of Numbers reveals that the average Israelite father had 27 sons. Abraham could easily raise a fighting force of several hundred men if he added servants and sons of concubines.(Genesis 14:14). These cohesive families could range in number from one hundred to over a thousand--quite different from our modern concept of the family.
The family took responsibility for education, vocational instruction, health care, courtship and marriage, business planning, military training and battle, social entertainment, conflict resolution and matters of justice, as well as the usual needs of sustenance. It was a self-contained, governing unit.
After Cain killed Abel, God cursed him from the earth. Formerly a tiller of the ground, the earth would no longer yield its increase to Cain. God commanded him to wander the earth as a fugitive and a vagabond. Instead, he put down roots in the land of Nod. Nod literally means "place of wandering"; here Cain defiantly did just the opposite.
It appears that Cain's punishment was to wander alone so that wickedness would not also "be fruitful, multiply and take dominion", but Genesis 4:17 records that in addition to dwelling in one place, he began to have children and eventually built a "city". Why?
God had promised to protect him, but inherited in the Fall was the desire to be independent from God. Cain wanted to ensure his own security and change his destiny...to be the master of his own fate. He became a patriarch of a growing, powerful tribe. HE was in charge. He named the earth's first city after his son, Enoch.
"The exact meaning of Enoch is "initiation and the beginning of utilization." The name itself is opposed to Reshith (creation) in Genesis 1:1...Initiation as opposed to creation, the city as opposed to Eden. It underlines Cain's purpose: he will re-make the world." [1]
Cain starts again with his own idea of "Paradise". He takes what God has created and bends it to his will.
Next, Ham was one of Noah's sons. He was the one who callously uncovered his father's nakedness and received a curse on his son, Canaan (Gen. 9:10-27).
Spiros Zodhiates, editor of the Hebrew/Greek Study Bible notes: "The Hebrew word for "nakedness" actually means "shameful nakedness", and is often used to describe immoral behavior. A different word is used to describe simple nakedness or bareness.
"The fact that the curse is directed against Ham's son Canaan indicates that Canaan was somehow involved in immoral and indecent behavior with his drunken grandfather. Ham was directly to blame because he had allowed Canaan to grow up with this character, and because he did not evidently treat Noah with respect when he found him." [2]
This godless parenting of Ham is important to observe because another one of his sons, Cush, gave birth to Nimrod. The Bible calls him a "mighty one in the earth" (Gen. 10:8). Genesis also records that Nimrod was a "mighty hunter" before God. A more accurate translation of the word "hunter" is rebel, plunderer, conquer. Nimrod was not a hunter of animals, but men!
Adam and Eve were originally given the mandate to reproduce, then subdue and take dominion over the earth (not each other). The Talmud says the phrase take dominion implies ability, such as taking honey out of the hive or bread out of the oven. In other words, mankind would be able to creatively harvest creation and spread its abundance and glory all over the earth.
After the Fall, man's attempts to easily subdue the earth would fail, yielding only under strain and sweat. When Adam disobeyed the Creator, creation could no longer obey him.
But that's not all that turned upside down! Men and women would vacillate between two extremes--the desire to dominate or be dominated--turning their main focus from the uncooperative ground and animals to another arena of control--each other.
God later cleansed mankind from off the face of the earth with a global flood due to profound wickedness, saving only his man of faith and obedience, Noah, along with his family ( a total of eight people)
The wickedness God saw is not detailed, but we know:
1) The earth had become corrupted. The Hebrew word is "Shacath", meaning to devastate, to ruin by pulling down, wounding, killing; to be perverse, morally corrupt. The symbolism often used for this word is a "lion on the rampage".
2) The earth was filled with violence (Chamas). Everywhere was oppression, hurt, overthrowing, tearing down, and disgrace. This is the word used when describing EXTREME violence and wickedness.
3) EVERYONE was affected. Genesis 6:12 tells us that "ALL flesh had corrupted his "way: (Dherekh)...journey, road, course of life and worship.
This depravity was so far-reaching that God said He would destroy not only human flesh, but the plants and animals as well. Many scientists today believe that the earth tilts on its axis due to the power of the Flood, and the protective water canopy that once covered God's creation, along with the magnetic field that added to longevity and heightened senses, was lost in the upheaval.
The eight people who stepped out of the Ark were as sin-proned as when they stepped in, but God unconditionally promised to never again destroy the earth with a Flood. Obviously, the sin problem would once again escalate; therefore, God, who alone was the avenger up until this time (Genesis 4:15), delegated personal avenging authority on earth to man. I believe this was in order to restrain the growth of wickedness, and train man with greater responsibility as he re-colonized.
Many Christians believe this act was the beginning of what is known as the State, but this authority was given to the family unit! There was no such thing as the "STATE".
The "Avenger of Blood" or Kinsman Redeemer as he was known, was the one who righted all wrongs and corrected all imbalances against his family. In other words, the clan was responsible for maintaining their own order under God. Interestingly, the only "Law" of God, in addition to not consuming the blood in the meat, was to punish premeditated murder, for man was created in the image of God; to deliberately destroy it was an egregious assault on the Creator Himself. (Genesis 9:4-6) (Psalm 139)
But let's get back to Nimrod. He built the infamous Babylon, which the Bible records was just the beginning of his kingdom. (Genesis 10:10). Norman Horn has an excellent article highlighting the historical record of Titus Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who collaborates the Biblical account of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel. [3]
Horn summarizes Josephus' words:
"God then commands them to begin again in the task of spreading over the face of the earth – starting colonies. But instead, the people once again rebelled against God, even believing that this command to spread was given so that God could “oppress” them again. Nimrod, the first human king, was the individual most responsible for inciting this rebellion.
"They conspired to build a tower that, according to Genesis, would reach to the heavens and symbolize their ability to be gods themselves. Josephus indicates that they believed they could even attack heaven and avenge themselves against God for causing the great flood. God, to punish but not destroy them, sent confusion by causing them to speak different languages. (Genesis 11:3-8)
"They scattered (partly fulfilling God’s plan to spread humankind), and on the plains of Shinar the kingdom of Babylon was built. (Remember that Babylon is consistently referenced in the Bible as an abomination.)
As much as Josephus can be relied upon as a source, his account emphasizes four points:
Out of 8 definitions for the words STATE, the one above will be used when I refer to it in this article.
I grew up in an evangelical home that equated patriotism with godliness. I was told that God gave man human government and although not perfect, it is worthy of respect and submission as unto God. But let's take a closer look into biblical history to see if that's really accurate.
God's first representative on the planet was Adam. God did not create people en masse. His command to His first patriarch and family--"be fruitful and multiply"--relied on personal, responsible and growing relationships if they were to also, as God commanded, "replenish the earth AND subdue it." (Genesis 1:28)*.
A look into the census in the book of Numbers reveals that the average Israelite father had 27 sons. Abraham could easily raise a fighting force of several hundred men if he added servants and sons of concubines.(Genesis 14:14). These cohesive families could range in number from one hundred to over a thousand--quite different from our modern concept of the family.
The family took responsibility for education, vocational instruction, health care, courtship and marriage, business planning, military training and battle, social entertainment, conflict resolution and matters of justice, as well as the usual needs of sustenance. It was a self-contained, governing unit.
After Cain killed Abel, God cursed him from the earth. Formerly a tiller of the ground, the earth would no longer yield its increase to Cain. God commanded him to wander the earth as a fugitive and a vagabond. Instead, he put down roots in the land of Nod. Nod literally means "place of wandering"; here Cain defiantly did just the opposite.
It appears that Cain's punishment was to wander alone so that wickedness would not also "be fruitful, multiply and take dominion", but Genesis 4:17 records that in addition to dwelling in one place, he began to have children and eventually built a "city". Why?
God had promised to protect him, but inherited in the Fall was the desire to be independent from God. Cain wanted to ensure his own security and change his destiny...to be the master of his own fate. He became a patriarch of a growing, powerful tribe. HE was in charge. He named the earth's first city after his son, Enoch.
"The exact meaning of Enoch is "initiation and the beginning of utilization." The name itself is opposed to Reshith (creation) in Genesis 1:1...Initiation as opposed to creation, the city as opposed to Eden. It underlines Cain's purpose: he will re-make the world." [1]
Cain starts again with his own idea of "Paradise". He takes what God has created and bends it to his will.
Next, Ham was one of Noah's sons. He was the one who callously uncovered his father's nakedness and received a curse on his son, Canaan (Gen. 9:10-27).
Spiros Zodhiates, editor of the Hebrew/Greek Study Bible notes: "The Hebrew word for "nakedness" actually means "shameful nakedness", and is often used to describe immoral behavior. A different word is used to describe simple nakedness or bareness.
"The fact that the curse is directed against Ham's son Canaan indicates that Canaan was somehow involved in immoral and indecent behavior with his drunken grandfather. Ham was directly to blame because he had allowed Canaan to grow up with this character, and because he did not evidently treat Noah with respect when he found him." [2]
This godless parenting of Ham is important to observe because another one of his sons, Cush, gave birth to Nimrod. The Bible calls him a "mighty one in the earth" (Gen. 10:8). Genesis also records that Nimrod was a "mighty hunter" before God. A more accurate translation of the word "hunter" is rebel, plunderer, conquer. Nimrod was not a hunter of animals, but men!
Adam and Eve were originally given the mandate to reproduce, then subdue and take dominion over the earth (not each other). The Talmud says the phrase take dominion implies ability, such as taking honey out of the hive or bread out of the oven. In other words, mankind would be able to creatively harvest creation and spread its abundance and glory all over the earth.
After the Fall, man's attempts to easily subdue the earth would fail, yielding only under strain and sweat. When Adam disobeyed the Creator, creation could no longer obey him.
But that's not all that turned upside down! Men and women would vacillate between two extremes--the desire to dominate or be dominated--turning their main focus from the uncooperative ground and animals to another arena of control--each other.
God later cleansed mankind from off the face of the earth with a global flood due to profound wickedness, saving only his man of faith and obedience, Noah, along with his family ( a total of eight people)
The wickedness God saw is not detailed, but we know:
1) The earth had become corrupted. The Hebrew word is "Shacath", meaning to devastate, to ruin by pulling down, wounding, killing; to be perverse, morally corrupt. The symbolism often used for this word is a "lion on the rampage".
2) The earth was filled with violence (Chamas). Everywhere was oppression, hurt, overthrowing, tearing down, and disgrace. This is the word used when describing EXTREME violence and wickedness.
3) EVERYONE was affected. Genesis 6:12 tells us that "ALL flesh had corrupted his "way: (Dherekh)...journey, road, course of life and worship.
This depravity was so far-reaching that God said He would destroy not only human flesh, but the plants and animals as well. Many scientists today believe that the earth tilts on its axis due to the power of the Flood, and the protective water canopy that once covered God's creation, along with the magnetic field that added to longevity and heightened senses, was lost in the upheaval.
The eight people who stepped out of the Ark were as sin-proned as when they stepped in, but God unconditionally promised to never again destroy the earth with a Flood. Obviously, the sin problem would once again escalate; therefore, God, who alone was the avenger up until this time (Genesis 4:15), delegated personal avenging authority on earth to man. I believe this was in order to restrain the growth of wickedness, and train man with greater responsibility as he re-colonized.
Many Christians believe this act was the beginning of what is known as the State, but this authority was given to the family unit! There was no such thing as the "STATE".
The "Avenger of Blood" or Kinsman Redeemer as he was known, was the one who righted all wrongs and corrected all imbalances against his family. In other words, the clan was responsible for maintaining their own order under God. Interestingly, the only "Law" of God, in addition to not consuming the blood in the meat, was to punish premeditated murder, for man was created in the image of God; to deliberately destroy it was an egregious assault on the Creator Himself. (Genesis 9:4-6) (Psalm 139)
But let's get back to Nimrod. He built the infamous Babylon, which the Bible records was just the beginning of his kingdom. (Genesis 10:10). Norman Horn has an excellent article highlighting the historical record of Titus Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who collaborates the Biblical account of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel. [3]
Horn summarizes Josephus' words:
"God then commands them to begin again in the task of spreading over the face of the earth – starting colonies. But instead, the people once again rebelled against God, even believing that this command to spread was given so that God could “oppress” them again. Nimrod, the first human king, was the individual most responsible for inciting this rebellion.
"They conspired to build a tower that, according to Genesis, would reach to the heavens and symbolize their ability to be gods themselves. Josephus indicates that they believed they could even attack heaven and avenge themselves against God for causing the great flood. God, to punish but not destroy them, sent confusion by causing them to speak different languages. (Genesis 11:3-8)
"They scattered (partly fulfilling God’s plan to spread humankind), and on the plains of Shinar the kingdom of Babylon was built. (Remember that Babylon is consistently referenced in the Bible as an abomination.)
As much as Josephus can be relied upon as a source, his account emphasizes four points:
- The origin of human government is rebellion against God.
- The government sets itself up specifically in opposition to the rule of God.
- The rulers exalt themselves while deceiving the people.
- Human government drives a wedge between people, pitting them against each other.[3]
Babel means, "The gates of the gods...the place of confusion". Just like Cain, Nimrod manipulated God's created elements, burned them and built his own "Paradise"--a tribute to man's efforts, not the glory of God.
He wanted it to reach higher than any tree in his forefather's Garden--so high that he could find God and destroy Him! Nimrod exalted the State (government by man divorced from God and designed to replace God). He denigrated the individual, and commanded loyalty and priority to the political collective above the sacred family.
Liz McAlister makes this observation: "Let us confuse their language that they may not understand one another. This has always been used to explain different languages. Perhaps so, but a separation of tongues is not mentioned but a "confusion of their language." It is not stated that people will speak several languages but that they will no longer understand what others are saying. The emphasis is not on speaking as such but on understanding. [1]
"Just as the story of Pentecost, it is not stated that the apostles spoke all the languages of those present but rather that "speaking other languages," they were understood by all. In Genesis, they cannot communicate even when they speak the same language and use the same words. In (and because of?) the spirit of city, people no longer understand each other and get along." [1]
In Egypt, Jacob's patriarchal authority eroded under the influence of a godless state that eventually ended in total surrender and enslavement. After 400 years, Moses led them out of bondage; thus began years of reclaiming their identity and liberties.
The Law was only enacted due to ingrained lawlessness after the breakdown of personal godliness and responsibility. It was also designed to be temporary. The people of God had to be restrained and instructed all over again like children.
"But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3: 23, 24)
God empowered His people to clean and claim a new land from wickedness. Once again, the land was filled with depravity, but instead of a direct act of God (the Flood), man was given the responsibility; instead of a global event, they gained only the property God had ordained.
Moses then divided it according to tribes, with no central center. As time went on, individual prophets and judges were raised up to deliver them when they sinned and as a result, had their land overrun and occupied by neighboring, ungodly States.
Eventually, the Israelites wanted to be more like the nations around them, coveting not only their sinful practices but a monarchy as well. God gave them what they wanted with a warning: "And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you:
He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. (conscription)
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. (government workers)
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. (mandatory Civil Service)
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. (Taxes)
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work (wards of the state)
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. (1 Samuel 8: 11-17)
The people didn't care, saying they "wanted a king to judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." They got what they asked for!
King Solomon, David's son, forged ungodly alliances and sanctioned idol worship...setting up altars to Molech, whose worship demanded child sacrifices. With children in service to the State and crippling taxes, God's people were enslaved again--not from outside forces, but from within.
After Solomon's death, his son announced his 'reforms' would even be more oppressive than his father's! Most of the citizens rebelled.
The Bible records the gathering of God's people into two main tribes--Judah was faithful to Solomon's son, but Israel set up a new king. The monarchial lines in both tribes fell into deeper immorality and idolatry, and the people followed their examples.
Instead of judging themselves according to the Word of God, they wanted power hungry kings to rule them. Having abdicated personal responsibility and having sold their families into State servitude, the tribal tradition finally dissolved. They lost their property. Israel was taken captive by Assyria, and Judah by Babylon. Although a remnant from Judah returned, Israel remained scattered.
Sadly, after returning to their homeland, God's people lived on their former property as serfs under many foreign occupations. In A.D. 70 apostate Judaism was judged by God; the Temple was destroyed by Roman armies, sacrifices ended, and the survivors were scattered throughout the earth. Josephus also vividly details this in The Wars of the Jews.
Christians, what have we asked for? A king that will judge us and "go before us"...to sanction and implement that which was divinely commissioned to families?
A government that will determine our battles and send us forth to indiscriminately murder, violating the principal of the Kinsman Redeemer*--the only guiltless shedding of blood that allows for measured retribution for someone who could not respond in self-defense?
God began with a man given free will and the responsibilities to govern his life, liberties, and property (Eden). Then, Eve emerged with the same responsibilities; however, now she and Adam were responsible--not for but to each other--as a mutually respectful family.
Mankind's families were supposed to grow and expand all over the earth under God's blessings. Tribes were to engage in free trade and beneficial interactions, gathering into communities to better aid their socialization and religious life, while maintaining their familial ties, authority and distinctions.
The STATE usurped godly authority from the family and communities that thrived on interpersonal, voluntary associations. It centralized into an edifice--a command center of imposing power, built by the sweat of servants unto the greed, vanity, and idolatry of man.
To some, the State is the "gates of the gods", but in reality, it is the place of confusion.
How do you see it? Is your perception the same as God's?
"Behold, the people (the State) is one...and now nothing will be restrained from them, what they have imagined to do." (Genesis 11:6)
He wanted it to reach higher than any tree in his forefather's Garden--so high that he could find God and destroy Him! Nimrod exalted the State (government by man divorced from God and designed to replace God). He denigrated the individual, and commanded loyalty and priority to the political collective above the sacred family.
Liz McAlister makes this observation: "Let us confuse their language that they may not understand one another. This has always been used to explain different languages. Perhaps so, but a separation of tongues is not mentioned but a "confusion of their language." It is not stated that people will speak several languages but that they will no longer understand what others are saying. The emphasis is not on speaking as such but on understanding. [1]
"Just as the story of Pentecost, it is not stated that the apostles spoke all the languages of those present but rather that "speaking other languages," they were understood by all. In Genesis, they cannot communicate even when they speak the same language and use the same words. In (and because of?) the spirit of city, people no longer understand each other and get along." [1]
In Egypt, Jacob's patriarchal authority eroded under the influence of a godless state that eventually ended in total surrender and enslavement. After 400 years, Moses led them out of bondage; thus began years of reclaiming their identity and liberties.
The Law was only enacted due to ingrained lawlessness after the breakdown of personal godliness and responsibility. It was also designed to be temporary. The people of God had to be restrained and instructed all over again like children.
"But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3: 23, 24)
God empowered His people to clean and claim a new land from wickedness. Once again, the land was filled with depravity, but instead of a direct act of God (the Flood), man was given the responsibility; instead of a global event, they gained only the property God had ordained.
Moses then divided it according to tribes, with no central center. As time went on, individual prophets and judges were raised up to deliver them when they sinned and as a result, had their land overrun and occupied by neighboring, ungodly States.
Eventually, the Israelites wanted to be more like the nations around them, coveting not only their sinful practices but a monarchy as well. God gave them what they wanted with a warning: "And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you:
He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. (conscription)
And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. (government workers)
And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. (mandatory Civil Service)
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. (Taxes)
And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work (wards of the state)
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. (1 Samuel 8: 11-17)
The people didn't care, saying they "wanted a king to judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." They got what they asked for!
King Solomon, David's son, forged ungodly alliances and sanctioned idol worship...setting up altars to Molech, whose worship demanded child sacrifices. With children in service to the State and crippling taxes, God's people were enslaved again--not from outside forces, but from within.
After Solomon's death, his son announced his 'reforms' would even be more oppressive than his father's! Most of the citizens rebelled.
The Bible records the gathering of God's people into two main tribes--Judah was faithful to Solomon's son, but Israel set up a new king. The monarchial lines in both tribes fell into deeper immorality and idolatry, and the people followed their examples.
Instead of judging themselves according to the Word of God, they wanted power hungry kings to rule them. Having abdicated personal responsibility and having sold their families into State servitude, the tribal tradition finally dissolved. They lost their property. Israel was taken captive by Assyria, and Judah by Babylon. Although a remnant from Judah returned, Israel remained scattered.
Sadly, after returning to their homeland, God's people lived on their former property as serfs under many foreign occupations. In A.D. 70 apostate Judaism was judged by God; the Temple was destroyed by Roman armies, sacrifices ended, and the survivors were scattered throughout the earth. Josephus also vividly details this in The Wars of the Jews.
Christians, what have we asked for? A king that will judge us and "go before us"...to sanction and implement that which was divinely commissioned to families?
A government that will determine our battles and send us forth to indiscriminately murder, violating the principal of the Kinsman Redeemer*--the only guiltless shedding of blood that allows for measured retribution for someone who could not respond in self-defense?
God began with a man given free will and the responsibilities to govern his life, liberties, and property (Eden). Then, Eve emerged with the same responsibilities; however, now she and Adam were responsible--not for but to each other--as a mutually respectful family.
Mankind's families were supposed to grow and expand all over the earth under God's blessings. Tribes were to engage in free trade and beneficial interactions, gathering into communities to better aid their socialization and religious life, while maintaining their familial ties, authority and distinctions.
The STATE usurped godly authority from the family and communities that thrived on interpersonal, voluntary associations. It centralized into an edifice--a command center of imposing power, built by the sweat of servants unto the greed, vanity, and idolatry of man.
To some, the State is the "gates of the gods", but in reality, it is the place of confusion.
How do you see it? Is your perception the same as God's?
"Behold, the people (the State) is one...and now nothing will be restrained from them, what they have imagined to do." (Genesis 11:6)
"...God is not the author of confusion." 1 Corinthians 14:3
* Does God approve of vigilante-like justice? Is the Kinsman Redeemer a vigilante?
The Kinsman Redeemer,Ga'al, was a widespread ancient custom by the time of Moses' Law. Even Cain was afraid of being avenged for his brother's death, adding further plausibility to the idea that the earth was initially populated through intermarriage**
The Kinsman Redeemer's responsibilities were:
1) To rescue or deliver from captivity and imminent harm (as Abraham did Lot)
2) To redeem property
The Kinsman Redeemer,Ga'al, was a widespread ancient custom by the time of Moses' Law. Even Cain was afraid of being avenged for his brother's death, adding further plausibility to the idea that the earth was initially populated through intermarriage**
The Kinsman Redeemer's responsibilities were:
1) To rescue or deliver from captivity and imminent harm (as Abraham did Lot)
2) To redeem property
3) To redeem a person (as Boaz did Ruth)
The kinsman redeemer would marry the widow to raise up an heir to the deceased. Widows, with no inheritance of their own and no son to provide for them, were often left destitute unless redeemed.
4) To redeem an oath
If a family member could not fulfill an oath (obligation to God or man), the nearest kinsman could take the responsibility to avoid community disputes or the displeasure of God.
5) To avenge the murder of a relative
The following Scriptures outline the dynamics involved with an "Avenger of Blood":
5) To avenge the murder of a relative
The following Scriptures outline the dynamics involved with an "Avenger of Blood":
"Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there.Note that a slayer--native son, sojourner or alien living in the land--could run to a nearby city of refuge where a group of objective elders would hear his case, but only on the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).
"The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial. The cities which you are to give shall be your six cities of refuge.
"You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge.These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
"But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he might die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death. The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him.
"If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him lying in wait and as a result he died, or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
"But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or threw something at him without lying in wait, or with any deadly object of stone, and without seeing it dropped on him so that he died, while he was not his enemy nor seeking his injury,then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the blood avenger according to these ordinances.The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
"But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee, and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return to the land of his possession.
"These things shall be for a statutory ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death at the evidence of witnesses, but no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death, but he shall surely be put to death. You shall not take ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to live in the land before the death of the priest.
"So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it. You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I the LORD am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.'" (Numbers 35:12-27)
If determined that the death at his hands was accidental, he would not resume life as usual. He had to remain in the City of Refuge under what constituted a "localized arrest" until the death of the High Priest (his legal covering, so to speak). He was then free to return to his home and the Ga'al could not legally retaliate. If he presumptuously left the city, he removed himself from community protection and the Ga'al could hunt him down.
If the slayer was guilty of murder in cold blood, he was turned out of the city and unto the pursuing avenger. Only if the killer sought help would he be given the opportunity to clear his name. A man on the run, without availing himself to the community, was at the mercy of the Ga'al.
Vigilante? Hardly! For some reason the slain relative was not able to successfully protect himself, which every man created in the image of God has the responsibility to do. The Ga'al completes it as a matter of honor to the victim, his family, and unto God, whose innocent image in the earth was deliberately, violently removed!
God's ways are best; His judicial system, given to the Israelites thousands of years ago, is still superior to those of man. The act of murder was best handled within strong, family units under the checks and balances of a godly community.
Today, the family structure, authority, and respect is broken and scattered. What we sacrificed under the State, as did Jacob, has put us in bondage. What were once family and local community matters are now commissioned, implemented and regulated by the sterile State--education, marriage, healthcare, business, conflict resolutions and punishment.
Both the victim's family and the slayer appealing to the State as a "City of refuge", enter a laborious system of reckless handling of evidence, delays, incompetent representation, and one that lacks the satisfaction of adequate restitution to the family and proper punishment to the slayer.
Even for one who murders in cold blood, the right amount of money and savvy lawyers can provide an escape from justice. But why do we confidently expect justice to be meted out from an unjust State?
We, like Adam, have relinquished and continue to surrender the stewardship ( responsibility) for our lives, liberties, and properties to the State. In return, we are forced to serve under its abusive dominion.
How then, do live under this occupation in a way that is pleasing to God without bowing to corruption ourselves? We'll explore this and many other topics in future posts!
**"The Bible does not specifically say who Cain’s wife was. The only possible answer is that Cain's wife was his sister or niece or great-niece, etc. The Bible does not say how old Cain was when he killed Abel (Genesis 4:8). Since they were both farmers, they were likely both full-grown adults, possibly with families of their own.
"Adam and Eve surely had given birth to more children than just Cain and Abel at the time Abel was killed.They definitely had many more children later (Genesis 5:4). The fact that Cain was scared for his own life after he killed Abel (Genesis 4:14) indicates that there were likely many other children and perhaps even grandchildren of Adam and Eve already living at that time. Cain's wife (Genesis 4:17) was a daughter or granddaughter of Adam and Eve. [2]
"Since Adam and Eve were the first (and only) human beings, their children would have no other choice than to intermarry. God did not forbid inter-family marriage until much later when there were enough people to make intermarriage unnecessary (Leviticus 18:6-18). The reason that incest today often results in genetic abnormalities is that when two people of similar genetics (i.e., a brother and sister) have children together, there is a high risk of their recessive characteristics becoming dominant. [2]
"When people from different families have children, it is highly unlikely that both parents will carry the same recessive traits. The human genetic code has become increasingly “polluted” over the centuries as genetic defects are multiplied, amplified, and passed down from generation to generation. Adam and Eve did not have any genetic defects, and that enabled them and the first few generations of their descendants to have a far greater quality of health than we do now. Adam and Eve’s children had few, if any, genetic defects. As a result, it was safe for them to intermarry." [2]
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