So is it Do not Murder or Do not Kill and what's the difference?

If you look in different translations for the bible, you will see the two different statements. Of the ten commandments, I have seen it in both forms.

'Do not Kill' or 'Do not Murder'

One would ask what would be the difference, since in both actions the life is taken.

The ten commandments is first seen in the book of Exodus chapter 20. The one we are referring to in this article is the sixth commandment. I have a interlinear bible that provides the Hebrew writing as well as the direct translation. No, I cannot read Hebrew. However, in this, the direct translation is the following.

Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder."

So the direct translation is 'murder' not kill. That answers the first part.

Wikipedia defines murder as "Murder is the unlawful killing of one human being by another through any action intended (or in some countries also being recklessly indifferent) to kill or cause grievous bodily harm."

Websters Collegiate Dictionary defines murder as; "The offense of unlawful killing a human being with malice aforethought, express or implied."

So again, it appears murder is the 'unlawful killing' of a human being by another human being. We can call this act homicidal in nature.

I make this point, because murder is not defined as an action of war, nor a means of defense. So there is cause for 'killing' but no cause for 'murder'. There is a difference.

Now, does that mean it's nice to kill? Of course not, but there is a distinction of the two.

Ham was cursed. That's why there are blacks and they were slaves

Yes. Some people actually believe those that are black came from a curse.

When I was a kid, I heard this same story as well. "You know why they are black, don't you? It's because they were cursed."

Although, these same relatives and friends of relatives, couldn't quite point this out, it was simply what they were taught as well.

This inaccurate teaching is derived from Genesis chapter nine verse 25. Let's first look at the whole story and then view what is actually being said. Yes, again, it's all in the context.

We read the story leading up to the curse in Genesis 9:18-24;

In verse 18 and 19 the individuals are identified.

Now the sons of Noah who went out fo teh ark were Shem, Ham, and Japeth. And Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.

In verse 20 through 24 we see Ham's sin. Two things I need to point out in these verses. First, this again was before the laws were given to the people by God. So I do not see any law against 'seeing one naked'. Second, some scholars view this act of 'saw the nakedness' and 'Noah knew what his younger son had done to him' as Ham performing some physical act on his own father.

And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japeth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness. So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger sone had done to him.

Now the curse.

Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be to his brethern." And he said: Blessed be the Lord, The God of Shem, and may Canaan be his servant. May God enlarge Japeth, and may he dwell in the tents of Shem; and may Canaan be his servant."

So let's look at the curse in question. I do not see anything what-so-ever regarding someone turning from one color to another. Rather, I see one son's descendants becoming a servant of servants to his brethren. Further on in the bible, you read the 'curse' or 'prophesy' of Noah to his son's unfold.

In Genesis chapter ten verse 6 through 14 you see the descendants of Ham. Note his descendents are the Philistines. Also in Genesis chapter ten verse 15 through 19 you see Canaan's descendents. You see part of his descendents are those in Sodom and Gomorrah.

So the curse wasn't really about a skin color or slavery. Rather, the curse was his descendents being away from God.

A couple of other things to note. It appears, the inaccurate reading of this 'curse of Ham' seems to be told in other forms of religion as well.

Note these references;

In 1958, from the writings of the Mormon church:

We know the circumstances under which the posterity of Cain (and later of Ham) were cursed with what we call Negroid racial characteristics.1

In 1929, a Jehovah’s Witnesses publication stated:

The curse which Noah pronounced upon Canaan was the origin of the black race.2



In closing, I would like to make this statement. When you hear anyone teaching about people being of a different 'race' or this curse was the cause of his/her skin color. Please understand, that is not a biblical teaching. Rather it is a evolutionary teaching. In Evolution, there are classifications of one evolving. This sets different standards between people. Biblically, we all descend from Adam and Eve. Thus, we are all equal to the eyes of God.

If you have any questions you would like me to research, please contact me.

So if there were only Cain and Able, who did Cain marry?

I cheated a little on this one. I actually learned the answer awhile back. However, as a kid, this one threw me.

Most recall the story, but for those that do not, let's state it before we answer the question.

We read in Genesis chapter 4 verse one and two where Eve had Cain and Abel. With these two sons, the story gives us the first murder that ever took place. It was done out of one being jealous of the other. In verse 8 of chapter 4, we see Cain 'rose against his brother and killed him'. Basically, he jumped him in a field. Later on in verse 9 'the Lord' asked Cain 'where is your brother'. So we have a couple of things to point out already. Prior to the first murder (the ten commandments have not been given to the people yet), God walked and talked with the people of Earth. Note 'the Lord' also asked where Abel was. This indicates God also was on a ground level with Abel. Scholars believe this to be Jesus, prior of being begotten.

Irregardless, Cain spouted back, 'I don't know. Am I my brothers keeper'. This would be the same as a kid telling a parent, 'What are you asking me for'. So God then tells Cain his 'brothers blood cries out to him from the ground' in verse 10. So again, God already knew, but asked Cain anyway. Now we see Cain as a murderer and liar. For punishment, God cursed Cain from the earth and made him a fugitive.

Note verse 14. Cain replies 'anyone who finds me will kill me'. This is the first indication of more people than he, abel, adam and eve on the planet. In verse 15 God puts a mark on Cain lest anyone finding him should kill him. This re-emphasizes there are more than the 4 of them. Later on in Genesis chapter 4 verse 16 and 17 we see Cain went to Nod, on the east of Eden and found a wife. Now we come to the question.

Who is this wife and these people Cain feared would kill him?

First I would like to point out some things. It's all about context.

1) In Genesis chapter 3 verse 20, we are told Eve is the mother of all living. So from this text, any human being is a off-spring of Eve. With that said, we simply are all related. Please note, there is only one human race.
2) In Genesis chapter 5 verse 4, we read Adam lived 800 years and begot sons and daughters. Note that Adam actually lived 930 years. During his 800 years of life, he had the sons and daughters. Hmm, I have seen parents having up to 12 kids in a single marriage, lasting no more than 40 years. Now, if one lives 800 years, perfect in body and health, how many kids can you really have?

So given the two above references, the answer is already before us. Since Eve is the mother of all living and Adam had many (plural) sons and daughters, the other people would have to be Cain's relatives.

OK, today that would be considered incest and quite frankly, disgusting. However, again we need to view this in context. A)God made Adam and Eve 'very good' meaning they were well and above any supermodel or athelete we have today. B)Similiar to God's commandment to Noah, Adam and Eve was multipling the earth. C) Did you also note Nod is on the East of Eden. This indicates the location of Nod was not very far from where Cain was currently located.

Also know, the laws of God was not provided till further down the line after Noah. You did not even have the concept of incest at this current time of discussion.

So there you have it. Yes, Cain was one of the first generation under Adam and Eve. His wife in Nod would most likely be a niece. A relative for sure. The other people were simply his relatives.

If you have any question you would like me to research and answer. Fire away.

God please don't tempt me

The above phrase is one I have heard alot as a kid. I have also seen it on movies as well. The idea is for God tempting you in order to test your willingness to serve Him. However, is this really scriptural, according to God's Word?

Some may think on Job and his dire straights. But the answer I found wasn't even in the Old Testament. Rather I found the answer in the New Testament within the book of James.

In James chapter one verse 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

According to this, someone is only tempted when that individual chooses to be drawn away by their own desires. Now, I am always a skeptic of someone pulling each individual verse to justify ones answer. So let's look at verses 13 through 18 in context.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethern. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of his own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures."

Looking at the verses in context one reads that God Himself does not tempt anyone. The second verse tells us who acutally tempts us. The answer is ourselves. How do we tempt ourselves? The answer is by our own desires.

That is a hard pill to swallow. Because, that means we have only ourselves to blame for being tempted.

So when you hear someone (or think yourself), God please don't tempt me, quote James chapter one verse 14. "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed".

Ask the question, what is the desire that is pulling you away to temptation.

Welcome

Welcome to my additional new blog. I wanted to look into Questions and Answers I or another may have regarding the Christian bible. It will allow me accountability in actually reading the great book and hopefully provide answers to myself or others wishing to read this blog. If you have a question regarding the bible, email me and I will see if I can research it to answer it for you and myself.

So in short, the purpose of this blog is for my daily/weekly study of God's Word.