But any who sin deliberately, whether they are natives or foreigners, are guilty of treating the LORD with contempt, and they shall be put to death,

because they have rejected what the LORD said and have deliberately broken one of his commands. They are responsible for their own death.

I told you what the LORD had said, but you paid no attention. You rebelled against him, and in your pride you marched into the hill country.

Anyone who dares to disobey either the judge or the priest on duty is to be put to death; in this way you will remove this evil from Israel.

Then everyone will hear of it and be afraid, and no one else will dare to act in such a way.

If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and what he says does not come true, then it is not the LORD's message. That prophet has spoken on his own authority, and you are not to fear him.

"But suppose you deliberately murder your enemy in cold blood and then escape to one of those cities for protection.

No mercy will be shown to you. Israel must rid itself of murderers, so that all will go well.

When the news reached King Solomon that Joab had fled to the Tent and was by the altar, Solomon sent a messenger to Joab to ask him why he had fled to the altar. Joab answered that he had fled to the LORD because he was afraid of Solomon. So King Solomon sent Benaiah to kill Joab.

"Do what Joab says," Solomon answered. "Kill him and bury him. Then neither I nor any other of David's descendants will any longer be held responsible for what Joab did when he killed innocent men.

The punishment for their murders will fall on Joab and on his descendants forever. But the LORD will always give success to David's descendants who sit on his throne."

Keep me safe, also, from willful sins; don't let them rule over me. Then I shall be perfect and free from the evil of sin.

For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us.

especially those who follow their filthy bodily lusts and despise God's authority. These false teachers are bold and arrogant, and show no respect for the glorious beings above; instead, they insult them.

"If you hate someone and kill him by pushing him down or by throwing something at him

or by striking him with your fist, you are guilty of murder and are to be put to death. The dead person's nearest relative has the responsibility for putting the murderer to death. When he finds you, he is to kill you.

" 'God's curse on anyone who secretly commits murder.' "And all the people will answer, 'Amen!'

When Abner arrived in Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. And so Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel.

Joab said to Amasa, "How are you, my friend?" and took hold of his beard with his right hand in order to kiss him.

Amasa was not on guard against the sword that Joab was holding in his other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the belly, and his insides spilled out on the ground. He died immediately, and Joab did not have to strike again. Then Joab and his brother Abishai went on after Sheba.

Adonijah, in great fear of Solomon, went to the Tent of the LORD's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar.

King Solomon was told that Adonijah was afraid of him and that he was holding on to the corners of the altar and had said, "First, I want King Solomon to swear to me that he will not have me put to death."

Joab heard what had happened. (He had supported Adonijah, but not Absalom.) So he fled to the Tent of the LORD's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar.

He went to the Tent of the LORD's presence and said to Joab, "The king orders you to come out." "No," Joab answered. "I will die here." Benaiah went back to the king and told him what Joab had said.

The LORD will punish Joab for those murders, which he committed without my father David's knowledge. Joab killed two innocent men who were better men than he: Abner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa, commander of the army of Judah.

So Benaiah went to the Tent of the LORD's presence and killed Joab, and he was buried at his home in the open country.

Jehoiada did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area, so he ordered the army officers: "Take her out between the rows of guards, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her."