Genesis 9:1-7 Blood and Capital Punishment CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In this lesson we will see the similarities between Noah and Adam, since both of them began to populate the earth after a catastrophic flood. We will also see the prohibition on drinking blood, although meat can be eaten. We will also see the institution of capital punishment for murder.
Similarities Between Adam and Noah
You might recall that the earth was submerged in water in Gen. 1:2. That’s because God wiped out the earth with a flood (2 Pet. 3:4-7) before “recreating” it in Gen. 1:2-31. So, Adam was told to, “Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.” In Gen. 9:1, Noah was likewise told to, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Look at the similarities between them.
| Similarity | Adam | Noah |
| Possessed the earth | 1:26-28 | 9:1-3, 9-10 |
| Direct Commission from God | 1:28 | 9:1 |
| Had 3 sons by name | 4:1-2, 5:3 | 6:10 |
| 1 son type of Christ | Abel 4:2,4 | Shem 9:26 |
| 1 son type Antichrist | Cain 4:3,8 | Ham 9:22,24-25 |
| Both naked when sinned | 3:6-7 | 9:20-21 |
| Both consumed “forbidden fruit” | 2:17, 3:6 | 9:21,4, Num. 6:3-4 |
Drinking Blood Prohibited
When God first created the earth and man upon it, men and animals were vegetarians, Gen. 1:29-30. After the flood, the diet changed to include flesh, Gen. 9:3. However, men were prohibited from eating the blood, Gen. 9:4. The same warning is found under the law in Lev.17:10, and under grace in Acts15:20. So, when a priest tells his parishioners to drink the “literal” blood of Jesus, which has been “transubstantiated” from wine, they violate God’s commandment. Therefore, their communion is not a sacrifice to God, but is rather a “sacrifice to devils.” It is “the cup of devils,” (1Cor.10:20-21). It cannot take away sins (Heb.10:11-12).
Capital Punishment
God instituted capital punishment after the flood. An animal that killed a man was to be put to death, Ex. 21:28. A man that killed another man was to be put to death by a relative of the deceased, called the “revenger of blood,” Num. 35:19. The rules on murder in Num 35 are as follows:
- If the killer killed a man with an iron instrument, a stone or a wooden weapon, or with his bear hands he was to be put to death by the revenger of blood as soon as he caught him.
- If the murder was motivated by hatred, or was premeditated, the revenger of blood was to kill the murderer as soon as he caught him.
- But if the death was accidental, not motivated by hatred, nor premeditated, then the congregation in a city of refuge would spare the life of the killer.
- However, the killer would have to reside in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. If he left, the revenger of blood could kill him.
- The death sentence required two witnesses; one witness was not enough to grant the death penalty.
- No satisfaction could be accepted in lieu of capital punishment, either in the form of a fine or in jail time.
- Failure to kill a murderer polluted the land, because the land can only be cleansed by the blood of the killer.
- Capital punishment was not discontinued in the New Testament, Acts 25:11, and Rom. 13:1-4.
At the Second Advent, all unsolved murders will be solved, Is. 26:21; and the inhabitants of the earth will be punished for their murders and the failure to execute the killers.