What Does "Thou Shalt Not Kill" Mean? Video version!  To
understand this issue requires not only a study of the Hebrew,
but an element of understanding of ANE law codes as well.  To
begin, the reader should be advised of a very basic fact about
ancient law codes of the Near East, courtesy of Hillers'
Covenant: The History of a Biblical Idea:   At this point some
readers might wonder if this implies that the Decalogue or the
laws are something less than God's absolute word. The answer is
no: But at the same time, it does indicate that these are laws
that have to be read in their legal/social context.  Some laws,
of course, are not open to interpretation: The commands against
idolatry, for example, obviously can brook no exception, for no
other God than Yahweh exists. But as Jesus made clear, saving a
life on the Sabbath was an "exception" to the absolute
prohibition of working on the Sabbath -- as was, also, priests
performing certain duties on the Sabbath.  That said, can it
truly be asserted that there is so