Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VENGEANCE

Punishment as retribution for harm against persons. It seems quite clear that the OT endorses the notion of both human and divine vengeance (from Heb. nqm) at least under certain circumstances. The OT records specific instances where God declares war against an enemy of the Israelites as an act of vengeance for a previous atrocity (Num. 31; Deut. 25:17-19). In fact, at least one prophet apparently considered vengeance to be an attribute of God (Nah. 1:2). A similar view of God can be found in the NT (Rom. 12:19; 2 Thess. 1:5-10).

The question of human vengeance is somewhat more complicated. The OT does recognize the right of relatives of an accidental homicide victim to take direct vengeance against the perpetrator. However the OT also seeks to limit this right by allowing the perpetrator to flee to one of the cities of refuge (Exod. 21:13; Num. 35; Deut. 19:1-13). While some biblical characters do take vengeance (1 Kgs. 2:5-9), it is also true that the OT condemns vengeance when it is directed at another Israelite (Lev. 19:18). This attempt to discourage human vengeance becomes an important part of Jesus’ message (Matt. 5:38-48).

Bibliography. K. Koch, “Is There a Doctrine of Retribution in the Old Testament?” in Theodicy in the Old Testament, ed. J. L. Crenshaw. IRT 4 (Philadelphia, 1983), 57-87; G. E. Mendenhall, The Tenth Generation (Baltimore, 1973).

Joel S. Kaminsky

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

VENGEANCE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)