A 61 year old New York man beats a man to death who broke into his home and assaults his wife and her sister – and what is our civilized modern response? Arrest the man for man slaughter.

Here is more on this story from dailymail.co.uk:

“The New York City man who beat his wife’s would-be rapist to death was released from custody on Tuesday evening to a chorus of cheers.

Mamadou Diallo was hailed by members of the Guinean community and his family as he left the Bronx Criminal Court after the judge freed him on his own recognizance.

The 61-year-old was arrested on Monday night and charged with manslaughter after he battered Earl Nash to death with a tire iron inside his Bronx apartment building elevator.

Diallo was outside his building when his wife, 51, called and said a man had broken in, dropped his pants and said, ‘I’m going to rape you.’

Diallo ran inside, caught up with the attacker identified as Nash, 43, and fractured his skull with the steel lever as Nash tried to fight back with his belt, the NY Daily News reported.

Nash died at Lincoln Hospital from ‘severe trauma to his head and body’ about three hours later, according to police.”

You can read their full story here – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3617884/Husband-charged-manslaughter-beating-man-broke-apartment-tried-rape-wife.html

It is utterly amazing to me how little common sense our modern society has. In times past this man would have been given a medal for this – today we call him a criminal.

Man’s God given right to defend and avenge his family

The family was instituted by God before other institutions like civil governments or the church.  There are certain natural rights that cannot be taken away or canceled by other governing authorities.  The right to self-defense and the right to avenge the blood of a family member can never be canceled.

Most people, even non-Christians recognize these natural rights.  That is why there is about a 90% chance that when this man goes to trial a jury will acquit him of all charges because we all know these are natural instinctual rights that we all believe we have.

Biblical principles that show the right of self-defense and avenging of family:

Principle #1 – The penalty for murder is death

“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” – Genesis 9:6 (KJV)

Killing another person for unjust reasons is a crime worthy of death.

Principle # 2 – The penalty for rape of a man’s wife is death

“25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die.” – Deuteronomy 22:25 (KJV)

If a man rapes a another‘s man’s wife (a betrothed woman was also considered his wife) then he had committed a crime worth of death.

Principle #3 – Violating the security of a man’s home is a crime worthy of death

“2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” – Exodus 22:2-3 (KJV)

Why was it ok to kill a thief at night but not during the day? It is was because at night you could not tell what he was there to do.  Was he there to harm you or your family? You did not know so you could rightly kill him. But during the day you could clearly see if he was simply trying to steal something verses harm you or your family.

The point of this passage was – you cannot kill a man for simply breaking into your home and stealing something.  But you CAN kill a man for breaking into your home if you think his intent is to do you or your family harm or he has already done you or your family harm.

Principle #4 – Family members may avenge the blood of their family

“The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.” – Numbers 35:19 (KJV)

Principle #5 – Fighting for you family is not optional, it is a responsibility

“…fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” – Nehemiah 14:4 (KJV)

“No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” – Mark 3:27 (KJV)

In Nehemiah we see him commanding the people of Jerusalem to defend themselves against those who would harm them or their families.

Christ tells us the only way a man can enter a person’s home to do wrong is if he binds the strong man – this would be husband or man of the house.  The man of the house is expected to protect his home.

The rage of a man whose wife has been taken by another

One other thing I want to mention that I think is related to what happened with this man and his wife’s rapist. God has naturally built into man a natural burning anger and vengeance against a man that would violate his wife.  Whether that man is raping his wife or his wife is having consensual sex with another man this instinctual and primal “rage” is the same.

The passage below from Proverbs tells us about this natural instinct God has put in men:

“28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.” – Proverbs 6:28-35 (KJV)

Now while this passage above is talking about adultery and not rape the principle is the same.  The key phrase is “therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance”.  As men we are designed to want to kill any man who violates our wife whether with her consent or without her consent.

John Gill says this about Proverbs 6:34:

“therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance;

when he has an opportunity of avenging himself; whenever he finds the adulterer in his house, or catches him and his wife in bed together, he spares not to take away his life, and sometimes the life of both of them; instances of this nature history furnishes us with: or he will spare no cost and pains to prosecute him before a civil magistrate, and bring him to public justice; prayers and entreaties, bribes and gifts, wilt be of no avail, as follows.”

http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/proverbs-6-34.html

Under God’s law not only could the man laying with the wife be killed, but also a man’s wife as well:

“If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.” – Deuteronomy 22:22 (KJV)

If a husband found another man lying with his wife and in his rage and vengeance killed them both he would be justified in doing so and nothing would have happened to him during Biblical times.

Today we put husbands in prison for this.  In Biblical times the husbands vengeance in this matter would have served as a warning to both men and women.

To men – do not ever touch another’s man’s wife, it could cost you your life.

To women – not only could adultery lead to divorce, it could cost you your life.

Conclusion

Under God’s law Mamadou Diallo was right to be “hailed” as he was by his community rather than being arrested by the police. What he did to that attacker of his family should serve as a warning to all who would violate the sanctity of another man’s home or violate another’s man’s wife.