How Do You Defend Your Home?

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by Angrist

True, but that's not all of it.
Only when it was dark, was the defender not guilty of bloodshed. When it was during the day, he wasn't allowed to kill him, probably because he could identify the offender and justice could be served.

I realize that, but that part of the scripture doesn't apply to what we're talking about here. We're talking about someone breaking into your home while you're there and defending yourself (and I always assumed it would be a night). The part you quote I interpret as being more about vengeance for the break-in after the fact than self-defense (EX. if someone steals from you (night), you can't hunt them down and kill them later(day)). But thats just the way I read it, and the old testament is often mis-translated because of how difficult hebrew is to translate in context and meaning.

Also, you're comments imply that the home defender must be psychic. If I am the homeowner, how do I know what the invader's intentions are? Do I know that he only wants to steal my belongings? Should I ask him, or wait for him to pull out his gun and shoots me, and then rapes my wife? Am I morally wrong for assuming the worst when it is the invader that has theatened me by his very presence?