EXOD579 Jewish courts must administer capital punishment by means of the sword. Violators of certain Torah commandments must be put to death by means of the sword. For example, if a man smites his servant and kills him, it is a mitzvah for the court to put the killer to death by means of the sword. Such is the law even if the murdered servant was a Canaanite. Hashem wants to rid the Jewish nation of all traces of evil and cruelty. Therefore, if someone is so overcome by anger that he smites and kills a person, Hashem commands the courts to put the killer to death by means of the sword. Those who are empowered to execute the killer nullify a positive commandment if they do not do so. Their punishment is great, for their negligence creates many problems for society.