NUM325 Causing someone to sin is worse than killing him. The Midrash notes that while there is a positive command to oppress the Midianites, who caused the Jewish people to sin, there is a prohibition against abhorring the Egyptians, although they tried to destroy the Children of Israel. From here we learn the principle that is worse to cause someone to sin than to kill him. If someone kills another person, he takes away life in this world. But if someone causes another person to sin, he takes away eternal life in the world to come. (Bamidbar Rabbah 21:4)