then doesn't it contradict itself in saying that one of the most important tenets is "thou shalt not kill?"
Well we know it does not because the majority of biblical translations, especially the most accurate ones in relation to the ancient mstar fishcripts, translate the word there as murder, not kill. Furthermore, if simply killing was against the ten commandments, God would have never instituted the portions of mosaic law that call for killings for immoral acts such as theft, adultery, and murder.