Numbers 5:8

8 But there may be no heir to whom the payment can be made. In that case, the payment for what you did wrong must be given to the LORD for the priest [to use]. This payment is in addition to the ram which makes peace with the LORD.

Numbers 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:8

But if a man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass to,
&c.] This supposes that if a man should die, against whom the trespass is, before the restitution is made, then it shall be made to his heirs; and if he has none, then it was to be given to the priest, as after directed: the Jews ^F7 generally understand this of a proselyte, that has no heirs, for they say, there is no Israelite but has kinsmen, a brother or a son, or some one or other near of kin to him, of his father's family, even up to Jacob:

let the trespass be recompensed unto the Lord, [even] to the priest;
that is, let the principal, with the fifth part, which is the recompence for the trespass committed, be given to the priest of the Lord, which is the same as if it was given to him, he being his minister:

beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made
for him;
which, in this case, was ordered to be offered for the expiation, of the trespass, see ( Leviticus 6:6 Leviticus 6:7 ) ; the Jewish canon is,

``he that takes away anything by force from a proselyte, and swears to him, and he (the proselyte) dies, lo, he shall pay the principal and the fifth to the priests, and the trespass offering to the altar, as it is said, "if a man has no kinsman" when he brings the money and the trespass offering, and he is dead, the money shall be given to his sons, but the trespass offering (the ram) shall feed until it contracts some blemish, and then it shall be sold, and the price of it shall fall to the freewill offerings ^F8.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Bava Kama, c. 9. sect. 11. Jarchi in loc.
F8 Misn. Bava Kama, ib.

Numbers 5:8 In-Context

6 "Tell the Israelites: If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to the LORD. When you realize your guilt,

7 you must confess your sin, pay in full for what you did wrong, add one-fifth to it, and give it to the person who was wronged.

8 But there may be no heir to whom the payment can be made. In that case, the payment for what you did wrong must be given to the LORD for the priest [to use]. This payment is in addition to the ram which makes peace with the LORD.

9 "Any contribution over and above the holy offerings that the Israelites bring to the priest will belong to the priest.

10 Each person's holy offerings will belong to that person, but whatever is given to the priest will belong to the priest."