Numbers 35:23

23 or with any stone, with which a man may die, seeing him not and casts it upon him that he dies, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm,

Numbers 35:23 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:23

Or with any stone wherewith a man may die
Which is sufficient to kill a man, if thrown at him:

seeing him not;
and so without intention: the Jews F19 from hence gather, that a blind man is to be acquitted and dismissed, and not banished and so stands in no need of a city of refuge; though others say he is to be banished, and needs it, and ought to have the privilege of it:

and cast it upon him that he die;
casting, it upon another account, and with another view, but yet falling upon a man, it kills him;

and was not his enemy, neither sought him harm;
it was never known that they were at variance, or that the slayer had ever by any overt act discovered any malice and enmity against the deceased, by word or deed, or ever sought to do him any injury, either to his person or property.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Misn. Maccot, c. 2. sect. 3.

Numbers 35:23 In-Context

21 or out of enmity smites him with his hand so that he dies, he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer; the kinsman avenger {Heb. redeemer} of blood shall slay the murderer when he meets him.
22 But if he thrusts him suddenly without enmity, or has cast upon him any thing without laying in wait,
23 or with any stone, with which a man may die, seeing him not and casts it upon him that he dies, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm,
24 then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the kinsman avenger {Heb. redeemer} of blood according to these laws.
25 And the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the kinsman avenger {Heb. redeemer} of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, where he has fled, and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010