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Numbers 35:16-26

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16 '1But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
17 'If he struck him down with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer 2shall surely be put to death.
18 'Or if he struck him with a wooden object in the hand, by which he might die, and as a result he died, he is a murderer; the murderer shall surely be put to death.
19 'The blood avenger himself shall put the murderer to death; he shall put him to death when he meets him.
20 '3If he pushed him of hatred, or threw something at him 4lying in wait and as a result he died,
21 or if he struck him down with his hand in enmity, and as a result he died, the one who struck him shall surely be put to death, he is a murderer; the blood avenger shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.
22 '5But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or threw something * at him without lying in wait,
23 or with any deadly * object of stone, and without seeing it dropped on him so that he died, while he was not his enemy nor seeking his injury,
24 then 6the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the blood avenger according to these ordinances.
25 'The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.
26 'But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee,
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Numbers 35:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 35

Though the tribe of Levi had no part in the division of the land, yet cities out of the several tribes are here ordered to be given them to dwell in, to the number of forty eight, Nu 35:1-8, six of which were to be cities of refuge, Nu 35:9-15, but not for wilful murderers, in whatsoever way they might kill a man, Nu 35:16-21, but for such who had killed a man unawares, Nu 35:22-24, and several rules are given relating to such persons, Nu 35:25-29, but no satisfaction was to be taken in case of murder, nor to excuse a person's return to his own house before the death of the high priest, who had fled to a city of refuge, that so the land might not be defiled, Nu 35:30-34.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 6

  • 1. Exodus 21:12, 14; Leviticus 24:17
  • 2. Numbers 35:31
  • 3. Genesis 4:8; 2 Samuel 3:27; 2 Samuel 20:10
  • 4. Exodus 21:14; Deuteronomy 19:11
  • 5. Numbers 35:11
  • 6. Joshua 20:6

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Lit "by which he may die"
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.