Numbers 35:17

17 If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

Numbers 35:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:17

And if he smite him with throwing a stone
"Or with a stone of the hand" ^F17, which the Jews interpret of a stone so big as to fill a man's hand, and so

wherewith he may die;
at whom it is thrown; is sufficient to cause his death, if struck with it; so the Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it of a

``stone of fulness of hands, which is sufficient that a man may die with it,''

or be killed by it:

and he die;
by the blow he receives from it, either immediately or in a short time after:

he is a murderer, and the murderer shall surely be put to death;
as in the above case.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (dy Nbab) .

Numbers 35:17 In-Context

15 These six cities will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and strangers among you. Anyone who unintentionally kills another person may flee to these cities.

16 "But if any of you uses an iron weapon to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

17 If any of you picks up a stone as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

18 Or if any of you picks up a piece of wood as a weapon and uses it to kill another person, you are a murderer. Murderers must be put to death.

19 The relative who can avenge the death must make sure a murderer is put to death. When he catches up with the murderer, he must kill him.