Numbers 35:16

16 " 'But if he hit him with an object of iron, so that he dies, the killer must surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 35:16

And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he
die
As with an hatchet, hammer, sword, knife, &c.

he is a murderer;
the instrument used by him, and with which he smote, shows that he had a bad design, and intended to kill, or he would never have smitten a man with such an instrument:

the murderer shall surely be put to death;
be condemned to death, and be executed, by the order of the civil magistrate, according to the law in ( Genesis 9:6 ) and not be allowed the benefit of a city of refuge.

Numbers 35:16 In-Context

14 You will give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they will be cities of refuge.

15 To the {Israelites}, to the alien, and to the temporary resident in their midst there will be these six cities as a refuge to which anyone who unintentionally kills a person may flee.

16 " 'But if he hit him with an object of iron, so that he dies, the killer must surely be put to death.

17 And if he hit him with a stone in the hand, by which he will die, and he does die, he [is] a killer; the killer must surely be put to death.

18 Or if he hit him with a wooden object, by which he will die, and he does die, he [is] a killer; the killer must surely be put to death.