Numbers 5:8

8 If the injured party has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the guilty party.

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.''


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 Speak to the Israelites: When a man or a woman wrongs another, breaking faith with the Lord, that person incurs guilt
7 and shall confess the sin that has been committed. The person shall make full restitution for the wrong, adding one-fifth to it, and giving it to the one who was wronged.
8 If the injured party has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the guilty party.
9 Among all the sacred donations of the Israelites, every gift that they bring to the priest shall be his.
10 The sacred donations of all are their own; whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.