Numbers 35:16-34
hits <05221> [if he smite.]
murderer ... murderer <07523> [the.]
stone ... enough <068 03027> [throwing a stone. Heb. a stone of the hand.]
throws <01920> [if he thrust.]
intentionally <06660> [by laying.]
live ..... death <03427 04194> [abide in it.]
anointed <04886> [anointed.]
After the manslayer had been received into the city of refuge, the avenger of blood could only act as prosecutor; and the magistrates, in the presence of the people, were appointed to decide the cause according to the rules here laid down. Probably the accused person was tried at or near the place where the deceased had been slain, and where evidence could most easily be brought: and in case he was acquitted by the decision of the judges, and with the approbation of the people, he was conveyed back to the city of refuge, where he was protected as a kind of prisoner at large, till the death of the high priest; when the public loss, and the grief occasioned by it, might be supposed to swallow up all personal regrets and resentments: and then he was permitted to return to his house and estate. But if, in the mean while, he ventured to leave the city, and the avenger met him and slew him, he was supposed to merit his doom by thus neglecting the appointment of God for his preservation, and the avenger must not be punished. This shews that in other cases, if the avenger slew an innocent man on surmise, he was liable to the punishment of a murderer; but if, by the testimony of two credible witnesses, the man who had fled to the city of refuge was adjudged guilty, he must without fail be put to death.
blood ................ blood ........... blood <01818> [he shall not be guilty of blood. Heb. no blood shall be to him]
stayed <03427> [he should.]
death ....... after ... death <04194 0310> [after the death.]
accept <03947> [Moreover.]
guilty ... death ... must ...... death <04191 07563> [guilty of death. Heb. faulty to die.]
The region east of Jordan was nearly as long as that on the west, and therefore three cities were appointed in each division. One or other of these cities would be within half a day's journey of every part of the land; and as it would rarely happen that the avenger of blood would be on the spot, and none had a right to assault or detain the manslayer, at least if no malicious intention was manifest, the unhappy men would, therefore, get the start of their adversaries, and very few of them be overtaken before they gained the place of refuge. But then they must forsake their families, employments, most important interests, and dearest comforts; and they must neither loiter nor yield to weariness, nor regard difficulties, nor slacken their pace, till they had got safe within the walls of the city. The Jewish writers inform us, that to afford every facility to those who thus fled for their life, the road to these cities was always preserved in good repair; and way-posts, upon which was inscribed REFUGE were placed wherever needful, that they might not so much as hesitate for a moment.
pollute ......... defiles <02610> [it defileth.]
land ......... land .... land .... cleansed ............... person <0776 03722> [the land cannot be cleansed. Heb. there can be no expiation for the land.]
defile ... land <02930 0776> [Defile not.]
live ...... live <07931> [I dwell.]
in which ... live ...... live among <07931 08432> [dwell among.]
