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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 35:30

Verse 30 30.Whoso killeth any person, He now returns to willful murderers, whom he will not have spared, but yet not given over to punishment unless convicted by legal proofs. Literally it is, Whoso smiteth a soul, at the mouth of witnesses he shall slay him that slayeth: and this sentence is obscure, from its brevity, unless a noun be supplied before the second verb; and this may be understood either of the judges or the accuser. In the substance, however, there is no ambiguity, viz., that no... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 35:33

Verse 33 33.So ye shall not pollute the land. In this concluding sentence, He again reminds them that, unless they should exercise severe justice against murderers, they would be guilty of sin against God; because the land stained with human blood is polluted, and lying under His curse, until expiation has been made. Again, since God dwells in the land of Canaan, having chosen His abode among the children of Israel, his sanctity is also profaned. The sum is, that, in every respect, care should... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:30

By the mouth of witnesses - i. e. two witnesses, at the least (compare the marginal references). The provisions of this and the following verses protect the enactments of this chapter from abuse. The cities of refuge were not intended to exempt a criminal from deserved punishment. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:31

No satisfaction - Rather, ransom (see Exodus 21:30). The permission to demand pecuniary compensation for murders (expressly sanctioned by the Koran) undoubtedly mitigates, in practice, the system of private retaliation; but it does so by sacrificing the principle named in Numbers 35:12, Numbers 35:33. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:34

For I the Lord dwell ... - An emphatic protest against all enactment or relaxation of laws by men for their own private convenience. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 35:30-31

Numbers 35:30-31. By the mouth of witnesses A wise precaution to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. If we may credit the Jews, where there was but one witness, and the person accused of murder could not, therefore, be put to death, yet he did not escape without punishment, but was thrown into a very strait prison, and there fed with bread and water. Ye shall take no satisfaction This rigid severity of the law served to impress the minds of the people with a deep sense of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Numbers 35:34

Numbers 35:34. Defile not the land wherein I dwell It is often assigned as a reason why they should put away all polluted persons and things out of their camp and land, because God dwelt in them, by his peculiar presence, whence this land was called the Holy Land. It is the case of all crimes, that they defile the land in which they are committed, and render it odious and unclean in the sight of God; but it is more especially true of murder, which is the highest of all injuries against... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:1-34

Cities for the Levites (35:1-34)Levi had no tribal area of its own, but received cities, with surrounding pasture lands, in each of the other tribes. There were forty-eight Levitical cities, the number in each tribe being in proportion to the size of the tribe. This ensured that those responsible for teaching God’s law to the people were evenly scattered throughout Israel (35:1-8).Among these forty-eight cities were six cities of refuge, three west of Jordan and three east. These were cities... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 35:30

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . mouth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the evidence given by it. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Numbers 35:31

no satisfaction = no ransom. Compare Psalms 49:7 . Only God can redeem (Numbers 35:15 ). life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . which is guilty of death = if he has unlawfully caused death: "guilty" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the crime which has caused it. Hebrew "wicked, to die". read more

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