John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:19
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer ,.... Not only shall have power to do it, but, as it seems, should be obliged to do it; be the executioner of the murderer; but not before his case has been heard, examined, tried, and judged; wherefore the Targum of Jonathan adds,"in judgment,'that is, as Onkelos explains it,"when he is condemned by judgment,'the court of judicature: when he meeteth him he shall slay him ; the first opportunity he has, even though, as Jarchi says, if... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:18
Or if he smote him with an hand weapon of wood ,.... A stick, or staff, or club: wherewith he may die, and he die ; which is sufficient to kill a man, as the same Targum explains it; and a man dies with the blow that is given him by it: he is a murderer, and the murderer shall surely be put to death ; no pardon given him, or the benefit of the city of refuge allowed him. read more