Numbers 35:10-29

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Numbers 35:29

"And these things shall be for a statute and ordinance unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die. Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death. And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:6-15

Numbers 35:6-15. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, there shall be six cities for refuge, &c.— The cities of the Levites were appointed for this purpose, rather than any other, because they were a kind of sacred places inhabited by sacred persons; and here men might spend their time better than in other places, being among the ministers of religion. These cities of refuge were only for those who killed any person unawares, Num 35:11 i.e. unwittingly, or ignorantly,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:14-15

Numbers 35:14. Three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities—in the land of Canaan— This appears not to be an equal partition, the land of Canaan being much larger than the territory beyond Jordan; for it contained about three parts in four of the tribes of Israel: but it is to be considered, that the country beyond Jordan was as long as the land of Canaan, though not so broad; besides, God commanded those in Canaan, if he enlarged their coasts to add three cities more besides these;... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:16-18

Numbers 35:16-18. If he smite him with an instrument of iron, &c.— It appears from these verses, that it made no difference with what kind of weapon the man was killed; if he was killed wittingly and knowingly, this was adjudged murder, and the guilty person was to die for it. For though, perhaps, he had no formed intention to kill the person; yet he ought to have moderated his passion, and could not be ignorant that such an instrument was capable of inflicting a deadly wound. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:19

Numbers 35:19. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer— The Jews understand this as an absolute order for the avenger of blood to kill the murderer; but others suppose, that it is only a permission to the avenger, and after actual and legal condemnation of the murderer: an opinion which seems much confirmed by Deuteronomy 19:12-13. Le Clerc translates it, eum interficere licebit; it shall be lawful for him to kill him. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:20-21

Numbers 35:20-21. But if, &c.— Here the case of malice prepense is provided for. Houbigant renders it, in like manner, if any one strike a man through hatred. See Deuteronomy 19:11. Le Clerc thinks, that the words when he meeteth him, (Numbers 35:19; Numbers 35:21.) shew, that Moses here speaks of one who took guilt to himself by flying, and refused to stand his trial; the avenger of blood might be allowed to kill such a one, either in consequence of the sentence of the judges, who, upon... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:25

Numbers 35:25. The congregation shall deliver the slayer—unto the death of the high priest— By this punishment inflicted on the man-slayer, others were taught to be very watchful over themselves, lest by negligence they should chance to kill any body, and so be forced into banishment. It would be endless to relate the different conjectures of the learned concerning the return of the homicide upon the death of the high priest. Many of the Jews affirm, that the death of so eminent a person, being... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:26-27

Numbers 35:26-27. If the slayer—come without the border, &c.— The reason of this law seems to be; because thus the man-slayer was, in some sort, accessary to his own death: for he might have been safe if he had pleased, though, at the same time, Moses in this seems to have indulged the Jews in the hardness of their hearts; for it is what the milder genius of the Gospel will undoubtedly condemn. See Matthew 5:44; Matthew 5:48. And though, in this case, such a slayer was free from the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:11

11. that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares—The practice of Goelism, that is, of the nearest relation of an individual who was killed being bound to demand satisfaction from the author of his death, existed from a very remote antiquity (Genesis 4:14; Genesis 27:45). It seems to have been an established usage in the age of Moses; and although in a rude and imperfect state of society, it is a natural and intelligible principle of criminal jurisprudence, it is liable... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:16

16-21. If he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, c.—Various cases are here enumerated in which the Goel or avenger was at liberty to take the life of the murderer and every one of them proves a premeditated purpose. read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Numbers 35:29

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:6-15

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:14-15

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:16-18

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:19

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:20-21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:25

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Numbers 35:26-27

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:11

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:16

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