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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 35:9-34

We have here the orders given concerning the cities of refuge, fitly annexed to what goes before, because they were all Levites? cities. In this part of the constitution there is a great deal both of good law and pure gospel. I. Here is a great deal of good law, in the case of murder and manslaughter, a case of which the laws of all nations have taken particular cognizance. It is here enacted and provided, consonant to natural equity, 1. That wilful murder should be punished with death, and in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:20

But if he thrust him of hatred ,.... Or, "and if" F18 ואם "et si", Pagninus, Montanus. , since the Scripture is still speaking of such that shall die for murder, though in another instance, without having the privilege of a city of refuge; if he thrusts him with a sword or knife, or rather, since, if anything of that kind is included in the first instance of smiting with an instrument of iron, push him down from an high place, as Aben Ezra; so the men of Nazareth intended to have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:21

Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die ,.... Give him a blow with his fist, on some part of his body where life is most in danger, and which issues in death: he that smote him shall surely be put to death, for he is a murderer ; and therefore, according to the original law, ought to die, without reprieve or pardon; and notwithstanding this law made for cities of refuge, which were to be denied him: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer when he meeteth him : that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 35:22

But if he thrust him suddenly, without enmity ,.... Push him from a precipice, before he is aware, without any malicious design against his life, but merely through accident: or have cast upon him anything ; from the top of a house, or from a building he is pulling down, or pushes a bowing wall upon him, not knowing that he is passing by it: and without lying of wait : or having contrived to do it, just as he goes along, or in any other similar way. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Numbers 35:16-25

The sense is: Inasmuch as to take another man’s life by any means whatsoever is murder, and exposes the murderer to the penalty of retaliation; so, if the deed is done in hostility, it is in truth actual murder, and the murderer shall be slain; but if it be not done in hostility, then the congregation shall interpose to stop the avenger’s hand.Numbers 35:19When he meeteth him - Provided, of course, it were without a city of refuge.Numbers 35:24The case of the innocent slayer is here... 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 35:20

of hatred. Deuteronomy 19:11 , Deuteronomy 19:12 . laying of wait = fixing the eyes upon. Hebrew. zediyyah. Occurs only here and Numbers 35:22 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Numbers 35:22

"But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him any thing without lying in wait, or with any stone, whereby a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm; then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances; and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of... 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

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