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
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
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
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
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
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
priest: i.e. the high priest. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, and Syriac, read it so, as in Numbers 35:28 . read more
wherein ye are. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "wherein ye are dwelling". blood: i.e. blood unlawfully shed. him that shed it. Compare Genesis 9:6 . read more
Numbers 35:30. One witness shall not testify against any person— This is a wise precaution to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. The Jews tell us, that where there was but one witness, though he who was accused of the murder could not be put to death, yet he was thrown into a very strait prison, and there fed with bread and water. read more
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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