Gen 9:6, Exo 21:14, Num 35:14-34, 1Ki 21:19, 23, 2Ki 9:26 | TSK | STEP

Ex 29:7; Le 4:3; 8:12; 21:10 After the manslayer had been received into the city of refuge, the avenger of blood could only act as prosecutor; and the magistrates, in the presence of the people, were appointed to decide the cause according to the rules here laid down. Probably the accused person was tried at or near the place where the deceased had been slain, and where evidence could most easily be brought: and in case he was acquitted by the decision of the judges, and with the approbation of the people, he was conveyed back to the city of refuge, where he was protected as a kind of prisoner at large, till the death of the high priest; when the public loss, and the grief occasioned by it, might be supposed to swallow up all personal regrets and resentments: and then he was permitted to return to his house and estate. But if, in the mean while, he ventured to leave the city, and the avenger met him and slew him, he was supposed to merit his doom by thus neglecting the appointment of God for his preservation, and the avenger must not be punished. This shews that in other cases, if the avenger slew an innocent man on surmise, he was liable to the punishment of a murderer; but if, by the testimony of two credible witnesses, the man who had fled to the city of refuge was adjudged guilty, he must without fail be put to death.

he shall not be guilty of blood. Heb. no blood shall be tohim

Ex 22:2; De 19:6,10

he should.

Joh 15:4-6; Ac 11:23; 27:31; Heb 3:14; 6:4-8; 10:26-30,39

after the death.

Heb 9:11,12,15-17

27:1,11

De 17:6,7; 19:15; Mt 18:16; Joh 8:17,18; 2Co 13:1; 1Ti 5:19

Heb 10:28; Re 11:3

Moreover.

Ge 9:5,6; Ex 21:14; De 19:11-13; 2Sa 12:13; 1Ki 2:28-34; Ps 51:14

guilty of death. Heb. faulty to die.

Ac 4:12; Ga 2:21; 3:10-13,22; Re 5:9The region east of Jordan was nearly as long as that on the west, and therefore three cities were appointed in each division. One or other of these cities would be within half a day's journey of every part of the land; and as it would rarely happen that the avenger of blood would be on the spot, and none had a right to assault or detain the manslayer, at least if no malicious intention was manifest, the unhappy men would, therefore, get the start of their adversaries, and very few of them be overtaken before they gained the place of refuge. But then they must forsake their families, employments, most important interests, and dearest comforts; and they must neither loiter nor yield to weariness, nor regard difficulties, nor slacken their pace, till they had got safe within the walls of the city. The Jewish writers inform us, that to afford every facility to those who thus fled for their life, the road to these cities was always preserved in good repair; and way-posts, upon which was inscribed REFUGE were placed wherever needful, that they might not so much as hesitate for a moment.

it defileth.

Le 18:25; De 21:1-8,23; 2Ki 23:26; 24:4; Ps 106:28; Isa 26:21

Eze 22:24-27; Ho 4:2,3; Mic 4:11; Mt 23:31-35; Lu 11:50,51

the land cannot be cleansed. Heb. there can be no expiationfor the land.

Defile not.

5:3; Le 20:24-26

I dwell.

Ps 135:21; Isa 57:15; Ho 9:3; 2Co 6:16,17; Re 21:3,27

dwell among.

5:3; Ex 25:8; 29:45,46; 1Ki 6:13; Ps 132:14; Isa 8:12

1 Kings 21:19

Hast thou killed.

Ge 3:11; 4:9,10; 2Sa 12:9; Mic 3:1-4; Hab 2:9,12

In the place.This punishment, on Ahab's humiliation and repentance, was transferred from him to his son Jehoram, (ver. 29,) in whom it was literally accomplished: see the parallel texts.

22:38; Jud 1:7; 2Sa 12:11; 2Ki 9:25,26; Es 7:10; Ps 7:15,16

Ps 9:16; 58:10,11; Mt 7:2

1 Kings 21:23

Jezebel.

25; 2Ki 9:10,30-37

the dogs.Shocking as this must appear to minds that have been humanized by the kindly influence of Christianity, we still find similar instances in the accounts of modern travellers. Mr. Bruce says, that when at Gondar, "the bodies of those killed by the sword were hewn to pieces and scattered about the streets, being denied burial. I was miserable, and almost driven to despair, at seeing my hunting dogs, twice let loose by the carelessness of my servants, bringing into the court-yard the heads and arms of slaughtered men, and which I could no way prevent, but by the destruction of the dogs themselves."

wall. or, ditch.

2 Kings 9:26

blood of Naboth. Heb. bloods of Naboth. of his sons.

De 24:16; 2Ch 24:25; 25:4

I will requite.

Ex 20:5; De 5:9; Eze 18:19

plat. or, portion.