Numbers 35:30-34
35:30 a All murderers were condemned to death, but their conviction required a high standard of evidence—the testimony of two or more witnesses (cp. Deut 17:6 b; 19:15 c).Summary for Num 35:31-32: 35:31-32 d The payment of a ransom (monetary compensation) to free a convicted murderer from execution was prohibited, since the death penalty was required (cp. 2 Sam 21:2-9 e). Similarly, the slayer in an involuntary manslaughter could not pay a ransom to get around his confinement in a city of refuge.
35:33 f for murder pollutes the land: If the slayer in either a homicide or involuntary manslaughter were not dealt with as commanded, God regarded the land as polluted, because human bloodshed required death (Gen 4:10-11 g; 9:6 h; contrast Exod 21:29-30 i; see also Lev 18:28 j; Ezek 36:17-18 k; Hos 4:2-3 l). In its stern warning about the evil of murder, this entire passage highlights the absolute value of human life (Exod 20:13 m).
35:34 n The Lord lived among the people of Israel even as the Tabernacle stood in the middle of the Hebrew camp (see chs 1–4 o). This meant that they must not defile their land by ignoring God’s commands or by failing to uphold justice (cp. 5:1-4 p).
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