Num 35:15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Num 35:15-24: 35:15-24 The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between deliberate murder and involuntary manslaughter (35:11 , 22-23 ; Exod 21:12-14 ; cp. Num 15:22-31 ). Murder required a penalty of execution, but an accidental death did not. The cities of refuge provided protection only for those who killed another person by accident. • The use of a weapon was proof of malicious intent. 35:15 Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone: The same law applied impartially to everyone; Israel had one standard of justice, not two (one for citizens, another for noncitizens), as in many societies (see also Lev 19:15 ; Deut 1:16-17 ; 1 Tim 5:21 ; Jas 2:2-4 ).

a35:15-24►

b35:11►

c22-23►

dExod 21:12-14►

eNum 15:22-31►

f35:15►

gLev 19:15►

hDeut 1:16-17►

i1 Tim 5:21►

jJas 2:2-4►

‏ Numbers 35:15

Summary for Num 35:15-24: 35:15-24 ^a The Old Testament makes a clear distinction between deliberate murder and involuntary manslaughter (35:11 ^b, 22-23 ^c; Exod 21:12-14 ^d; cp. Num 15:22-31 ^e). Murder required a penalty of execution, but an accidental death did not. The cities of refuge provided protection only for those who killed another person by accident.

• The use of a weapon was proof of malicious intent. 35:15 ^f Israelites, foreigners living among you, and traveling merchants. Anyone: The same law applied impartially to everyone; Israel had one standard of justice, not two (one for citizens, another for noncitizens), as in many societies (see also Lev 19:15 ^g; Deut 1:16-17 ^h; 1 Tim 5:21 ⁱ; Jas 2:2-4 ^j).