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.
Verse Numbers 35:30. _BUT ONE WITNESS SHALL NOT TESTIFY AGAINST ANY_] This was a just and necessary provision. One may be _mistaken_, or so violently _prejudiced_ as to impose even on his own judgmen...
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...
11. THE CITIES OF REFUGE CHAPTER 35 _ 1. The provision of the Levites: Forty-eight cities (Numbers 35:1)_ 2. The cities of refuge (Numbers 35:9) The cities of the Levites were scattered through the...
CONDITIONS LIMITING THE PRIVILEGE OF SANCTUARY. Anciently the holiness of a sanctuary extended to all who came in contact with it, so that the right of asylum was liable to be abused; but by this law...
PERSON. soul. Hebrew. _nephesh._ App-13. MOUTH. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause), App-6, for the _evidence_ given by it....
_The -Cities of Refuge,"_and the _Law relating to homicide_ In Numbers 35:9 the appointment of the six cities and their purpose are prescribed; Numbers 35:16 contain specimen cases distinguishing del...
_one witness shall not testify_&c. This re-enforces the law of Deuteronomy 17:6. In Deuteronomy 19:15 three, or at least two, witnesses are required to substantiate any charge (cf. Matthew 18:16)....
F. LAWS OF HOMICIDE vv. 16-34 TEXT Numbers 35:16. And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17. And if he smite him w...
_SO THESE THINGS SHALL BE FOR A STATUTE OF JUDGMENT UNTO YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS IN ALL YOUR DWELLINGS._ These things shall be for a statute of judgment. The law of the blood-avenger, as thus...
35:30 death; (f-18) Lit. 'shall the slayer be slain.' testify (g-24) Lit. 'answer.'...
THE LEVITICAL CITIES. THE CITIES OF REFUGIE 1-8. The Levitical Cities. The tribe of Levi received no part of the land of Canaan as their inheritance (Numbers 18:20; Numbers 26:62). By way of compensa...
THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF NUMBERS IN THE DESERT NUMBERS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 35 THE TOWNS FOR LEVI’S *TRIBE – NUMBERS 35:1-8 V1 Still the *Israelites were camping on the plains of the cou
BY THE MOUTH OF WITNESSES. — The number of witnesses is not here specified. In Deuteronomy 17:6 it is ordained that the crime of idolatry should be punished with death “at the mouth of two witnesses,...
כָּל ־מַ֨כֵּה ־נֶ֔פֶשׁ לְ פִ֣י עֵדִ֔ים יִרְצַ
THE CITIES OF REFUGE Numbers 35:1; Numbers 36:1 1. THE INHERITANCE OF THE LEVITES The order relating to the Levitical cities may be said to describe an ideal settlement. We have, at all events, no...
THE PENALTY FOR THE MURDERER Numbers 35:16 For murder the penalty was death, Numbers 35:30; but for accidental homicide there was freedom within the city limits until the death of the high priest, wh...
It will be remembered that the Levites were not permitted to hold, any inheritance in the land. Jehovah was the portion of their inheritance. Provision was now made for them. Forty-eight cities scatte...
_Man. A person might be tried on such evidence, Deuteronomy xix. 15._...
As one and the same subject is continued through these verses, I have not interrupted the Reader in its perusal, until he hath arrived at the close of it, in the end of the chapter. But it will be now...
The successes given to the children of Israel alarmed some of their neighbours, more particularly Moab; and this gives occasion for a striking episode in the history which brought to issue as solemn a...
30._Whoso killeth any person_, He now returns to willful murderers, whom he will not have spared, but yet not given over to punishment unless convicted by legal proofs. Literally it is, Whoso smiteth...
THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 34, 35, AND 36. Finally, God takes care of His people in all respects; He marks the limits of the country they were to enjoy. He settles the taking possessio...
WHOSO KILLETH ANY PERSON,.... Willingly, and through enmity and malice: THE MURDERER SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH BY THE MOUTH OF TWO WITNESSES; which is repeated partly to show, that this law concerning th...
_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, therefo...
1 Eight and fourtie Cities for the Leuites with their suburbs, and measure thereof. 6 Sixe of them are to be cities of refuge. 9 The lawes of murder. 31 No satisfaction for murder. 1 AND the LORD...
Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses, their testimony being needed to convict him; BUT ONE WITNESS SHALL NOT TESTIFY AGAINST ANY PERSON TO CAUSE HIM T...
REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE CITIES OF REFUGE...
CITIES GIVEN TO THE LEVITES (vs.1-8) The Levites had no tribal possession, but were to be scattered among the tribes so as to serve and teach the ways of the Lord (Deuteronomy 33:10). Therefore the t...
9-34 To show plainly the abhorrence of murder, and to provide the more effectually for the punishment of the murderer, the nearest relation of the deceased, under the title of avenger of blood, (or t...
No judge shall condemn any man to death upon a single testimony....
The opening lines of this most interesting chapter set before us the gracious provision which Jehovah made for His servants the Levites. Each of the tribes of Israel was privileged that we say not bou...
Numbers 35:30 kills H5221 (H8688) person H5315 murderer H7523 (H8802) death H7523 (H8799) testimony...
FURTHER EXAMPLES. Numbers 35:20 “ And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died, or in enmity smote him with his hand, so that he died; he that smote him shall su...
CONTENTS: The cities of refuge. CHARACTERS: God, Moses. CONCLUSION: God would teach us to conceive a dread and horror of the guilt of blood and to be very careful of life, lest even by negligence we...
Numbers 35:4. _A thousand cubits on the east side two thousand cubits._ A line of one thousand cubits extending from the centre of the city, east, west, north, and south, would make each side of the s...
_Ye shall appoint you cities, to be cities of refuge for you _ THE CITIES OF REFUGE I_._ The position of the homicide exposed to the stroke of the avenger is a type of our position in our sin. Few p...
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 35:9__ Canaan is the holy land because God dwells there. He is the holy one, and sin and death are in absolute opposition to him (see note on 5:1–6:27). If the land is made unc...
NUMBERS—NOTE ON NUMBERS 35:30 At least two WITNESSES are required for a murder conviction (see also Deuteronomy 19:15). Ransom
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES This chapter contains directions for the appointment of (1) cities for the Levites to dwell in; and (2) cities of refuge for the manslayer; and laws concerning wilful...
As we get into chapter thirty-five, it describes the cities of refuge that they were to establish, verse two, Command the children of Israel, that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their...
1 Timothy 5:19; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 17:7;...
Does the need for two witnesses mean that it is wrong to condemn someone on other evidence? PROBLEM: According to Numbers 35:30, a man accused of murder could be convicted and condemned on the testimo...